Manchester United: 10 Bold Predictions for the Post-Ferguson Era

No manager in history has been more feted than Sir Alex Ferguson—and rightly so. He has said he will decide when he will go. Most have concluded this would be after a fourth or even fifth Champions League, at the very least a 20th Premier League title.

But what would happen if United won nothing this season? There are only two trophies left—Premier League and Europa League. While it looks certain that United will automatically qualify for next season's Champions League, might he go if they won nothing?

And then there is the building of another dynasty and—closely connected—his personal pride. Which matters more, leaving on a high, knowing the next manager would have a hard act to follow, or leaving when you're not sure where the next trophy will come from?

Whenever he hangs up his training shoes, he will leave a squad in good nick but with plenty of room for development. He has carried on the Busby tradition with a highly successful Academy that could produce as many first-team squad players in the next few years as in any previous era.

All this makes it very hard for him—and a very hard act to follow. The key determinant will be his health. You can see from his press conferences that he is hardly unequivocal about the frosty mornings, and surely he and Cathy would like to share their golden years in good health.

So, one of the things that makes it hard to predict what will happen after he's gone is not knowing when he will go.

For the time being, we shall assume that he will retire this summer. A 20th title will nail it, but one is left to wonder whether his reluctance to spend has been in order to leave some flexibility to his successor—to sign his own players, to restructure the squad, or whatever.

Sir Alex is 70, and no one is saying it's time to go while he can motivate his players to come back from 3-0 down against Chelsea. But there are worse times to go, and there is a certain symmetry.

That said, some of what will happen in the post-Ferguson era will be as a direct consequence of his own departure.

He'll Go 'Upstairs'

After Sir Matt Busby retired, he became a director of Manchester United for a further 12 years. Although he had stepped down by the time Sir Alex arrived, he was still club president. 

Sir Alex has acknowledged the wisdom that Sir Matt shared with him and the fact that he never tried to tell him what to do. His presence, experience and support were of great value when Sir Alex needed to draw in them.

The Scot can do the same. There is a tradition at United of players remaining involved in the club. Sir Bobby Charlton is on the board, and his presence is not only available to Sir Alex but must help when it comes to sustaining or extending United's presence across the globe and in attracting players to the club.

Although Sir Alex would not want to interfere in the day-to-day management, he will be a material influence on the continuity at United. Knowing that he is around and seeing him on match days and other occasions will be a reassurance to those players who choose to stay and a potential plus in attracting new players.

Sir Bobby Will Retire

It's easy to forget that Sir Bobby Charlton is only four years older than Sir Alex, at 74.

Since he finished his own managerial career 28 years ago, he has devoted his life to football and especially Manchester United. Although it has been suggested that Sir Alex will choose his own successor, it is more likely that he will recommend maybe two or three candidates, but the decision will be made between him, Sir Bobby and David Gill.

If Sir Alex moves to the board room, that would be a logical time for Sir Bobby to retire from the board. It would be entirely appropriate if he became club president, with Sir Alex to follow in due course.

Who Will Be Manager?

Carlo Ancelotti may be the best manager that Chelsea ever had. The way that he was sacked was a disgrace. He is a strong man, who knows his own mind, but even though Roman Abramovich has total power, getting rid of Ancelotti already looks like the worst decision he ever made.

There would be no doubt that Sir Alex rates Ancelotti very highly as a coach. Some believe him to be the best coach in the world. He could quickly form a strong working partnership with David Gill, much as Sir Alex has done.

Among the favourites to succeed Sir Alex is Jose Mourinho, but the "special one" is a great self-publicist who has brought bad press to Real Madrid, and, despite almost certainly handing them a title win over Barcelona, he will leave at the end of the season.

He does not appear popular with sections of his squad, who ridicule him as never having played at the highest level. Worst of all, while he can be an inspired tactician, he is too much of a pragmatist. If United ended up playing defensive football—even to win the Champions League—there would be uproar.

It is also believed that he was sacked from Chelsea primarily because he was too prepared to play pragmatic football rather than the attacking play that Abramovich hungers for.

There are other suitors at United of course: David Moyes and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer keep coming up as prospects, again because of Sir Alex's preferences.

