Alex Ferguson to return to management for former player's team

Legendary Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson is set to return to the dugout for a special occasion, more than a decade after his retirement.

Ferguson, who stepped down in 2013 after an illustrious 27-year reign at Old Trafford, led the Red Devils to 37 trophies, including 13 Premier League titles and two Champions League triumphs.

Now, nearly 12 years since his final match as United boss, the 83-year-old will temporarily return to coaching in Italy.

The occasion? Giuseppe Rossi’s farewell match. The former United striker has confirmed that Ferguson will be managing a team at his retirement celebration, which is set to take place at Fiorentina's Stadio Artemio Franchi on March 22.

Rossi, who officially retired in 2023, will be joined by a star-studded lineup of former teammates and Serie A greats, including Luca Toni, Antonio Cassano, Sebastien Frey, Borja Valero, and Gabriel Batistuta.

Reflecting on Ferguson’s involvement, Rossi shared his excitement:"Ferguson will be there as a coach.

"He was my first coach—I signed when I was 17. I only spent three years with him and played little, but he immediately said yes, which shows what kind of person he is. I did little at United, but he treats me like Cristiano Ronaldo, who has scored 1,000 goals."

Rossi was just 17 when Ferguson handed him his senior debut at United.

Though his playing time was limited, he managed to score four goals in 14 first-team appearances and won the League Cup before departing for Villarreal in 2010 after loan spells with Newcastle and Parma.

During his six-year stint in Spain, Rossi earned the nickname ‘Pepito,’ inspiring the title of his farewell event, ‘Pepito Day.’

His career later took him to Fiorentina, Genoa, Real Salt Lake, and SPAL before retiring at 36. He also represented Italy, scoring seven goals in 30 appearances, including two at the 2009 Confederations Cup.

This won’t be Ferguson’s first return to the touchline since his retirement. In 2019, he managed a Manchester United legends team in a 5-0 victory over Bayern Munich, marking the 20th anniversary of United’s historic 1999 treble-winning season.

Now, in 2024, Ferguson is set for one more match—this time, in Italy, to celebrate the career of a player he once mentored.