MANCHESTER, England--Amid a carnival atmosphere at a rainy Old Trafford, Manchester United gave the retiring Alex Ferguson and Paul Scholes a perfect send-off in their final home match by beating Swansea 2-1 in the Premier League.
Ferguson, who is stepping down at the end of the season after nearly 27 years as United manager, jumped out of his seat and punched the air in delight after Rio Ferdinand volleyed the winning goal into the back of the net in the 86th minute.
A beaming Ferguson hoisted up the Premier League trophy for a 13th and final time on Sunday as Britain's most successful football manager stood with his jubilant squad of players, dancing to a soundtrack of "Champions, Champions" being belted out by 76,000 fans.
There were no tears from Ferguson -- although he came close at times. Instead, just pure happiness and satisfaction.
"You have been the most fantastic experience of my life," Ferguson said. "Thank you.
"My retirement doesn't mean the end of my life with the club. I will be able to enjoy watching them rather than suffering with them."
Scholes played 66 minutes in his last home match before coming off to a standing ovation fand taking one final opportunity to salute a manager and player who have contributed so much to the club over the past three decades.
Ferguson stunned the world by announcing Wednesday that he would be bringing his managerial career to a close at the end of the season. He finally gave the reasons behind his decision, which he said he made at Christmas after his wife Cathy's sister died to spend more time with her.
"Also, I wanted to go out a winner. That's the most important thing I've wanted to be," said Ferguson, who will give way to Everton manager David Moyes.
Ferguson will always be a winner--13 league titles, two Champions League titles, five FA Cups and four League Cups is testament to that. That Rio Ferdinand slammed home a volley in the 87th minute against Swansea to clinch Ferguson's final home victory in his 1,499th game as United manager summed up the determination and drive embedded in the Scot's teams down the years.
Javier Hernandez put United in front in the 39th before Michu equalized for Swansea 10 minutes later. But the match was effectively meaningless as United had already wrapped up its 13th Premier League title.
United still has one game left this season -- at West Bromwich Albion next Sunday -- but this was the final opportunity for the club's fans to witness, and savour, the end of a trophy-filled era overseen by Ferguson.
Both teams formed a guard of honour as Ferguson emerged from the tunnel onto the pitch, with a sea of red flags bearing "Champions 2013" providing an eye-catching backdrop. Rarely has Old Trafford hosted an atmosphere like this, and Ferguson was clearly emotional.
As Ferguson made his way to the dugout, waving to the crowd and signing a batch of autographs along the way, the focus of the majority of the crowd turned to the 38-year-old Scholes, who was playing his 717th match for United and first since the end of January because of a knee injury.
Scholes will end his career having played 17,606 Premier League minutes at Old Trafford since signing professional terms with the club in 1993.
With the game approaching what is widely known in British football as "Fergie Time"--coined due to the amount of injury-time goals scored by United in Ferguson's tenure that started in 1986--an inswinging corner from Robin van Persie crept through to Ferdinand, who volleyed home amid a cacophony of noise for his first goal since January 2008.
One player who did not take part in the game was striker Wayne Rooney, who was left out of the squad after handing in a transfer request. The England international instead watched the game with his family from an executive box.
"I don't think Wayne Rooney was keen to play, simply because he's asked for a transfer," Ferguson said after the match. "But we won't sell him."
