MANCHESTER, England (AP) — Manchester United great Alex Ferguson will step down from his lucrative role as club ambassador at the end of the season, a person with knowledge of the decision told The Associated Press on Tuesday.
The person spoke on the condition of anonymity because the move has not been publicly announced.
Ferguson will be 83 in December and the person said the ending of his ambassadorship — which had been worth millions of dollars — was “amicable” and he would “always be welcome at Old Trafford.”
Ferguson won 13 Premier League titles with United and is widely regarded as one of the best managers in the history of soccer. He is United's most successful manager, having won 28 major trophies.
He has been a club ambassador since retiring after leading United to its last league title in 2013. In financial accounts from 2014, United said Ferguson was paid 2.16 million pounds ($2.8 million at current exchange rates) for services as a global ambassador.
His imminent departure comes at a time when the club is undergoing major change following the partial buyout by British billionaire Jim Ratcliffe in February.
United has undergone an extensive restructuring program following Ratcliffe’s investment of $1.3 billion for a 27.7% stake and implemented cost-saving initiatives that it said included staff redundancies of around 250 roles.
United reported losses of 113.2 million pounds ($148 million) in its latest accounts.
Ferguson was hired by United in 1986 at a time when the club had long-since lost its place as the pre-eminent force in English soccer.
He ended its 26-year wait for the league title in 1993 and went on to dominate the Premier League era right up until his retirement when United was crowned champion with an 11-point lead over Abu Dhabi-backed Manchester City.
He also won two Champions League titles and an unprecedented treble of trophies in 1999 when leading United to victory in the Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup.
He has been a regular spectator at United games since his retirement, watching the team home and away during a time when the club has been in obvious decline on the field.
Ratcliffe assumed control of United's soccer operations as part of his minority investment. The sporting side had previously been under the control of the majority owning American Glazer family.
A new CEO, Omar Berrada, and sporting director, Dan Ashworth, have been installed, while key figures at Ratcliffe’s Ineos Sport, Dave Brailsford and Jean-Claude Blanc, have been appointed to the board.
Ferguson remains a non-executive director on the board.
James Robson is at https://twitter.com/jamesalanrobson
AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
FILE - Former Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson, watches a large TV screen during The County Hurdle race as his horse L'Eau Du Sud came in second place behind Absurde, during the final day of the Cheltenham Festival at Cheltenham Racecourse, England, Friday, March 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Dave Shopland, File)
FILE - Former Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson waves as he takes his seat on the stands before the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester United and Wolverhampton Wanderers at Old Trafford stadium in Manchester, England, Saturday, Sept. 22, 2018. (AP Photo/Rui Vieira, File)
With star quarterback Dak Prescott already sidelined for the season by a torn hamstring, the Dallas Cowboys now have to go the rest of the way without right guard Zack Martin because of the seven-time All-Pro's bad ankle.
The latest injury downer for Dallas comes with the Cowboys (5-7) on the upswing of consecutive victories that have stoked hope for an improbable rally to playoff contention.
Cincinnati visits Monday night, the second of three straight opponents with losing records but easily the most dangerous with quarterback Joe Burrow playing at an MVP level despite the Bengals' baffling 4-8 record.
“It’s just like nothing changes,” star Dallas pass rusher Micah Parsons said. “We got who we got, and nothing’s going to change that. Let’s just play ball, man. Let’s just have fun. We got a great opportunity Monday night to put on a show. We’re gonna be the only show on TV.”
Burrow is one of five QBs in NFL history with at least 30 touchdown passes and no more than five interceptions through 12 games. He entered the week leading the league in passing yards (3,337), completions (302) and touchdowns (30), and he's thrown just five picks.
Yet Burrow doesn't even have half the number of victories of the others to put up those numbers in 12 games. Two of them, Aaron Rodgers with Green Bay in 2012 and Tom Brady with New England in 2007, were 12-0.
While Burrow said he isn't even thinking about the postseason as the Bengals try to end their second three-game losing streak of the season, he believes there's something to be said for the second Monday night game of the season for both teams.
“Whether you like it or not, how you perform on prime-time games matters as far as perception across the league,” said Burrow, who has at least 300 yards passing and three TDs in all three of the consecutive losses. “I think if you perform great on prime-time nights, then you start to get a little different reputation across the league.”
Martin decided this week to have season-ending ankle surgery after missing the past two games. The injury happened late in Dallas' previous Monday night game, a 34-10 loss to Houston on Nov. 18.
Prescott also had season-ending surgery on his hamstring after playing eight games. Defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence hasn't played since injuring a foot in Week 4, and appears to be at least another week away from returning.
“It’s not a matter of if you’re going to have injuries, you’re always going to have injuries,” Dallas coach Mike McCarthy said. “It’s just a matter of how many and when they come and who gets injuries. It takes so many players to get through the season, and this is another illustration of that.”
Cincinnati's three-game skid looks familiar to the Cowboys, who lost five in a row before winning the past two. Dallas' 27-20 Thanksgiving victory over the New York Giants ended a six-game home skid going back to last season's playoff loss to Green Bay.
Even without Burrow's standout stats, the Bengals would have the Cowboys' attention.
“When your offense is rolling, it puts a different level of stress on the defense,” McCarthy said. “The thing that we’re seeing is that they throw a lot at you. This is a very good football team. I would never think that their record illustrates what we see on video.”
Seven of the Bengals’ losses this season have been one-score games, and Cincinnati is the first NFL team to lose four games in a season in which it scored 33 points or more. The Bengals have averaged 30.3 points per game against teams with a .500 or better records, but they're 0-7 in those games.
Defense is the obvious place to start for an explanation.
In last week's 44-38 loss to Pittsburgh, Cincinnati gave up 520 totals yards, and Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson threw for 414 yards, the second-most of his career, and three TDs.
DeMarvion Overshown's spectacular 23-yard interception return for a touchdown against the Giants might end up being the coming-out party for Dallas' second-year linebacker. That's partly because he missed his rookie season with a knee injury.
When Overshown tipped Drew Lock's pass, ran down the deflection and scored untouched, he suddenly found himself in the company of Parsons, who is trying to go 4-for-4 in double-digit sack seasons after missing four games with a high ankle sprain.
Overshown set up the flashy play with old-fashioned physical football, overpowering Devin Singletary when the running back tried to block him and ending up between the quarterback and his RB.
“I think the best part is him defeating the block,” Parsons said. “I think the fact that the bulldozer in him, ‘I’m not going to make a move, I’m going to run through the dude.’ That’s probably the reason why he got the pick.”
Injuries have shaken up the Bengals' offensive line this season, and coach Zac Taylor is still searching for the right combination.
Veteran Cody Ford, who stepped in at left tackle when Orlando Brown Jr. was injured, replaced the benched Cordell Volson at left guard against the Steelers. Ford played well enough to get another start.
Amarius Mims, the rookie first-round draft pick, was pushed into a starting role at right tackle when Trent Brown suffered a season-ending knee injury in Week 4.
AP Sports Writer Mitch Stacy contributed to this report.
AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver George Pickens (14) catches a pass while defended by Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Josh Newton, right, during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Joshua A. Bickel)
Dallas Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy responds to questions during a news conference after an NFL football game against the New York Giants in Arlington, Texas, Thursday, Nov. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Jerome Miron)
Dallas Cowboys linebackers Micah Parsons (11) and DeMarvion Overshown (13) celebrate a sack against the New York Giants during the first half of an NFL football game in Arlington, Texas, Thursday, Nov. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Jerome Miron)
