(Getty)

Numerous reports have revealed that two weeks before Sir Alex Ferguson announced his retirement, Wayne Rooney made his second transfer request in three years. When Rooney said Manchester United didn't match his ambition and flirted with Man City in in 2010, he was faced with death threats and eventually got a pay bump and a couple more titles. Now, he has reportedly asked to be sold again and Man United have responded by saying he's not for sale. The following is a transcript of Rooney's meeting with Ferguson on the matter.

Rooney: Boss, we need to talk.

Ferguson: I'm not debating you on whether scientists can bring dinosaurs back to life like in Jurassic Park, Wayne. Forget it. It's not happening.

Rooney: It's not that. Look. I know I've said it before and I have a contract for another two years, but I want to go now. I want a transfer.

Ferguson: Oh you do, do you?

Rooney: Yes. I do do. I do do do.

Ferguson: Well you're not going anywhere, you hair transplanted twit. I am, but you're

Thierry Henry scored twice in New York's 2-1 win over Montreal and his second goal wasn't what you would expect from a 35-year-old in the twilight of his career. With New York up 1-0 in the 88th minute, Juninho's corner kick was headed back to Henry, who flung his feet into the air to score from just inside the six-yard box.

It looked like it took a bit more effort than it would've 10 years ago, but it was still a lovely goal (even if the commentator went way overboard calling it the "goal of the decade") and it proved to be the difference in the match since Marco Di Vaio scored for Montreal in the second minute of injury time.

Henry now has five goals on the season, putting him one behind the league leaders.

(The Economist)

The Economist put together the excellent chart above, making it clear just how impressive Sir Alex Ferguson's achievements at Manchester United were and how many managers Europe's other top clubs have gone through in their attempts to achieve what he has. The most stunning visual is that of the one little manager symbol beside Man United's name at the top. No other club (the highest earners in the 2011/12 season) has had less than six since 1992 and Real Madrid have the most at 20. Twenty!

Ferguson won more domestic league titles than all the others and, along with Bayern Munich's 15 managers, won 31 percent of the trophies available during his tenure. There aren't enough accolades for figures like that, but on the flip side, you have to wonder what will happen now in English football with that silverware clog finally gone.

Only one manager besides Ferguson has won back to back titles in the Premier League era and that's Jose Mourinho. Perhaps with his likely return to the league, he

(Getty)

After all the trophies and the longevity and the fearsome reputation, one of the things Sir Alex Ferguson is best known for is Fergie Time. That extra bit of added time at the end of a match that always seemed to last just long enough for Man United to find a goal when they needed it most. Dismissed as a myth and adopted as a running joke, statisticians have found that there might have been something to Fergie Time after all.

But now, as Sir Alex retires after an astounding 26 years in charge of Man United, Fergie Time takes its most real and commercial form yet. Following Ferguson's announcement, Nando's chicken restaurants announced that nine of their Manchester locations would stay open an extra five minutes Wednesday night in his honor. From Nando's website:

So, after 26 years in charge, Sir Alex Ferguson is finally calling it a day at Manchester United. Now he can spend time enjoying the finer things in life – golf, extended holidays, and helpings of PERi-PERi chicken.

And what better way to celebrate the legend that is Sir Alex, by keeping our Manchester restaurants open for an extra five minutes this evening. We’re calling it #NandosFergieTime.

And that's how you do that.

AS Roma missed the chance to move up to fourth in Serie A after a 1-0 home defeat to Chievo on Tuesday. The result is particularly disappointing for i Giallorossi, as they enjoyed over two thirds of the possession and club legend Daniele De Rossi pulled off a career-defining piece of simulation.

As De Rossi argued with the referee about a corner kick near the end of the first half, Chievo defender Dario Dainelli appeared to lightly step on De Rossi's foot. The World Cup-winning midfielder then used Dainelli to launch himself to the ground and proceeded to roll around as if his baffled opponent had just shattered his ankle.

Quite how De Rossi thought he could pull off such theatrics right in front of the referee is anyone's guess, but the man in black's body language suggests he isn't too impressed.

H/T: 101GG

(Getty)

Let's review the facts. Before Manchester United's match against my Chelsea team on the 5th of May, Sir Alex Ferguson wrote in the matchday program, "I certainly don't have any plans at the moment to walk away." Then I beat him 1-0 and David Luiz laughed at him. This was the second time I beat his team this season. Clearly Mr. Ferguson finally realized that I am the better manager and felt he had no other choice but to go against his word and retire in shame. This is a fact.

His decision also comes after I was named Premier League Manager of the Month for April 2013. Not "Interim" Manager of the Month. Just Manager of the Month. Because that is what I am. Mr. Ferguson has not won this award since October 2012. Even Brian McDermott has won it since then and Reading are getting relegated. Ouchfact.

I also knocked Manchester United out of the FA Cup and got Chelsea into the Europa League final using only my superior tactics and ring of mouth hair. Mr. Ferguson could not even get Man

(Getty)

Sir Alex Ferguson has decided to retire as manager of Manchester United at the end of this season after 26 years in charge of the club. Now 71 years old, the most successful manager in English football history has already won the Premier League title this season, his 13th with the club and 38th trophy overall since taking over in 1986, but he will not leave Man United entirely. Instead, he will stay on as "both director and ambassador for the club."

His statement (via the Guardian):

"The decision to retire is one that I have thought a great deal about and one that I have not taken lightly. It is the right time. It was important to me to leave an organisation in the strongest possible shape and I believe I have done so. The quality of this league winning squad, and the balance of ages within it, bodes well for continued success at the highest level whilst the structure of the youth set-up will ensure that the long- term future of the club remains a bright one.

"Our training facilities

Di Stefano with his bride to be. (El Mundo)

Alfredo Di Stefano, Real Madrid's 86-year-old honorary president and all-time great, announced his intent to marry 36-year-old Gina Gonzalez last weekend. He knew his adult children would be against the union, saying, "They might be against it. But that is not important to me." Well, it turns out they are very against it and now they've filed court papers to prevent the wedding and have him declared mentally and physically incapable. Which makes the whole situation a bit sad.

From Reuters:

They also want to protect his assets, according to a statement from the five children carried in local media.

"We believe his current state of vulnerability, together with his obvious media profile, could result in abusive conduct towards him," the statement said.

"It is precisely this that we intend to avert by means of the legal protection we are seeking, while at the same time trying to protect the image and honour, both of our father and, in general, of our family."

It's a shame it has to come