Final whistle

By Economist.com

Manchester United's record under the departing boss

SIR ALEX FERGUSON, the English Premier League’s best-known and most enduring manager, announced his retirement on May 8th. The Manchester United boss is not only the most successful in the league’s short history, but the only one to have been in his job since its inception in the 1992-93 season, having become manager in 1986. As the 21st season draws to a close, Sir Alex has just brought the league title back to Old Trafford for the 13th time. But today football in Europe is not just about winning domestic trophies. In Europe’s leagues, finishing high enough to gain entry to the European Champions League has assumed great importance: it brings in pots of money and allows players to pit their skills against the best teams in other countries. A Champions League place is therefore a big draw for talented players, who in turn tend to demand big salaries. Since the Premier League began, United have never finished outside the top three. That is almost as impressive as the long list of titles.