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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." 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The Dutchmans tenure got off to a poor start when referee Guido Winkmann awarded a penalty within two minutes for Niklas Starks clumsy challenge on Alexandru Maxim. KD Shoes From China . -- Stanfords Kevin Danser knelt on one knee and hardly moved on the sideline as Michigan State celebrated its Rose Bowl victory and his Cardinal teammates made their way to the locker room.ALLEN PARK, Mich. -- Ndamukong Suh went to the front of the line to lead the way. And when it wasnt Suhs turn, he had words of encouragement -- which included a playful jab -- for his fellow defensive linemen. "OK, fat boy!" Suh screamed at Nick Fairley as the beefy tackle picked up and put down tennis balls as he sprinted around the path of a figure eight. "I see you, Zig!" Suh later shouted at rookie Ezekiel "Ziggy" Ansah. In Suhs first three seasons, the defensive tackle deferred leadership responsibilities to Kyle Vanden Bosch, Corey Williams and Cliff Avril. Those three veterans are gone, leaving Suh with a chance to lead, even if its just his group for now. Defensive end Willie Young has seen Suh take advantage of the opportunity during this weeks minicamp. "Hes definitely stepped it up," Young said Wednesday. "His actions say a lot." Suh shrugged off the changes others are seeing from him this week. "Im just being me," he said in an interview with The Associated Press. "We had senior leadership with guys who earned their place in the league and I only spoke up when I felt like I needed to. The same thing happened at Nebraska, where it wasnt until my junior or senior years that I got more vocal." Unlike Cornhuskers coach Bo Pelini, who encouraged Suh to be a leader of the team and face of the program, Lions coach Jim Schwartz isnt pushing for Suh to do more than make plays to help Detroit win. Suhs statistics have slipped since his rookie year in 2010, when the No. 2 overall pick had 49 solo tackles, including 10 sacks. He made fewer tackles in each of the next two years with four- and eight-sack seasons. "As a defensive tackle, sometimes you have to create plays for others that dont result in a statistic," Suh said. "Im fine with that as long as the job gets done and we win." In the meantime, Suh has developed a reputation as a dirty player. He was fined $30,000 last season for unnecessary roughness when his cleat collided with Houston quarterback Matt Schaub in the groin area.dddddddddddd The league suspended Suh for two games in 2010 for stomping on Green Bays Evan Dietrich-Smith. That Thanksgiving game came during a season in which he roughed up QBs in questionable ways. Hes hoping for a drama-free, successful 2013. "You always want to be recognized for what you do on the field to help your team win," Suh told The AP. "All the other nonsense and noise, to me, its over." Suh doesnt think he should be labeled a dirty player. "Look at my track record," he said. "Habits are things you continuously do." Suh has regularly done unique activities with his free time during offseasons. He appeared on the ABC reality show "Splash" earlier this year and was previously on a reality dating show and in a car race. "I had a great experience and got some friendships out of Splash, and from an athletic standpoint, it was a chance to challenge myself outside of my comfort zone," Suh said. "Being able to adapt to different elements is something I pride myself on." Detroits leadership structure on defence was altered as soon as Vanden Bosch was released in February and when the team didnt re-sign Avril and Williams as free agents. Defensive co-ordinator Gunther Cunningham recalled being told by one of the teams strength coaches that Suh was doing a good job of leading his group. "Hes being a real team guy and hasnt lost his ability," Cunningham said. "So, thats a good thing." Suh said it would be great if his extra efforts lead to him becoming a team captain. "It would be a tremendous honour for my peers to vote for me to lead them," he said. NOTES: RB Reggie Bush said he wasnt concerned about "tweaking" an ankle after catching a short pass and falling during a drill Wednesday. ... The Lions will have a minicamp practice Thursday, then players will have a break before training camp next month. ' ' '