This week will mark the release of Sir Alex Ferguson's second autobiography.

It is a publication in which the former Manchester United manager, who retired at the end of last season, has vowed not to hold back.

So, with the 71-year-old likely to lift the lid on a number of issues, Sports Mole has picked out five subjects that we hope he has tackled since his last book was released in 2001.

Rock of Gibraltar saga

It's hard to believe that a racehorse could have had such an impact on one of England's most successful clubs. Ferguson was invited to invest in the £100m stallion by Irish millionaires John Magnier and JP McManus, who had a sizeable stake in United. In 2004, though, Ferguson fell out with his friends, believing that he was entitled not only to some of the Rock's prize money, but also a slice of the stud fees. The matter was eventually settled out of court, but soon after Messrs Magnier and McManus sold their shareholding in the club to Malcolm Glazer, thus plunging United into severe debt.

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Relationship with David Beckham

"His life changed when he married and his focus changed. Well, he got drawn into that celebrity status, you know. For me, I'm a football man."

That is what Ferguson said about Beckham during a recent interview on American television. Along with the Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes, Nicky Butt and the Neville brothers, Ferguson, with the aid of youth team coach Eric Harrison, had nurtured Beckham. His marriage to Spice Girl Victoria Adams altered the relationship between manager and player, though. Numerous incidents, including one where a stray boot kicked by Ferguson in the dressing after an FA Cup tie with Arsenal struck Beckham above the eye, saw the understanding between the pair seemingly break down. Beckham was sold in the summer of 2003 to Real Madrid, despite being regarded to still be in his prime.

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Roy Keane's departure

The majority of players who caused Ferguson any bother had their United careers cut short. However, there were those who were dealt with leniently - Eric Cantona being one, while Keane was another. The Irishman was Ferguson's lieutenant on the pitch and on more than one occasion he dragged United out of the mire. Nevertheless, in 2005, even Ferguson could not defend his captain following an interview that he had given to MUTV in which he had criticised a number of his teammates. Keane's contract was cancelled soon after and it has been reported that the once strong bond is yet to be fully patched up.

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Did Wayne Rooney ask for a transfer?

It's the subject that Ferguson's replacement, David Moyes, must be dreading coming up. Rooney expressed a desire to leave Old Trafford in 2011, having questioned the club's ambition. Ferguson was able to talk him round, but soon after he had announced his attention to retire in April of this year, the Scot claimed that the striker had asked to depart again. It's an accusation that Rooney has reportedly denied and has instead insisted that he only sought clarification over his playing position. Moyes managed to convince Rooney to stay put during the summer despite his apparent desire to jump ship to Chelsea, but more revelations from Ferguson could prove terminal for Rooney's United career.

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Why not Jose Mourinho?

From the moment that news broke of Moyes's appointment, Ferguson has backed his fellow countryman. After all, Ferguson had a big say in who was to replace him. There were many people, though, who believed that Mourinho should have been a leading candidate to fill the void. Some journalists have claimed that Mourinho was desperate to replace someone who he viewed as a mentor, but United did not even make contact with the now Chelsea boss. One Spanish report even suggested that the fact that he was overlooked left Mourinho in tears.

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