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What's the story?
Sir Alex Ferguson was the harbinger of a golden era at the Old Trafford during his 26-year spell with the club, but Manchester United legend Peter Schmeichel has claimed that the manager retired too early from the job, Simon Peach of Press Association Sports reports.
Schmeichel, widely regarded as one of the best goalkeepers of his generation, was part of the legendary Red Devils squad that won the historic treble in 1999 under the Scottish manager's tutelage.
The club have announced a reunion of the treble-winning squad on May 26 this year, which will see the coach back in the dugout for the first time since 2013.
In case you didn't know...
Manchester United became the first and only English club till date to win a treble when the incumbent club manager Ole Gunnar Solksjaer scored a late winner at the Camp Nou to lead the club to UEFA Champions League glory in 1999.
Ferguson won 38 trophies in the 26 years that he was in charge at the Old Trafford, becoming the most successful manager in English top-flight.
Alongside the former coach and Schmeichel, Jaap Stam, Gary Neville, Denis Irwin, Ronny Johnsen, Phil Neville, Wes Brown, and David May will also be returning to Old Trafford for the reunion match.
The heart of the matter
Danish international Schmeichel is fondly remembered by Old Trafford faithful as one of the best players to have played between the sticks for them.
He was talking to Simon Peach of PA Sports and expressed his happiness at the return of Sir Alex in the dugout and the reunion of United ’99 Legends. He said:
"That’s going to be a very special moment to have him[Sir Alex] back in the dugout."
At the same time, he revealed that he always felt that the coach shouldn't have left the club so early, but he respects his decision. He continued:
“I always felt, you know, he wasn’t old enough to retire.
"When you do the same job with that kind of pressure for so many years, he was in his right, so entitled, to do whatever he wanted to do."
He said that his departure was one of the saddest moments in the club's history, because he had achieved so much with them. He added:
"But I felt it was a really sad moment when he retired because it was such a big part of Manchester United’s history that left. I am very happy that he’s coming back."
What's next?
The Treble Reunion match that will take place on May 26. All the funds from the tickets will go to the Manchester United Foundation.
