Ex-Manchester United man Gary Neville: "Sir Alex will stay as long as he wants to"

Former Manchester United player Gary Neville has said that there is no point in predicting when will his former manager Sir Alex Ferguson step down from his post since the manager is in a good shape and enjoying his job at the moment.

Speaking to BBC 5 live’s Sportsweek programme, Neville said:

“There’s no point in thinking about succession planning because he will stay as long as he wants. I don’t see this manager quitting. He is just the absolute best.”

Sir Alex, who will turn 70 this year, had decided to quit his office in 2002 but took a U-turn and since then has led United to many trophies, including the Champions League in 2008.

Sir Alex is going nowhere.

And Gary Neville, who had the privilege to begin and end his illustrious career under the Scotsman, claims that Sir Alex has shown no signs of giving up.

 ”He has health on his side and he looks the same to me as he did 10 to 15 years ago.

“How can you think about succession when you have a man that shows no sign of giving up, no sign of wanting to quit, no sign of not wanting to be the manager anymore?

“For all Manchester United fans, they hope he stays forever.”

Sir Alex recently added a 26th Barclays Manager of the Month trophy to his already full trophy cabinet following a great month where United thrashed Arsenal 8-2 at Old Trafford.

Sir Alex, who took over as Manchester United manager in 1986, has since won 12 Premier League titles, two Champions League trophies, five FA Cups, four League Cups and 10 Community Shields.

Now a pundit for SkySports, Neville believes that the club’s board will find it difficult to replace the manager.

“The best managers out there at the moment are Pep Guardiola and Jose Mourinho but they are at other clubs – Real Madrid and Barcelona.

“Will they let them go? I don’t think so. Are they better than Alex Ferguson for Manchester United? I don’t think so.”