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Ferguson dismisses retirement prospects

Sir Alex Ferguson expects to remain at Manchester United for a few more years © Getty Images

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Sir Alex Ferguson insisted on Tuesday that there is no likelihood of an imminent managerial vacancy at Manchester United.

With Pep Guardiola due to end his post-Barcelona sabbatical next summer, Jose Mourinho tipped to leave Real Madrid and David Moyes' Everton contract ready to expire, three of the major candidates to replace Ferguson could be available at the end of the season.

That has led to suggestions Ferguson, who celebrated his 71st birthday on Monday, will call time on his United career, which is now over 26 years old.

The Scot accepts all three men are at the top of their profession. However, in an interview with the Abu Dhabi Sports channel, Ferguson made it clear he is going nowhere.

"I'm hoping to stay on for a bit of time," he said.

It is widely accepted few will get to know when Ferguson is ready to call it a day, with chief executive David Gill the man tasked with advising the Glazer family about a replacement.

And, though Guardiola, Mourinho and Moyes are bound to be at the top of the list if they are available, Ferguson highlights the precarious nature of football management and states further consideration is impossible.

"Over the years, names have been bandied about but football is such a precarious industry," he said. "But you could be talking about one of the potentially exciting young managers in the game, but is he going to be here in two or three years' time? The sack race is horrendous. Sometimes a manager can only survive four games if he doesn't win a match."

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