Ferguson's retirement plans have been subject to much debate in recent years. The Scotsman has recently confirmed that he doesn't plan to manage beyond the age of seventy - though that still means the 66-year-old Fergie could well stay at the club until the end of the 2010/2011 campaign.

A host of names have already been linked with the United hotseat after Sir Alex steps down. Bookmakers have been taking bets on it for years now - with Mark Hughes, Martin O'Neill, Roy Keane, Carlos Querioz and Guus Hiddink often named amongst the favourites.

This week's tabloid newspaper reports, however, claim that United have already opened up talks with "The Special One" despite the fact that Ferguson could spend nearly three more years at Old Trafford.

However, a club spokesman has been quick to hit out reports that the club have approached Mourinho, saying: "As we have said many times before, there has been no discussion about who will eventually succeed Sir Alex,"

Fergie has been in charge of United for a whopping 1,224 matches - nearly one hundred more than Sir Matt Busby. He's also won more trophies than any other manager in the history of English football. He's a legend and it's difficult to remember MUFC without him. Let's not think about him leaving just yet.....!

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