Sir Alex Ferguson agrees shock management return after Manchester United role axed

Sir Alex Ferguson agrees shock management return after Manchester United role axed

Sir Alex Ferguson was poised to be back in the dugout this weekend as he takes his place on the touchline for Giuseppe Rossi's farewell match in Florence alongside several greats of the game

Sir Alex Ferguson (Image: Andrew Milligan/PA Wire. )

Manchester United's iconic former manager Sir Alex Ferguson was poised for a remarkable return to the touchline this weekend. The celebrated Scot, who bowed out of management in 2013, still occasionally makes guest appearances for special events.

This Saturday at the Stadio Franchi in Florence, Ferguson was booked to be on the sidelines for Giuseppe Rossi's testimonial match as the Italian former United striker striker says his goodbyes.

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Rossi, who hung up his boots in 2023 after an illustrious spell in European football, has drawn a constellation of football stars to celebrate his career. Notables such as Luca Toni, Antonio Cassano, and Gabriel Omar Batistuta are confirmed attendees, eager to grace the pitch once more.

However, it's not just the players showing eagerness to join the spectacle - Rossi previously divulged that Ferguson will be among the managers guiding the play from the bench, highlighting their Rossi shared: "Ferguson will be there as a coach. He was my first coach, I signed when I was 17.

"I only did three years with him and played little, but he immediately said yes and this shows what kind of person he is. I did little at United but he treats me like Cristiano Ronaldo, who has scored 1000 goals."

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Ferguson, 83, remains a staple figure at Old Trafford, frequently found supporting from the stands when possible. He's no stranger to nostalgic reunions, having previously managed in United's treble-winning team reunion in 2019 and Michael Carrick's testimonial.

Ferguson might have anticipated his returns to dwindle even further after he was dismissed by Ineos in October. The United icon's contract as a global ambassador for the club will end this season as part of Sir Jim Ratcliffe's cost-cutting measures.

Ferguson was reportedly earning £2.16million annually in the role, which involved him serving as a director on the board and playing a significant role behind the scenes. However, Ratcliffe was not persuaded that Ferguson – along with several other individuals – should maintain their roles at a time when United are eager to reduce their costs, reports the Express.

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The decision to sever ties with one of the most influential figures in United history raised questions, given that Ferguson won 38 trophies during his 26-year tenure at the club. Ratcliffe told the BBC recently: "I take my hat off to Alex.

"I sat down with Alex, just the two of us in the room, and I said 'look, the club isn't where you may think it is. It is spending more than it’s earning and we’re going to finish up in some difficulties. Honestly, we can’t really afford to continue to pay you £2 million a year'.

"I said 'I'm going to leave it with you, let you have a think about it'.

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"It was very grown up. Maybe a little bit grumpy at the beginning but he got it, and he came back three days later, after talking to his son, and said 'fine, I’m going to step away from it. My decision'.

"I think it reflects really well on Alex, because he put the club before himself."

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