Sir Alex Ferguson is set to return to the dugout next month after one of his former players asked him to be at his farewell match.
Ferguson retired from management in 2013 after a hugely successful 26-year spell in charge of Manchester United. During his time at Old Trafford, Ferguson won 13 Premier League titles, two Champions Leagues and a number of other major trophies.
Since his retirement, Ferguson has returned to the dugout for one-off occasions, such as United's treble reunion match in 2019 and Michael Carrick's testimonial. The 83-year-old is now set to make another one-off return for Giuseppe Rossi, who is having a farewell match in Florence next month.
Ferguson gave Rossi his professional debut after the striker joined United from Parma as a teenager. Although Rossi only made a handful of appearances for the Red Devils before joining Villarreal in 2007, he has a close relationship with Ferguson and has revealed he "immediately said yes" when he asked him about the match.
"He [Ferguson] will be there as a coach too," Rossi told TuttoMercatoWeb, as per Football Italia. "He was my first coach, I signed [for United] when I was 17. I only spent three years with him and played little, but he immediately said yes, which shows the kind of person he is.
"I didn't do much at United, but he treats me like a Ronaldo, who has scored 1,000 goals." Rossi is more well-known for his time at Villarreal and Fiorentina, while he also earned 30 caps for the Italian national team.
Former Fiorentina players Luca Toni, Antonio Cassano, Sebastien Frey, Borja Valero and Gabriel Batistuta will also be involved in Rossi's farewell match. "It will be a wonderful evening, a celebration for Florence and Fiorentina fans as well," he added.
"Florence is like a second home for me—every time I come back, I feel great. We had amazing moments, both at the stadium and beyond. Even though it was 'only' three years, they were very intense, with memories that will go down in history and tough times too, like the injuries."
Rossi announced his retirement from football in 2023, following two brief stints in Serie B with SPAL. "My journey is unique," he said at the time. "A lot of ups but also some downs. Those down moments (mostly injuries) never defined me.
"My purpose was stronger than any obstacle that was in front of me. I never stopped dreaming when things I couldn't control got in my way. I love the game so much that I could've never given up. That is why I'm writing this with a heavy heart but a big smile on face — I'm proud of what I accomplished!"