A gathering of Manchester United legends offered a moment of nostalgia for fans amidst the club's current struggles. Several former players reunited to celebrate Sir Alex Ferguson's 40th anniversary as manager, a photo of which circulated online.
Ferguson, who retired in 2013, led Manchester United to 38 major honors during his 26-year tenure. The celebration in Manchester included notable figures such as Michael Carrick, Edwin van der Sar, Nemanja Vidic, Robin van Persie, Darren Fletcher, Jonny Evans, Javier Hernandez, and John O'Shea, alongside actor and devoted United fan James Nesbitt.
Post-Playing Careers of United's Elite
Michael Carrick, recently sacked as Manchester United's head coach, endured a difficult start to the season. He was dismissed after overseeing the club's worst top-flight opening in Premier League history, with only one win in ten matches. This followed a successful interim period where he guided the team to a third-place finish and Champions League qualification the previous season.
Jonny Evans, like Carrick, was part of the coaching staff and lost his role following Carrick's departure. After retiring as a player, Evans served as head of loans and pathways before rejoining the club to assist during Fletcher's caretaker management stint and subsequently working under Carrick.
Darren Fletcher remains directly involved with the club as the Under 18s head coach. He also served as the first-team interim head coach last season following the sacking of Ruben Amorim. Fletcher is currently mentoring young talents, including Kai Rooney and Jacey Carrick.
Nemanja Vidic, the former captain, has shifted his focus to building a real estate portfolio. In July, he revealed investments in apartments in Belgrade. However, reports surfaced this summer detailing alleged intimidation attempts against Vidic by a former Serbian football chief in 2020, following Vidic's public criticism of the Serbian Football Association. Vidic and his legal team have initiated criminal proceedings regarding these claims.
Edwin van der Sar, who had a nearly seven-year tenure as CEO of Ajax, is currently taking time away from football. During his time at Ajax, the club reached the 2017 Europa League final and the 2019 Champions League semi-finals. In July 2023, he suffered a brain haemorrhage while on holiday. He has since recovered and is reportedly enjoying personal time with his wife.
Robin van Persie has ventured into management. His spells at Dutch clubs Heerenveen and Feyenoord concluded with sackings. At Feyenoord, he was dismissed in June after 16 months, despite guiding the team to a second-place finish in the Eredivisie, which was 19 points behind the champions.
Javier Hernandez is the only player from the celebrated group still actively playing. In July, the 38-year-old striker signed a two-year deal with USL Championship expansion club Atletico Dallas, with his debut set for March 2027. He also served as an analyst for FOX during the recent World Cup. Last year, Hernandez faced backlash and issued an apology for comments made on TikTok that were criticized for promoting sexist stereotypes.
John O'Shea is currently serving as the assistant head coach for the Republic of Ireland national team, a position he assumed in August 2024. He previously managed the team for four friendly fixtures after the departure of Stephen Kenny, recording one win, one draw, and two defeats. O'Shea aims to help his country qualify for Euro 2028.