Sir Alex Ferguson is hailed as the most successful manager to ever grace the Premier League, with a legacy at Manchester United that will likely never be beaten
Sir Alex Ferguson sealed his legendary status as Manchester United manager with one last Premier League victory in the 2012/13 campaign. During his near three-decade reign at Old Trafford, the Scottish boss secured an extraordinary trophy haul.
Following his announcement to leave the club in May 2013, Ferguson guided United to another Premier League crown and secured Champions League qualification. The Red Devils finished 11 points clear of nearest challengers Manchester City and suffered just five defeats across the entire campaign.
During his final interview with Sky Sports, the manager fielded questions on a range of topics. However, two points in particular caught my attention regarding today’s football landscape.
At the time, the reporter asked why Wayne Rooney wasn’t included in either the starting XI or on the substitutes’ bench. Ferguson responded with remarkable honesty, admitting that the United legend had asked to leave – and even explained the reasoning behind Rooney’s choice.
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Ferguson said: “I don’t think Wayne was keen to play simply because he’s asked for the transfer.
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“I think he wants to think it through in his mind, I think that’s a good idea. We’re not going to let him go and I think he’s maybe just a little bit frustrated [after] being taken off once or twice in the last few weeks.”
Such stark honesty would be unthinkable in today’s Premier League, where managers typically shield their players by keeping transfer matters tightly under wraps. Yet it appears Ferguson’s influence at Old Trafford endured long after his 2013 departure, as Rooney remained at Manchester United until 2017 – a full four years later.
Sir Alex also made another startling allegation about the club “leaking” sensitive information. This concerned his planned retirement being made public before any official statement.
When questioned about the months-long delay in announcing his exit – despite making the decision over Christmas – Ferguson explained he’d hoped to maintain secrecy for as long as possible. However, after informing relatives and his playing squad on the Tuesday, whispers started spreading.
The United legend said: “Unfortunately there were rumours going around on Tuesday [but] wherever it comes from, you never know. Our club’s a sieve, stuff leaks out and it shouldn’t leak out but we then started to speed it up a bit.”
This pattern has persisted throughout United’s history, with an internal investigation opened just weeks ago in January 2026 to identify those responsible for current breaches. The investigation was triggered after the starting line-up was ‘leaked’ to journalists hours before the club’s 2-0 derby victory against City.
Ferguson’s reputation at United remains virtually untouchable, considering his extraordinary achievements during his tenure. However, in his farewell address as manager of one of England’s most decorated sides, he didn’t hold back from delivering some stark realities.
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Sky Sports discounted Premier League and EFL package
Sky has slashed the price of its Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle ahead of the 2025/26 season, saving members £336 and offering more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more.
Sky will show at least 215 live Premier League games this season, an increase of up to 100 more.