SINGAPORE: FOOTBALL/SOCCER - Singapore fans express their shock and sadness on hearing the news of the retirement of Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson

Record ID: 336470

  • Title: SINGAPORE: FOOTBALL/SOCCER - Singapore fans express their shock and sadness on hearing the news of the retirement of Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson
  • Date: 8th May 2013
  • Summary: SINGAPORE (MAY 8, 2013) (REUTERS) SINGAPORE SKYLINE SIGNS ON SKYSCRAPERS MANCHESTER UNITED STORE SIGN FOR MANCHESTER UNITED STORE MANCHESTER UNITED JERSEY WITH THE NUMBER 20 SYMBOLISING THE 20 LEAGUE TITLES THE CLUB HAS WON MANCHESTER UNITED JERSEYS ON DISPLAY MANCHESTER UNITED CLUB EMBLEM DISPLAY SHELF MANCHESTER UNITED FOOTBALL ON DISPLAY (SOUNDBITE) (English) 35-YEAR-
  • Embargoed: 23rd May 2013 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Singapore
  • Country: Singapore
  • Topics: Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVA58N8YXU8VTYZQ6FFR8FF3PNDN
  • Story Text: Singapore fans of Manchester United Football Club said they were shocked and dismayed by the news of the retirement of Sir Alex Fergusion on Wednesday (May 8).
    England's most successful league winning club announced Ferguson will retire as manager of Manchester United at the end of this Premier League season after 26 years in charge. At a Manchester United merchandising store in downtown Singapore, some fans were still digesting the sudden news.
    One fan, 35-year-old Nelson Ng, said perhaps Ferguson's retirement was planned with succession in mind.

    "I guess it's a shock to the world, although there has been rumours coming out. No one expected it to be so sudden. But I think it's about the right time because to be honest, one thing that I think Sir Alex Ferguson probably would be thinking is that if I retire, who's going to take over. At the moment, there's quite a lot of feel good candidates around looking for possible jobs," he said.
    A new manager has not been named, though Real Madrid's Jose Mourinho and Everton's David Moyes are being linked to the job.
    Another fan expressed his sadness with the leaving of United's longest serving manager.

    "A bit disappointed because he's a damn good manager. He's been with Man U since Ryan Giggs, David Beckham were young and so on, for years till now. It's the last title he will be lifting for this year. It's quite sad when you say he's retiring," said 21-year-old Mohammed Syawal.
    The 71-year-old Ferguson's last game in charge will be on May 19, when United are away to West Bromwich Albion. His side won the league for the 13th time this season under the legendary Scot.
    The Ferguson era has also been marked by the club increasing its engagement in Asia with friendlies across the region in the off season. United are due to tour lAsia this summer under their new manager.
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