Sir Alex to release biography

The football world is braced for some stark revelations when Sir Alex Ferguson's biography is released this afternoon.

 

While the contents have been kept a closely guarded secret, few expect Ferguson's view of life since Manchester United's historic 1999 Treble triumph to be bland.

 

The decorated Scot ended his distinguished managerial career in May with a record 13th Premier League title for the Old Trafford club.

 

Journalist Paul Hayward, responsible for committing Ferguson's words to print, wrote on Saturday: "Ferguson decided several years ago to revisit the upheavals of the past decade, and to examine how he maintained control in the face of changes in United's ownership, the rise of player power and the new threats posed by Roman Abramovich's Chelsea and the Middle-Eastern wealth of Manchester City."

 

Hayward also stated Ferguson "recalls the great players he has managed", listing Roy Keane, Cristiano Ronaldo and David Beckham, and "shares his thoughts on Arsene Wenger, Jose Mourinho and Rafa Benitez".

 

Ferguson once described Spaniard Benitez, during his time at the helm of north-west rivals Liverpool, as "a baby" and will doubtless find many reasons to undermine Benitez, currently boss at Napoli, not least the failed attempt to prise Gabriel Heinze out of Old Trafford.

 

The fall-out from the racism row that ended with Luis Suarez getting an eight-match ban for abusing Patrice Evra should be covered, and that will not reflect well on Kenny Dalglish, with whom Ferguson had previous history anyway.

 

Although his relations with Wenger eased considerably during the latter days of his Old Trafford reign, it will be interesting to see whether Ferguson touches on Arsenal's failure to secure any silverware since the Gunners beat United in the 2005 FA Cup final, or the 'Pizzagate' row from 2004.

 

Ferguson's view of Keane will be significant, with an expectant public really wanting to know the content of that infamous MUTV interview in 2005 which got pulled from the schedules because of the damning criticisms of so many young team-mates and eventually led to the Irishman's abrupt exit.

 

Then there is Beckham, the most recognisable face of English football, scarred by a boot Ferguson sent flying across the Old Trafford dressing room, and his relationship and subsequent marriage to a member of the Spice Girls.

 

United's fans will also be interested in the 71-year-old's opinion on Wayne Rooney after Ferguson revealed that the England forward had submitted a transfer request at the end of last season.

 

It is likely he will need to tiptoe round the matter carefully so not to cause successor David Moyes any further problems after Rooney remained at Old Trafford despite interest from Premier League rivals Chelsea.