Former Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson to leave £2.16m-a-year ambassadorial role
Part-owners INEOS ends contract with club’s most successful manager as part of cost-saving moves; says he is always welcome at Old Trafford
Manchester United’s most successful manager Alex Ferguson will step down as a global ambassador after the club’s part-owners INEOS ended his multimillion-pound contract.
Ferguson, a familiar sight in the Old Trafford director’s box for years, signed an agreement with United in 2013 to be a club ambassador, receiving £2.16 million (US$2.82 million) a year.
The split was amicable, according to a team source, who said it was one of a number of time-consuming responsibilities from which the 82-year-old Scot was stepping back and that he was always welcome at Old Trafford.
Ferguson, who will step down from his ambassadorial duties at the end of the season, led United to 38 trophies, including 13 Premier League and two Champions League titles, before he retired from management in 2013.
He has been a regular spectator at United games since, watching the team home and away during a time when the club has been in obvious decline on the field.
United are currently in 14th place after finishing a worst-ever eighth in the Premier League last season, despite spending just over £200 million on players in the close season.
