With Alex Ferguson having celebrated his 68th birthday, punters are speculating as to whether or not he will keep to his promise to retire before his 70th. Paddy Power’s odds favour a 2011 retirement at 5/2, ahead of this year at 10/3. It’s 7/2 that he stays on until 2014 or beyond.

As for his successor, Jose Mourinho is 2/1 favourite ahead of the much touted Martin O’Neill at 6/1. David Moyes is 12/1 and Fabio Capello, who of course could be a World Cup winning manager with England, is 12/1. Recent speculation about Laurent Blanc has seen him introduced to the betting at 14/1.

Paddy Power said, “A Premier League without Fergie seems almost unthinkable but is inevitable. We know that Jose has the ego, but does have big enough feet to fill those size 10s And just how long will we have to wait to find out”

When will Alex Ferguson Retire as Man Utd Manager

10/3 2010

5/2 2011

10/3 2012

7/2 2013

7/2 2014 or later

Next Man Utd Manager

2/1 J. Mourinho

6/1 M. O’Neill

12/1 D. Moyes

12/1 F. Capello

14/1 L. Blanc

18/1 S. Bruce

18/1 C. Queiroz

18/1 G. Hiddink

20/1 M. Hughes

25/1 R. Keane

25/1 OG Solskjaer

40/1 O. Coyle

50/1 D. Ferguson

50/1 G. Strachan

66/1 S. McClaren

66/1 A. Wenger

66/1 K. Keegan

80/1 H. Redknapp

100/1 R. Giggs

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