Ferdinand reveals Man United squad shock at Ferguson’s retirement

Rio Ferdinand has revealed there was a “real mad silence” after Sir Alex Ferguson told his Red Devils squad about his retirement.

Last week, the 71-year-old announced he would be calling time on his 26-year reign at United in the summer after guiding the club to their 20th top-flight crown.

Everton manager David Moyes has already been named as Ferguson’s successor, but Ferdinand says none of the Red Devils players expected the Scot to call time on his career.

“We came in and there was a notice on the board to say there was a meeting,” Ferdinand told United’s website.

“Everyone was thinking there were rumours in the paper that the manager is going to leave but we’re a bit like: ‘There’s no chance he’ll be leaving. There are too many good things going on at the club and what’s going to happen in the next couple of years because of the squad he’s building’.

“Then he broke the news and the most I remember from it was that it was dead quiet in the room. Even when he left, there was real mad silence and I think that’s just a combination of disappointment and respect as well for the manager’s decision.

“For what he’s done for the club, for us as individuals and as a team, you’ve got to respect his decision. He’s been in the game for a long time, he knows what he’s doing and I think he deserves a rest.”