The Legend Leaves

This is going to be an emotional, rushed, incoherent post.

Sir Alex Ferguson announced his retirement today.
After passing hints all week that he wasn't ready to leave, that he wouldn't leave just yet...today, he announces that he will retire at the end of this season.

It has taken a while for the shock to set in.
For me to able to come to terms with the fact that the legend - THE legend - is leaving us.

I am 23 years old.
Sir Alex has been manager for United for 26 years.
I have never known a United without him.

19 years I've supported this club, I've seen players come and go, (except Ryan Giggs), 
I've cried over old players leaving, 
I've welcomed new players into my heart and then cried again when they left too,
but that's what football is about.
Circle of life, and all that.

But Sir Alex leaving just seems so horribly, horribly wrong.
It's like my entire foundation has been rocked.

Part of me doesn't want to accept that he's leaving.
Part of me hopes that he will pull a Paul Scholes and come out of retirement again, 

but part of me has begun to accept it.

I don't want to know who his successor will be.
Not today.
It will be too final.

And I honestly don't know how to accept anyone else in this place.
Will I love them as much as I loved Sir Alex?

..I know I will. I love the club so much that anyone who stands at the helm will be loved regardless.
But still.

Like one of the other fans tweeted, 
It's like your Dad is retiring from being your Dad.

That's exactly what it feels like.



But thank you, Sir Alex.
Thank you for being there for us all these years.
Thank you for United.
Thank you for all the wins, all the trophies, all the glory.
Thank you for all the players you turned into stars.

Thank you for making me fall in love with football.


We will miss you.
The hairdryer treatments,
Fergie time, 
watching you on the sidelines.
We will miss you very, very much

Thank you for everything.




Now excuse me while I go drown my emotions in a flood of tears.

~vid~