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Rio not convinced Fergie will leave within three years

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Manager loves the game and club and will be hard to replace, says Rio Ferdinand

Rio Ferdinand says Sir Alex Ferguson will not honour his recent pledge to retire within three years.

The defender said: "I do not think he will leave in two or three years. His passion for the game will override everything else. I loves football, he lives and breathes it."

Ferdinand acknowledges that the most succesful manager in the club's history will leave United at some point but is not worried about the future.

He said: "He would never leave us in the lurch. There is nothing to be fearful of in the future. The manager will leave the club in very capable hands."

But whoever takes over from Ferguson will face a daunting task. Ferdinand added: "They will be massive shoes to fill."