Alex Ferguson is a retired Scottish football player and coach who is best known for his successful 26-year tenure as the manager of Manchester United, one of the most popular and successful football clubs in the world.
Ferguson was born on December 31, 1941, in Glasgow, Scotland. He started his playing career in Scotland with Queen’s Park and later played for several other Scottish clubs, including Dunfermline Athletic, Rangers, and Falkirk. However, he is perhaps best known for his time as the manager of Aberdeen, a Scottish club that he led to three Scottish league titles, four Scottish cups, and a European Cup Winners’ Cup title in 1983.
In November 1986, Ferguson was appointed as the manager of Manchester United, and he would go on to become the most successful manager in the club’s history. During his 26-year tenure, he won 13 English Premier League titles, five FA Cups, four League Cups, and two UEFA Champions League titles. His teams were renowned for their attacking play, tenacity, and never-say-die attitude, and he was widely credited with building a team that was greater than the sum of its parts.
Ferguson was known for his man-management skills, his ability to spot and develop young talent, and his fierce competitiveness. He was also known for his fiery temper, and his famous “hairdryer treatment” – a dressing-down that he would give to players who he felt had underperformed.
Alex Ferguson’s man-management skills
Building team spirit: Ferguson was known for his ability to foster a sense of togetherness and camaraderie among his players. He encouraged his players to socialize off the field and often organized team-building exercises and events to help them bond.
Motivating players: Ferguson was a master motivator, and he knew how to get the best out of his players. He would often give them individual pep talks or set them specific targets to work towards.
Handling difficult players: Ferguson was known for his ability to handle difficult players and to get the best out of players who other managers had given up on. He was particularly successful in this regard with players like Eric Cantona and Roy Keane, who had reputations for being difficult to manage.
Developing young talent: Ferguson was a keen believer in promoting young players, and he was responsible for bringing through a number of successful young players during his time at Manchester United. He would often give them opportunities to play in important matches and would provide them with the support and guidance they needed to develop their skills.
Managing player egos: Ferguson was adept at managing the egos of his star players and ensuring that they remained grounded and focused on the team’s objectives. He would often praise his players in public but would also challenge them when they needed it, to ensure that they remained committed to the team’s success rather than their own individual goals.
Certain Criticism
While Alex Ferguson is widely regarded as one of the greatest football managers of all time, there have been some criticisms of his managerial style and decisions over the years. Here are a few examples:
Treatment of certain players: While Ferguson was known for his man-management skills, he could also be tough on certain players, especially those who he felt were not giving their best effort or who were not following his instructions. This sometimes led to strained relationships between the manager and the player, or even to the player being sold or released from the team.
Use of the media: Ferguson was often known for his sharp tongue in press conferences and interviews, and sometimes used the media to criticize referees, opponents, or even his own players. Some critics felt that this behavior was unprofessional and created unnecessary distractions for the team.
Tactics and team selection: While Ferguson was generally successful in his tactical and team selection decisions, there were times when his decisions were criticized by fans and experts. For example, some felt that he relied too heavily on long-ball tactics or that he should have played certain players in different positions or more often.
Treatment of medical staff: There were also some concerns about Ferguson’s treatment of the team’s medical staff, particularly in relation to players’ injuries. Some felt that he pushed injured players to return to the field too quickly, or that he was too dismissive of medical advice.
It’s worth noting that while these criticisms do exist, they are generally outweighed by the many achievements and successes that Ferguson had during his career, and he remains widely respected and admired in the world of football.
His Spat With The BBC
Alex Ferguson had a well-publicized spat with the BBC in the late 2000s, which centered around allegations made in a documentary about his son Jason.
In 2004, the BBC broadcast a documentary called “Father and Son”, which was about the relationship between Alex Ferguson and his son, Jason. The documentary included allegations that Jason had used his father’s connections to secure a contract with a football agency, and that this had led to a conflict of interest with his role as a football agent.
Ferguson was unhappy with the way the documentary portrayed his son, and he refused to speak to the BBC for several years as a result. He also banned the broadcaster from the club’s training ground and press conferences, and instructed his players not to give interviews to the BBC.
The situation came to a head in 2011, when the BBC aired another documentary, this time about the ownership of English football clubs. The documentary alleged that Ferguson had been critical of one of the club’s owners, and that this had led to him being banned from the club’s training ground.
Ferguson strongly denied the allegations, and accused the BBC of lacking journalistic integrity. He continued to boycott the broadcaster for several years, and the situation only began to thaw in 2013, when Ferguson announced his retirement as Manchester United manager.
Getting Ryan Giggs
One of the most famous stories about Alex Ferguson and Ryan Giggs involves the time when Ferguson went to a Christmas party in 1987 and spotted the young Giggs dancing with his friends.
At the time, Giggs was only 14 years old and playing for a local youth team, but Ferguson had heard about his talent and was keen to sign him for Manchester United’s youth academy. However, he had been told by Giggs’ father that the young player was not interested in joining the club.
When Ferguson saw Giggs at the party, he approached him and asked him to come in for a trial with the club. Giggs, who was a lifelong Manchester United fan, was thrilled at the opportunity and agreed to come in for a trial.
The rest, as they say, is history. Giggs went on to have a long and successful career with Manchester United, playing over 960 games and winning numerous titles, including 13 Premier League titles and two Champions League trophies.
The story of Ferguson spotting Giggs at the party has become legendary in the world of football, and is often cited as an example of Ferguson’s eye for talent and his determination to sign the best young players for Manchester United.
