MANCHESTER, England England defender Gary Neville fears Manchester United's trophy-winning team will break up when Manager Alex Ferguson retires in 2002.

Neville said up to five players could leave when Ferguson quits at the end of next season.

"It will be frightening for a lot of us who have been here for 15 years, all under one manager," Neville told the club's official **** CD-ROM **** magazine on Thursday.

"Some of the lads have been at the club since they were 13 or 14 and don't know any different. When the manager leaves, it may be that five or six of his side will leave. And before you know it, you are trying to create another team.

"Look what happened to Liverpool. They are a massive club, but have not won anything for years."

Neville said the only way United could avoid slipping from their perch as the Premier League's top side when Ferguson left was to continue to follow the Scot's work ethic.

(Reuter)