Old Trafford witnessed last SAF accords

It was a fitting end to a remarkable era -- Alex Ferguson celebrated his final home game as manager of Manchester United with a dramatic late victory against Swansea on Sunday.

While the result made no difference to either side's season, the jubilation that followed a rare winner from veteran defender Rio Ferdinand brought echoes from some of the 71-year-old's long list of triumphs in more than quarter of a century at the helm.

"My retirement doesn't mean the end of my life at the club. I will be able to enjoy watching them rather than suffering with them," Ferguson told the crowd in pouring rain at Old Trafford, which included his 11 grandchildren in the stands.

"But if you think about it, those last-minute goals, comebacks, even the defeats, are all part of this great football club of ours. It's been an unbelievable experience so thank you for that.
"I'd also like to remind you that when we had bad times here the club stood by me, the players stood by me, and your job now is to stand by our new manager. That is important."


/CNN/