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CARRINGTON, England -- Alex Ferguson is looking forward to a retired life of luxury holidays, watching horse racing, enjoying good wines and perhaps studying languages. Before that, though, theres one final challenge to overcome -- beating West Bromwich Albion on Sunday in his 1,500th and last game as Manchester United manager. "One thousand five hundred matches -- its quite incredible," Ferguson said Friday, shaking his head in wonder at his own longevity. The end of the road in Fergusons 39-year coaching career comes at The Hawthorns, an unassuming stadium in central England. He has already had one emotional farewell -- at Old Trafford on Sunday after a 2-1 win over Swansea that marked his final home match as United manager. On that occasion, there was a guard of honour, a five-minute speech to fans and relentless waving of red flags by United supporters who cant quite believe their manager of nearly 27 years is stepping aside. Theres also been Uniteds trophy parade through the streets of Manchester on Monday, when tens of thousands of people came out in force for one more glimpse of the legendary man and his Premier League title-winners. This weekends match promises to be another tear-jerker, although all Ferguson wants is a win. Its typical of him. "Every team wants to win their last home game -- thats a fact of life," said Ferguson, who was named the Premier Leagues manager of the year on Friday. "And also I want to win this one more than last weeks even." His coaching life began in 1974, with unheralded East Stirlingshire in the Scottish lower leagues. Ferguson remembers having "eight players and no goalkeeper." Now he has six goalkeepers and around 100 players to oversee. "Its a different life," Ferguson acknowledged. "Change is inevitable -- you have to manage that. "There have been big changes in this club in terms of number of staff, sports science, modern technology has come into it. When I started as a manager there were no agents, media was different then too. ... The changes are all there, integrated over a long period. But I dont think Ive changed much." Things are set to change in Fergusons life, however. No more getting up in the early hours and being the first person into Carrington, Uniteds vast and impressive training complex in west Manchester. No more picking teams, coaching world-class players, doing draining media duties. But that doesnt mean hell be enjoying regular 10-hour sleep-ins, as he did after the parade on Monday. "Its the first time in my life that Ive had 10 hours sleep -- (wife) Cathy kept making sounds round about me," Ferguson said. "I think she was just checking to see if I was alive." Fergusons new life will likely see him having a closer involvement in his second passion of horse racing and spending more time with his family and on holiday, particularly to his favourite destinations of New York and the south of France. Hes then scheduled to have hip surgery in July. "Im driven to take on some challenges and some other things right away," he said. "Ive got a league managers meeting on Monday, Im going to Newmarket (for horse racing) on Tuesday and Wednesday ... Im going on holiday on June 4, its the (English) Derby on June 1, Im going on holiday for a month. "Then Im having the operation, then Ive got the recuperation, then the season starts. So were all right." Ferguson, who will become a director at United once he passes on the reins to new manager David Moyes, made his decision to quit coaching last Christmas, in the wake of the death of his wifes sister. He said Friday he has no regrets, not even after the dejection he felt following Uniteds exit at the hands of Real Madrid in the Champions League in March, when winger Nani was controversially sent off with United ahead on aggregate in the two-legged match. That denied Ferguson the chance of a third title in the Champions League, a competition in which he has always acknowledged United has underperformed for a club of its stature. "I made my mind up long ago and that was it ... you cant be successful without disappointments, I think disappointments are good for you," Ferguson said. "Its a challenge to you and for your players character to recover and I think weve been doing that over the years." Ferguson was given a standing ovation at his final news conference Friday. He received a cake with a hairdryer made of icing on top, in reference to the so-called "hairdryer treatment" he dished out to players at halftime of matches. Thats just one of the many things Ferguson will be remembered for. "The memories are all there, 26 years at Manchester United is fantastic," Ferguson said. "The day I came here was a privilege and the day Ive left will be an honour. Im lucky to have been here that long." cheap jerseys from china .C. -- Kemba Walker and the Charlotte Bobcats got off to a fast start, and the Sacramento Kings were never quite able to catch up. china jerseys . First off, the fans ripped the Cubbies introduction of a fuzzy new kid-friendly mascot named "Clark". https://www.chinajerseysreplica.us/ . Three came down to the fourth quarter while quarterbacks continued to shine in all four games; so important to the overall quality of the game. wholesale jerseys china . The Lightning are 2-0 so far on a four-game road trip, giving the club five straight wins as the guest and improving Tampas away record this season to 11-8-2. replica jerseys china . McPhee said that Ovechkins father Mikhail is in stable condition after having the surgery this week and is no longer in intensive care. "Weve told him to stay as long as necessary with your dad," he said. Ovechkin and his Russian national team were eliminated from the mens hockey tournament in Sochi on Wednesday with a 3-1 quarter-final loss to Finland. HOOVER, Ala. -- LSUs Leonard Fournette was putting up massive rushing numbers last season until opponents started changing their defenses to stuff the run.That put the onus on quarterback Brandon Harris to make them pay.He couldnt do it.Fournette believes thats about to change and Harris can become one of the leagues best quarterbacks. If so, LSU could quickly become the team to beat in the Southeastern Conference.I think hes doing a tremendous job and Im ready to see the new Brandon Harris on in September, Fournette said on Thursday at SEC media days. He has a new swag to himself. Hes talking like a quarterback should talk. Hes taking over at practice.Expectations are very high in Baton Rouge after a 9-3 season that included a 5-3 mark in the SEC. The Tigers won their first seven games last season before a three-game losing streak to Alabama, Arkansas and Mississippi that derailed the season and nearly cost coach Les Miles his job.But Miles is back for this 12th season and LSU returns 17 starters, including nine on offense and eight on defense.Fournette -- who ran for an LSU single-season record 1,953 yards and 22 touchdowns last season -- is considered one of the Heisman favorites and the defense includes seasoned veterans like safety Jamal Adams and linebacker Kendell Beckwith.The only real question is at quarterback.The 6-foot-3, 206-pound Harris had some good momentss last season, throwing for 2,165 yards, 13 touchdowns and six interceptions while completing about 54 percent of his passes.ddddddddddddCertainly our play there will be significant, Miles said.If Harris can keep opposing defenses honest through the passing game, it should leave a little more room for Fournette to run. The 6-foot-1, 230-pound junior was a Heisman candidate last season until his performance tailed off during the seasons most important games in November.He said falling out of the Heisman race wasnt disappointing. Instead, it was losing three crucial games that bugged him.I think we forgot our `why, Fournette said. Why we work so hard just to get here. We were on top of the world, 7-0 and were in the SEC, the hardest and best conference to play in. We just had to get that back.Miles also spent a few minutes Thursday discussing the recent shooting of Alton Sterling by a white police officer in Baton Rouge. He hopes the football program can be part of helping society change.You reach for others, Miles said. You need to be respectful of their life and their opinion and who they are. You need compassion for people.---Follow David Brandt on Twitter: www.twitter.com/davidbrandtAP---AP College Football website: www.collegefootball.ap.org ' ' '