No sign of retirement from Fergie, says Sir Bobby

Sir Bobby Charlton has raised the possibility that Sir Alex Ferguson may continue as Manchester United manager for another five years.

Ferguson has eclipsed Sir Matt Busby as United's longest–serving manager and celebrates his 69th birthday on New Year's Eve.

At an age when most of his peers are happily settled into retirement, sitting back to enjoy the fruits of their labours, Ferguson is spying a record 19th league title for United and plotting yet another Champions League campaign.

The Glaswegian has long since given up discussing when the inevitable day will come.

He still recalls the way his side buckled when he first declared an intention to quit in 2002 and now restricts himself to simple confirmations that, as long as he remains healthy, he sees no reason to step aside.

And, having observed Ferguson at close quarters, Charlton sees no dilution of his hunger or desire to continue in the most pressurised of roles.

"Who is to say?" said Charlton. "His body language suggests there is no reason why he shouldn't keep doing more and more. I think that is what is going to happen.

"It is a shame for our rivals. They might not be to happy to think Alex Ferguson might be here for another five or 10 years.

"For them it is unthinkable. But what a pleasure for Manchester United fans."