Sir Alex Ferguson’s final game as Manchester United manager could hardly have been written better.
After 26 years at the club, Sir Alex Ferguson walked away following a remarkable 5-5 draw with West Bromwich Albion in May 2013. It was a chaotic afternoon, but one he has never forgotten.
“I had never been in a game that was 5-5 in my life and when you look at the stats, neither had United,” Ferguson recalled.
“So God was working, you know. If I wanted a game that you will always remember, my last game was five each.”
Manchester United had looked certain to finish Ferguson’s reign with another huge victory when they raced into a 5-2 lead. The manager admitted he briefly thought his side could score even more, only for the game to turn on its head.
Ferguson’s unforgettable Manchester United farewell
Rio Ferdinand picked up a calf injury but wanted to remain on the pitch. West Brom took advantage, with Romelu Lukaku completing a hat-trick as the hosts fought back to earn a draw.
“At 5-2 I thought we were going to win by 10,” Ferguson said. “Then Rio Ferdinand got a calf injury, wanted to stay on, and Lukaku scored a hat-trick to make it five each. It was phenomenal.”
Ferguson’s family were in attendance, while West Brom made a point of giving his final match the respect it deserved.
“They were great, they were fantastic in how they operated it for my last game,” he said. “All of my family were there. It was a day I will never forget.”
Sir Alex Ferguson went on to win 13 Premier League titles and two Champions League titles since his appointment in 1986. He remains United’s most successful manager in English history. A game of that action was a certain tribute to his historic time at Manchester United.
