Ferguson considers long stay

Alex Ferguson believes he could go on managing Manchester United for the next decade.

The Old Trafford boss is midway through a two-year extension to his contract and has not ruled out emulating Newcastle United’s 70-year-old manager Bobby Robson.

Ferguson, 61, has new appetite for the game after lifting the Barclaycard Premiership title and his victory in the mind games over fierce rival Arsene Wenger of Arsenal.

Ferguson told The Mail on Sunday: “Would I want to be doing the job at Bobby’s age? Would I want to be a manager at 70? I couldn’t rule it out.

“This year I have felt terrific. I have never felt so fit.”

Overhauling Arsenal’s early lead in the title race also justified Ferguson’s decision to stay on at Old Trafford.

“When you’ve been in this job as long as I have, you thrive on the sort of challenge Arsene provides. I was really up for it.

“Maybe the confidence Arsenal were showing got my hackles up and the old adrenaline flowing. I enjoyed the battle.

“You have no idea how important it was to me to win the title back. I just feel winning the title justified my desire to stay on.”