Sir Alex Ferguson, a Manchester United legend, is reportedly set to make a surprise return to the dugout.
Ferguson, who led United to 13 Premier League titles, retired from management in 2013 after one final trophy.
He then became a club ambassador and non-executive director, though United recently terminated a long-term £2.16 million contract with their most successful manager due to cost-cutting measures implemented by Sir Jim Ratcliffe and INEOS.
Ferguson returned to the dugout a few years ago, in 2019, when United played a legends game against Bayern Munich at Old Trafford to commemorate the 20th anniversary of their historic treble win in 1999.
However, it appears that the Scot will return to the bench in the near future. Former United, Villarreal, Fiorentina, and Italy striker Giuseppe Rossi will retire in 2023, but has decided to hold a farewell game in Florence on March 22.
And the 38-year-old claims Ferguson, who gave him his senior debut in 2004, will be present in a coaching role.
“Ferguson will be there as a coach,” he told The Sun.
“He was my first coach, and I signed when I was 17.
“I only had three years with him and played little, but he immediately said yes, demonstrating the type of person he is.
“I did little at United but he treats me like Cristiano Ronaldo, who has scored 1000 goals.”
Rossi made his Manchester United debut in a League Cup match against Crystal Palace in November 2004, and he went on to play 13 more games for the club, scoring four goals.
After loan spells with Newcastle and Parma, he joined Villarreal permanently in 2007 and scored 82 goals in 192 appearances.
Despite being plagued by injuries throughout his career, he scored 19 goals in 42 appearances for Fiorentina before moving on to Levante, Celta Vigo, Genoa, Real Salt Lake and SPAL.
Rossi’s “last dance” will take place at the Stadio Franchi Stadium, with Gabriel Batistuta, Luca Toni, Antonio Cassano, Sebastien Frey, and Borja Valero in the lineup.
