ALEX FERGUSON has lauded David Moyes’s work at Everton and claimed Manchester United will need an experienced head to replace him when he retires in “another two or three years”.

The priority for the 70-year-old United manager is to retire on a “winning note” rather than a specific date. He has already shelved one retirement plan a decade ago and subsequently added five more Premier League titles and a Champions League triumph to his honours collection in that time.

In an interview with BBC’s Five Live, Ferguson said he expects to remain in a role at Old Trafford when he finally steps aside but has never discussed the issue of his successor with the chief executive, David Gill, and the United board.

“I will remain active,” Ferguson said. “I think there will be a role at United after I finish, obviously. I don’t know how long it’s going to last, but if my health holds up I don’t see another two or three years would harm me. I think you need stamina in my job and I think I’ve been blessed with good stamina.” He added: “Players ask how long I’ll be around. They all do that or their agent ask the chief executive, David Gill . . . I answer it the way David answers it and he says I have no intention of retiring at the moment.”

As for who could succeed him at Old Trafford, Ferguson said: “We’ve never discussed it. It’s a dangerous game. There are maybe half a dozen managers doing well in the Premier League. Only half a dozen because all the rest of them are fighting for their lives. Some are doing great jobs with the resources they have and David Moyes has been unbelievable. I put him in the top six because what he’s done at Everton has been quite miraculous.”

Guardian Service