Former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson is set to make a surprise return to the touchline this weekend. The Scot retired from management in 2013, though that has not prevented him from making guest appearances.

Ferguson will be among the managers at the Stadio Franchi in Florence on Saturday for Giuseppe Rossi’s farewell match.

Rossi retired in 2023 after enjoying a sensational career around Europe, and several stars are set to travel to Italy to compete in the match – including Luca Toni, Antonio Cassano and Gabriel Omar Batistuta.

Though it is not just players who are keen to take part in the match, Rossi has also confirmed that Ferguson will be on the touchline for the match. He revealed: “Ferguson will be there as a coach. He was my first coach, I signed when I was 17.

“I only did three years with him and played little, but he immediately said yes and this shows what kind of person he is. I did little at United but he treats me like Cristiano Ronaldo, who has scored 1000 goals.”

The 83-year-old has been a familiar face at Old Trafford since leaving United, watching games form the stands when possible. Ferguson has also returned to the touchline for other commemorative matches previously too.

He managed the Red Devils’ treble-winning reunion match in 2019, as well as Michael Carrick’s testimonial.

Ferguson may have expected to his returns to become even more scarce after he was axed by INEOS in October. The United legend saw his contract as a global ambassador for the club terminated as part of Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s cost-cutting spree.

Ferguson was reportedly being paid £2.16million per year in the role, which saw him act as a director on the board and feature prominently behind the scenes. However, Ratcliffe was not convinced that Ferguson – along with numerous other individuals – should remain in their positions at a time when the Red Devils are desperate to bring their costs down.

The decision to part ways with one of the most important figures in United history raised eyebrows given that Ferguson won 38 trophies during his 26-year spell at the club – and the Red Devils have been in a downward spiral since his retirement.