Sir Alex Ferguson: Jose Mourinho will have to wait if he wants Manchester United job

Sir Alex Ferguson: Jose Mourinho will have to wait if he wants Manchester United job

Sir Alex Ferguson is still in no mood to set a date for his retirement, but he has spoken to "close friend" Jose Mourinho about the Real Madrid manager's plans to return to England.

 

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Unfinished business: Jose Mourinho has said that he would relish a Premier League return Photo: Rex Features

 

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He shall not be moved: Ferguson is not ready for retirement Photo: AFP

By Telegraph staff and agencies 5:15PM BST 05 Apr 2011

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Ferguson has no immediate plans to retire, meaning that Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho will have to wait if he is to fulfil his long-held ambition to manage United.

"Jose is a great friend of mine," Ferguson said of Mourinho - who once described the Scot as his 'best friend in football.'

Mourinho, who has two seasons after this one left on his contract at Real Madrid, has said that he has 'unfinished business' in the Premier League, and has been linked with Manchester City and a return to Chelsea as well as the position of Ferguson's successor.

"We have spoken many times about his future and I understand his wish to return to England," Ferguson said in an interview with Italian sports daily Gazzetta dello Sport.

"A coach has more freedom here than in Spain, without the constant following of the media and radio."

But with Manchester United once against pressing for victory in three competitions, Ferguson - who will turn 70 later this year, his 25th at Old Trafford - is in mood to hand over the reins just yet. The prospect of a quiet retirement holds no appeal.

"But it's difficult for me to say when my position will be available."

"It will be my health that decides. I will continue until I no longer feel the energy that has always accompanied me.

"My father, who worked in the shipyards, retired at the age of 65 and one year later he was dead.

"The worst you can do is to say I have worked for 45 years and now I have a right to rest. You need to always remain active and in good form."

This season Ferguson has shown that he has retained the abilty to deal with the trickiest of situations. He has not let Wayne Rooney's increasingly erratic season divert his squad from their task of ruthlessly winning, which they have carried out despite being unable to dominate as previous sides have done.

The signing of Javier Hernandez - 17 goals and counting for United - shows his eye for a bargain is as sharp as ever, Bebe notwithstanding.

After Saturday's results went in United's favour, it seems likely that Ferguson may soon become a Premier League champion for the 12th time - a number that will take United to a record 19 titles.

Nevertheless, Ferguson concedes that his career cannot continue indefinitely, and says he will go gracefully should the Old Trafford powerbrokers decide that he should retire before he is minded to go of his own accord.

"If I was told, 'Alex, you are too old, we have decided to turn the page', no problem," he said.

"I have done my part here, with an absolutely fantastic career."

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