Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has revealed that he plans to stay in charge of the Premier League champions for three more years.By then Britain's most decorated boss will have spent 25 years at the helm at Old Trafford.

Ferguson has won 18 trophies after arriving at the club in November 1986 from Aberdeen - and remains anxious for more.

United are still in line for the treble for the first time since 1999 and face Portsmouth in the FA Cup on Saturday.

They are also aiming to retain their league title and have already booked a place in the quarter-finals of the Champions League this week after beating Lyon.

Ferguson had initially planned to retire in 2002, only to change his mind.

That decision was vindicated as he rebuilt his side, going on to claim last season's Premier League crown.

Ferguson believes it will be time go when he is 69.

"I still have a lot of passion. I'm still happy. But I'm 66 now - maybe three years more, then I'll finish," he told French radio.

Ferguson said it was too soon to mark out his successor. But he added: "I have a great assistant in Carlos Queiroz. He will come into the reckoning.

"But we have owners and a chief executive who will choose the new man in three years' time."

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