Farewell Dwight Yorke

Dwight Yorke, the former Manchester United forward whose goals led the club to 1999 treble glory, has retired from football at the age of 37 and intends to become a coach. He is to take up the post of assistant manager of the Trinidad and Tobago national team as a first step into coaching. Yorke's contract with Sunderland - his final club - was not renewed at the end of last season.

"It's time to hang up my boots," said the striker who scored 64 goals in 151 appearances for United.

"While I'm still in great shape, I'm not getting any younger. I've had the time of my life. I hope people will say that I played the game in the right way with a smile on my face.

"I've been blessed really. I've played alongside some of the greatest players the Premier League has ever seen in Roy Keane, Paul Scholes, Ryan Giggs, David Beckham, Peter Schmeichel, and played for the greatest manager in Alex Ferguson."

Yorke eventually fell out with Sir Alex Ferguson over the player's excessive lifestyle, but the player contributed fully to one of the most successful periods in United's history between 1998 and 2002. In the player's first three seasons the club won an unprecedented three Premier League trophies in a row and the 1999 European Cup.

It was Yorke's partnership with Andy Cole that the Trinidad and Tobago international will be best remembered for. Yorke finished top scorer in the 1999 season and the combination proved devastating. Famously the pair one-two'ed its way through the Barcelona defence on way to United's 3-3 draw in the Noup Camp.

It was a great return for Yorke, the man from the tiny island, who arrived at Old Trafford after nearly 10 years at Aston Villa. Despite leaving the club for United in a contentious GBP12.6 million deal - and later playing for Birmingham City - Yorke is still held in high esteem at Villa Park as one of their greatest ever players. So he should be. Yorke has always been the player with a smile on his face. Talented but also very much a man of the people.

Yorke's off-the-field activities and the arrival of Ruud van Nistelrooy put paid to his United career after four seasons. The forward's relationship with 'model' Jordan, with whom he had a son, was played out in the public through the tabloids - a scenario that Ferguson is never happy with.

The player was eventually sold for GBP2 million to Blackburn in the summer of 2002 but it was a sad end to a wonderful, if short, United career. He played out his days with Blackburn, Birmingham, Sydney FC and then Sunderland - reinventing himself as a deep lying midfielder late in his career.

But for such patriotic man it is perhaps the 2006 World Cup finals in Germany that was Yorke's proudest moment. He captained the tiny Trinidad and Tobago to thier first tournament.

"I'll always count myself lucky," said Yorke.

"I was a boy on a beach from a little Caribbean island that got the chance to fulfil his dream of winning trophies at the highest level and captaining his country in their first ever World Cup Finals."

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Man United legends back decision to sell Ronaldo

MANCHESTER: Manchester United's decision to sell Cristiano Ronaldo to Real Madrid for a world record 80 million pounds (RM465 million) has been backed by some of the club's former idols.

Mark Hughes, currently in charge at local rivals Manchester City, enjoyed two successful spells as a player at Old Trafford and is adamant Sir Alex Ferguson has only agreed to let Ronaldo go because he believes it is in United's best interests in the long-term.

"Obviously Manchester United feel it is good business for them," Hughes said on Thursday. "Sir Alex Ferguson makes key decisions very quickly and I suspect he will have been very much involved in what has happened.

"He has made what he thinks is the right decision for the club and we have to respect that.

"It is a significant amount of money and I am sure Real Madrid will be very pleased with the business they have been able to do as well."

Meanwhile, Tommy Docherty, who was United's manager for five years in the 1970s, told Sky Sports News: "I think United should cut their hands off and run and don't even consider about it at all.

"I can only think Sir Alex has come to the conclusion - and I think he's quite right - to get rid of him because the same problem is going to arise next year again and the year after.

"I think he (Ronaldo) has fallen out with him (Ferguson) once or twice.

Not Sir Alex's fault I might add, I think the problem is between Ronaldo and his agent Mendes that leads to a fall-out.

"When you fall out with Sir Alex, whatever may be the reasons - (David) Beckham did it as well with the entourage he carried with him - they're on their way.

"You can't have this disharmony brought upon the players and the club every year and I think United can give Real Madrid the problem of handling Ronaldo from now on in.