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Fergie prepares to say emotional farewell

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AFP Manchester (UK)
Last Updated : May 11 2013 | 10:25 AM IST
Alex Ferguson will bid an emotional farewell to Old Trafford on Sunday as he takes charge of Manchester United for the final time on home turf after 26 years of unparallelled success in the English game.
United manager Ferguson announced on Wednesday that he will retire at the end of the season after leading the club to 13 Premier League titles, two Champions League crowns, five FA Cups, four League Cups and a host of other trophies during his incredible reign.
Swansea are the opponents for Ferguson's farewell, which fittingly will include the official presentation of the Premier League trophy to United -- almost three weeks after they secured what has turned out to be the Scot's final piece of silverware in a remarkable career.
With the game having little significance for either team, United's supporters will use the occasion to pay tribute to Ferguson, who transformed their club from underachievers who had gone 26 years without winning a league title to a team that has dominated English football and returned to the top in Europe.
Ferguson is expected to take to the microphone following the game to say his goodbyes and there will be barely a dry eye among the packed house at Old Trafford, a stadium which has grown in size considerably during the Scot's tenure and has a stand named after him and a statue outside.
United's final game under Ferguson's rule will be against West Bromwich Albion the following week at the Hawthorns before Everton boss David Moyes, who signed a six-year deal on Thursday to replace Ferguson, takes charge on July 1.
And United captain Nemanja Vidic is relishing the chance to work with another ferociously competitive Scottish boss after thriving under Ferguson's driven management style.
"I think he (Moyes) did a great job with Everton," said Vidic. "He is the man who gets his players to work hard and show discipline and I think he did that well with Everton. And in the last few years they've been successful in getting into the top six.

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First Published: May 11 2013 | 10:25 AM IST

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