While Ole will surely end up managing United, the dream ticket would be for him to be No. 2 to Ancelotti with a succession plan in place after, say, three years, when the new dynasty was established.

Which Players Will Leave?

It would be no surprise if Ryan Giggs hung up his boots when Sir Alex leaves—if not before, depending when that is.

I would also expect Paul Scholes and Rio Ferdinand to retire, although the latter may go for a last swansong in the sunshine with, say, Inter Milan.

Other players will surely go. Ji Sung Park is the wrong side of 30 and could choose his next destination. Nemanja Vidic may never be the same player again after his injury. A spell in the sun for him might also suit before retirement.

Dimitar Berbatov could well be off at the end of the season anyhow, if Will Keane continues his progress. Patrice Evra would probably go. Anderson has never quite fulfilled his potential—mainly due to injury—and he could be let go, with the talent coming through from the Reserves.

Obviously, United will want to keep most of the core together, and this is where Sir Alex's continuing influence could prove crucial. Many players are loyal to him and/or owe their development to him. He will want to see them stay—especially the younger ones.

Who Will Be Captain?

Although only 26, Wayne Rooney has made 500 appearances for club and country and 350 for United.

He recently hinted that he would like the England captaincy. While that is a more remote possibility, in the post-Sir Alex era, he will be the most influential player on the playing staff.

Yes, Phil Jones has been touted, but surely as No. 2 to Rooney and to succeed him in due course. 

Wayne isn't everybody's favourite and some may never forgive him for threatening to leave, but he is one of the greatest footballers in the world; he is talismanic and leads from the front with heart, soul and passion. There is no other choice after Sir Alex.

An Established First Team

This lad has the chance to become one of the greatest goalkeepers ever. By the time Sir Alex leaves, he should be established as a sine qua non in the first team.

Now, it's hard to predict a team, not knowing when Sir Alex will leave, so let's set a time frame for who will be first choices in three years time.

With De Gea in goal, the rest of the team could be:

Rafael, Subotic, Jones, Fryers

Valencia, Cleverly, Pogba, Nani

Rooney, Welbeck

With the substitutes being:

Lindegaard, Smalling, Evans, Fabio, Carrick, Hernandez, Keane

Winning More Trophies

With the right manager, the resources at his disposal and the legacy Sir Alex leaves, it is only a matter of time before United win another Champions League. 

Pepe Guardiola isn't going to stay at Barcelona indefinitely and will get a wake-up call when they don't win La Liga this season. If they don't win the Champions League either, he could be looking for his next challenge. In the turmoil that follows there will be an opportunity for others—especially United.

And more Premier League titles, of course.

The FA Cup again—at last.

The Glazers Sell

The Singapore float is getting closer and may even happen this spring. Once it is in place, there will be a market value on Manchester United. That also equates to a sale price much higher than any offers they have had in the past.

With the debt removed, United could be the most financially-sound and wealthiest club in the world. 

While Sir Alex will choose his own time of leaving, he will have the courtesy to let the Glazers know early. Malcolm Glazer isn't getting any younger either, and it was his "project." They can make enough money out of United to be secure in Miami for the rest of their lives.

So a logical time to sell United is before Sir Alex retires, but if he goes next summer it could happen not long after that.

A New South Stand

Now that the North Stand has been rededicated as the Sir Alex Ferguson stand, it's time to develop the South Stand.

A floated or sold United will have the funds to do that and, in doing so, take the capacity well over 90,000, making it one of the most impressive stands in the world.

Buying a Feeder Team

Barcelona and Real Madrid have them; they are a fixture in other countries in the world, especially South America, so why not in the UK?

As the talent burgeons at United, Sir Alex has to send more and more players out on loan.

In the past, Royal Antwerp has been a feeder club, but that was less than satisfactory.

What players need is regular competition in real English playing conditions. Ideally this would be under United's control.

Whether or not fees continue to escalate, clubs are having to grow more of their own players. It may not happen overnight, or even immediately after Sir Alex goes, but surely feeder clubs will come. They will also help commercial success in the lower divisions.

The thing is that the obvious candidates are now non-league or in Division Two, like Altrincham, Macclesfield and Stockport.

However, Bury are in Division One and are owned by their supporters. Surely they would be "buyable."