Sir Alex Ferguson is back at Old Trafford as Manchester United prepare for yet another Premier League season.
No longer in the hot seat, Ferguson can now take his spot up in the stands and watch on from a distance. And the game against Brighton will mark the start of a new era - and the latest manager to attempt to replicate his legendary feats.
But where David Moyes, Louis van Gaal, Jose Mourinho and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer have failed, Erik ten Hag will hope to be the man to finally live up to the Scot’s outrageous standards.
Ferguson was left out of the process to hire the Dutchman, with Football Director John Murtough and Technical Director Darren Fletcher deciding to appoint the highly-rated Dutch tactician. Now, aged 80, Ferguson has been in a non-executive director role since his 26-year stint as boss came to an end in 2013.
His advice has occasionally been sought behind-the-scenes in the near-decade since his retirement, including when he was a consultant to Solskjaer in the early days of his reign. And it is understood he has now been handed a position in what is being known as a ‘board of advisors’.
The Mail reported that Ferguson - along with CEO Richard Arnold, former chief David Gill, ex-skipper Bryan Robson and John Murtough - will be part of a think-tank to help with the football side of the operation.
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Fergie was back at United’s Carrington training base at the end of last month, for what was the first meeting of the new committee. That arrival coincided with Cristiano Ronaldo ’s crisis talks with Red Devils’ chiefs.
The 37-year-old’s future has been a source of constant speculation this summer after he made it clear he wanted to join a team in the Champions League. United have been steadfast in their position that Ronaldo is not for sale and will be a part of Ten Hag’s plans in his first season.
Ferguson’s presence for Ronaldo’s talks - although brushed off as a coincidence by club sources - signify the desperation there is to persuade him to stay. Mirror Football understands that the pair - who have maintained a close personal relationship - have discussed his future on several occasions at their Cheshire luxury homes.
With just over three weeks of the transfer window remaining, the Portuguese is still involved at United and was named in Ten Hag’s first Premier League squad vs the Seagulls.
That’s despite Ronaldo playing just 45 minutes during pre-season, with that cameo coming in last weekend’s draw with Rayo Vallecano. Ten Hag opted to keep United’s talisman on the bench and it will be intriguing to get a penny for his old manager’s thoughts.
Last October, Ferguson was spotted having a match chat with UFC legend Khabib Nurmagomedov in the wake of Solskjaer’s decision to leave his old protege on the bench. “You should always start with your best players,” he explained.
