With Sir Alex Ferguson now in his early seventies, Manchester United fans knew that it was only a matter of time before Ferguson would call it a day and accordingly bring an end to his superlative time in charge of the English giants. However, even with that reality in mind, this morning's announcement of his imminent departure still came as a massive surprise to many of us in the soccer world, especially as some of his recent comments seemed to suggest that he had a few more seasons left and his passion on the Manchester United bench looked to be as fiery as even in leading the club to yet another Premier League title this season.
And yet, here we are, bringing the curtain down on a reign that started in 1986 and, despite a rather tumultuous beginning that saw him very close to being sacked, has represented one of the most prolonged periods of excellence in the game's history. Some naysayers would be quick to suggest that more recent successes have come about due to Manchester United's standing as a multi-billion dollar global brand, but those detractors would be likewise remiss to not recognize that Manchester United, while steeped in history, was nowhere close to their current stature when Ferguson took over, and their transformation into such a worldwide empire can be largely attributed to the conquests to which he would lead the club from the early 1990s onward. Now this empire he has overseen is in a state of transition that is quite unfamiliar to all involved.
With Chief Executive David Gill departing along with Ferguson, so to does a very well established hierarchy of club leadership. While Ed Woodward, the club's current Executive Vice Chairman may be able to fill Gill's shoes well enough, fans and the world alike will be far more interested in the more visible part of the club's leadership structure: the new manager.
It took but only a few moments in the wake of Ferguson's announcement for some names to be thrown about by fans and media alike. One couldn't help but to think of Jose Mourinho's name immediately, especially as it looks as if his time in charge at Real Madrid will be drawing to a close in a matter of weeks instead of years. While a potential Mourinho appointment would be wrought with sexiness and glamour, the attention, if early reports are to be believed, truly seems to be focused on David Moyes.
Whether Moyes, Mourinho or another big name that has yet to surface, there is one predominant danger that will come with taking one of the most coveted jobs in the world: the ever-present specter of Sir Alex Ferguson himself. Unquestionably, every last decision, every last team selection, and every minute of every match will be heavily scrutinized to an extent that most Manchester United fans, especially those of the younger generation, have scarcely had to entertain since before the Premier League era. Yes, Ferguson has set the bar so very highly at Manchester United, but such a bar may do the next manager no favors at all--especially if Manchester United were to get off to a slow start (by their standards, at least) next season.
Despite the hazards of taking on the task of following a legend, it's hard to imagine that any manager would turn down the chance to take the reigns of a club so replete with star players and the financial clout to buy even more of them. Indeed, this will be a once in a lifetime opportunity for someone, whether Moyes or otherwise, but one thing is certain about this opportunity: only the best will do. The club and the fans have become accustomed to excellence, and only a continuation of that will suffice.
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