Even his retirement was the best

When Sir Alex Ferguson announced his retirement a few days ago, it was hard to escape the emotion and drama of the occasion. The greatest manager of all time was to call it a day. But even in his retirement, this unrivalled icon of the footballing world looks to have displayed one of his famous attributes.

The man who managed a club famous for their comebacks, famous for their relentless pursuit of victory in the face of a ticking clock, had got it spot on with his timing again. Fergie’s time was his right time.

Escaping the cynical, and quite frankly disturbing thought, that the great Scot was pushed out of his managerial seat by Manchester United’s reviled owners, Ferguson’s retirement schedule appears almost impeccable. The only sense in which his retirement wouldn’t be perfect is if he were to stay on another season and win the treble. But ‘ifs’ and ‘buts’ about the future are no good in this game. Only the reality matters. And Ferguson seems to have got another mammoth decision spot on.

It is hard to entertain the thought that retirement prior to this summer would’ve been sensible. Anything pre-2000 would’ve been rash. Ferguson had brought the club up from the ashes and transformed them into a league-dominating and then treble-winning phenomenon. Only after that particular summit could it be said that perhaps the Scot have achieved all he could.

And so his retirement plan came in 2002. But what a relief he didn’t call it a day. The club had reached a peak and was on a (small) downward spiral. The treble-winning side was dismantling without any clear youthful era breaking through. Yes Ferguson had achieved great things, but to go then may have destabilised the club for many years.

His eventual, and remarkable, rebuilding of the squad into another European-conquering force could’ve signalled another retirement window for Ferguson. 2008 was a stellar year. But what if Ferguson had gone? Cristiano Ronaldo and Carlos Tevez were soon to depart, Wayne Rooney was soon to voice concerns, Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic were beginning to suffer long-term injuries, and several older players were on the brink of retirement. Ferguson’s exit could’ve coincided with the utter dismantling of a great squad. To retire then could’ve been destroying.

What about since? It is fair to say that no year post-2008 has been vintage. But United have very slowly and steadily rebuilt into what is now a thriving squad. Over time youth has been bought and promoted. The likes of Tom Cleverley, Danny Welbeck, Rafael, Javier Hernandez, Shinji Kagawa, Jonny Evans, Phil Jones and David de Gea could be instrumental in the coming years. Meanwhile the core of Michael Carrick, Rio Ferdinand, Nemanja Vidic, Wayne Rooney, and now Robin van Persie are the backbone of this evolving squad.

Even to leave last summer would’ve left a young team with little winning experience and a long road ahead of them. But the season of 2012/2013 has seen an immense progression from Manchester United. Ferguson leaves a team of established champions, with all the ingredients and youthful zest to go on and dominate.

To those who classify Ferguson’s great teams, I would say there are four. The title-winning side of the early sides characterised by Cantona, the treble-winning side, the 2008-conquerors, and now a fourth team; a fourth team he has moulded and tutored, but will now have the potential to reach their ultimate pinnacle in a new era.

A hip operation and more family-time await Sir Alex, but the state he has left Manchester United in could not be more perfect. A culture of family, youth, stability, winners, and a squad bursting with potential and ability remains in place despite his parting. A better time for the Scot to bow out there never was, and probably never would’ve been. Even in retirement, he has proved the master.