Ferguson denies retirement plans

LONDON, England -- Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has denied reports that he will be stepping down at Old Trafford in three years time.

The legendary Scot, still going strong at 66, used his Friday press conference to pour cold water on the notion that he would quit in 2011 after 25 years with the Premier League champions.

"It is something I have said quite a bit. If your health is good and you are enjoying your job, it could be two or three years.

"I am not going to pigeon-hole myself on that one. It could be four years, it could be tomorrow. It is impossible to put a time limit on this."

Ferguson's remarks to French radio were widely reported in the English media on Friday.

"I'm getting beyond the future now," he was quoted. "I still have a lot of passion, but I'm 66 now -- maybe three years more, then I'll finish."

Ferguson also discussed his successor, saying that the precarious nature of football management meant that it was by no means clear who could take the helm at England's richest club.

"I have a great assistant in Carlos Quieroz. He will come into the reckoning. "But we have owners and a chief executive who will choose the new man in three years' time," he added.

Ferguson initially planned to retire in 2005 but quickly changed his mind as he saw the potential in his rebuilt United team.

They repaid his faith by regaining the Premier League title from Chelsea and this season are on course for the treble which United famously accomplished in 1999, winning the English title, the Champions League and the FA Cup.

Ferguson took charge at United in November 1986 from Aberdeen and after narrowly avoiding the sack in 1989 has since led them to 18 trophies, including nine league titles.

Former Old Trafford favorites Roy Keane and Mark Hughes have been touted as potential successors along with current Aston Villa manager Martin O'Neill.

Former England manager Sven-Goran Eriksson, now managing local rivals Manchester City, was also linked with the job back in 2005. E-mail to a friend