On Buying Eric Cantona
One of the most significant transfers of Alex Ferguson’s career as manager of Manchester United was the signing of Eric Cantona from Leeds United in November 1992.
At the time, Manchester United were struggling in the league and had not won a title in several years. Ferguson was under pressure to turn things around, and he saw Cantona as the missing piece of the puzzle.
Despite some initial reluctance from the Manchester United board, Ferguson convinced them to make an offer for Cantona, who was known for his technical ability and creativity on the pitch. Cantona’s arrival proved to be a turning point for the club, and he helped Manchester United to win their first Premier League title that season.
Cantona’s impact on the team was significant, and he quickly became a fan favorite at Old Trafford. His skill and vision on the pitch helped to transform Manchester United’s style of play, and he played a key role in the team’s success over the next few years.
Ferguson’s decision to sign Cantona is often cited as one of the greatest managerial decisions in the history of football, and it helped to cement his legacy as one of the greatest managers of all time. The move also marked a turning point for Manchester United, as they went on to dominate English football for much of the 1990s and beyond.
On Selling Jaap Stam
The sale of Jaap Stam by Alex Ferguson in the summer of 2001 is considered by many as one of his most controversial decisions during his time at Manchester United.
At the time, Stam was widely regarded as one of the best defenders in Europe, and he had played a key role in Manchester United’s treble-winning season in 1999. However, in his autobiography, Ferguson later revealed that he decided to sell Stam because he felt that the defender’s performances had started to decline, and that he was also unhappy with some of the comments that Stam had made in his own autobiography.
Stam was sold to Lazio for a fee of around £16.5 million, which was seen as a surprising move by many Manchester United fans and pundits. The team struggled in the following season, and some blamed the sale of Stam for the team’s defensive problems.
However, Ferguson stood by his decision, and he later explained that he felt that Stam’s best days were behind him, and that he needed to make changes to the team to keep them competitive.
On Selling David Beckham
Alex Ferguson’s decision to sell David Beckham to Real Madrid in 2003 is one of the most famous transfers in football history, and it remains a topic of discussion and debate among fans and pundits to this day.
In his autobiography, Ferguson revealed that he had decided to sell Beckham because he felt that the player’s celebrity status was becoming a distraction for the team, and that his commitment to football was starting to wane. Ferguson also believed that Beckham’s relationship with his wife, Victoria Beckham, was starting to affect his performances on the pitch.
Despite Beckham’s popularity with fans, Ferguson felt that the team’s success was more important than any individual player, and he was willing to make tough decisions to ensure that Manchester United remained competitive.
In the years since Beckham’s departure, there has been some criticism of Ferguson’s decision, particularly as Beckham went on to have a successful career with Real Madrid and other clubs. However, many Manchester United fans still believe that the decision was the right one, and that it helped to ensure the team’s continued success under Ferguson’s leadership.
Ferguson retired from football management in May 2013, at the age of 71. He was widely lauded for his achievements in the sport, and he continues to be regarded as one of the greatest football managers of all time. In recognition of his services to football, he was knighted in 1999.
Here are some famous quotes by Sir Alex Ferguson:
“The work of a team should always embrace a great player, but the great player must always work.”
“I never played for a draw in my life.”
“At the end of this game, the European Cup will be only six feet away from you, and you’ll not even able to touch it if we lose. And for many of you, that will be the closest you will ever get. Don’t you dare come back in here without giving your all.” (Ferguson’s team talk before the 1999 Champions League final)
“Football, bloody hell.” (Ferguson’s reaction to winning the 1999 Champions League final)
“The hardest thing in life is to work hard at your job every day.”
“It’s getting tickly now – squeaky-bum time, I call it.” (Ferguson’s term for the tense run-in to the end of a season)
“My job is to make Manchester United the best football club in the world. That’s my job, and I will carry it on for quite a while.”
“I am going to tell you the story about the geese which fly 5,000 miles from Canada to France. They fly in V-formation but the second ones don’t fly. They’re the subs for the first ones. And then the second ones take over – so it’s teamwork.”
“Football management is such a pressurised thing – horseracing is a release. I’m also learning to play the piano – I’m quite determined – it’s another release from the pressure of my job.”
Here are some quotes about Sir Alex Ferguson from other notable figures in football:
“There’s no one quite like him. I don’t think there’s any doubt about that. I don’t think anyone can touch him in terms of everything that he’s achieved.” – Gary Neville
“He’s a born winner. He’s a man who can inspire a team to do great things.” – Cristiano Ronaldo
“He’s a one-off. There won’t be anyone like him again. He’s an amazing man, an amazing manager.” – Ryan Giggs
“I was with him for five years and learned an enormous amount. He’s a fantastic manager and an even better human being.” – José Mourinho
“He’s a great example to us all, a true inspiration. He’s been an incredible leader for Manchester United, and football in general, for many years.” – Lionel Messi
“He is an absolute legend, and not just because of his results. His personality and his charisma have made him into one of the greatest managers of all time.” – Pep Guardiola
“He’s a genius. He knows how to win, and he knows how to make his players win.” – Zinedine Zidane
“He is an institution in football, and he’s left a legacy that will never be forgotten.” – Sir Bobby Charlton
“He’s the greatest manager in the history of British football. He’s a phenomenon.” – Arsène Wenger
“He’s someone I respect a great deal. He’s been a great manager and a great servant to Manchester United, and he’s done the game of football proud.” – Sir Bobby Robson.