Guardian

SIR: As a Chelsea fan, Sir Alex Ferguson, the manager of Manchester United FC’s decision to quit his job fills me with great joy and relief. (Too bad for Man U fans). If there was any man who stood between Chelsea (ok, and other teams) and the English Premier League silverwares, it is Ferguson. The man straddled the league like a colossus. I know no greater joy than when he loses. And now the Fergie Time is over!

When I say Fergie Time do not mistake it with the 27 years he spent as the manager of Manchester United. The Fergie Time I mean was first heard in the 90s. It is that extra period that referees add that drags a match long enough every time Manchester United needs a crucial goal. The first was in 1993 when United got seven whopping minutes of injury time against Sheffield Wednesday and scored to win a first top-division championship since 1967. And after that there have been many of them. To the opposition it is crazy, an injustice, but to Man U fans it is exciting, a miracle.

Yet, no one can take his managerial capabilities away from him. He is got the charisma. His team looks on him like a father. It is always difficult to defeat a team that believes in a coach and plays for him. He instilled in his boys a comeback, it-is-not-over-till-the-fat-lady-sings mentality that is unrivalled in football. Sometimes you think they get their cue, or even the match plan from the intensity in which Ferguson chewed his gum.

Ferguson is also smart. He knows it is the last impression that lingers on. He wants history to be forever kind to him. He does not want to sully his status as a Manchester United legend and icon. He is leaving, or do I say ‘stepping aside’ at the right time. His 27 years as Manchester United manager remain glorious, and will be difficult to match. He won 38 trophies with Manchester United. That included 13 league titles, two Champions Leagues, five FA Cups and four League Cups. Before this he tasted success in Scotland, first with St Mirren where he won the first division title in 1977, and then Aberdeen, with three Scottish Premier Division titles, four Scottish Cups, three League Cups, and a famous European Cup Winners Cup victory over Real Madrid in 1983.

African leaders can learn from Ferguson. At first, African leaders may come with good intentions for their people. They may improve the lot of their people. Instead of leaving when they should they wait to be booted out in shame after destroying what they may have built. If only African leaders know that the best time to leave is when they are loved by the people, when they are doing well. This raises the bar for the incoming person.

Yet I could not help the sneaky feeling that Ferguson knows that come next season Jose Mourinho could be coming back to Chelsea. And with Manchester City’s ever bigger dreams? Trophy starved Arsenal? Vengeful Liverpool? Surely there is a knight who knows the best time to ‘step aside’ is now.

• Cosmas Odoemena,

Lagos.