Читать книгу Glory, Glory Man Utd - Harry Harris - Страница 8

SIR ALEXANDER CHAPMAN FERGUSON has finally left the Old Trafford dug out never to return but he will never be forgotten. How could he be with a stand bearing his name and a statue on the concourse outside, and a banner depicting his triumphs adorning the East Stand that is unlikely to be equalled by any football manager at any single football club in the future.

Cristiano Ronaldo, who played under Ferguson for six years from 2003, tweeted “thanks for everything, Boss” accompanied by a picture of the two together. Roy Hodgson, the England manager, viewed the announcement as “a sad day for English football”. Adding, “It marks the end of an era in football management. No one will be able to match his achievements, his dedication, his support for colleagues in need and his team building know – how.”

Sepp Blatter, FIFA president tweeted, “His achievements in the game place him without doubt as one of the ‘greatsʼ. It was an honour to present Sir Alex with an award at the 2011 Ballon DʼOr. Will his longevity at the top ever be repeated?” Michel Platini, Uefa president hailed Sir Alex as a “visionary” who “has made a massive contribution to football across Europe”.

Sir Alex now joins another knight of the realm Sir Bobby Charlton, who made more than 600 appearances for United between 1956 and 1973, on the United board. Sir Bobby said, “I am a director at United but I hardly need to worry about a thing because we are winning all the time and it is all down to Sir Alex Ferguson. He would get up in the middle of the night and travel 300 miles if he thought there was someone he could sign. He loves the game. He is such a fantastic manager. Everything he has done has been fantastic.”

So farewell Sir Alex. At the age of 71, it was time to go. Heʼd done it all, got the t – shirt and given us so many great teams and wonderfully gifted players, he left as the undisputed Greatest Of All Time.

We will miss you. Well, Manchester United fans will. Unitedʼs rivals might be glad to see the back of the laird of Old Trafford but even they must recognise his genius. The neutrals will most definitely miss him. The game will never be quite the same again.

We will miss his bright red nose, chewing gum in his dugout seat looking miserable as sin, the fury at any refereeing decision he doesnʼt like, Fergie time ie. looking at his watch incessantly as if demanding more over time from his time piece, complaining bitterly that insufficient time was handed down by the officials (only if his team needed it for a comeback, of course), his ruthless manipulation of the transfer market, his love of expensive red wine, inviting managers back to his office after games for a tipple (even those who he had fallen out with down the years such as Kevin Keegan and Kenny Dalglish), banning the press from his media conferences when he took a dislike to something theyʼd written or said about him and of course that wonderful smile and jig of delight when his team scored yet another late, late winner.

United fans would dread the Fergie tombola, the almost random selection of players that seemed to get more erratic as the years went on but they would revel in his one – eyed dedication to the cause, the Lord Protector who would risk upsetting anybody and everything to get his way.

This unique drive was the real secret of his success at Old Trafford. Sir Alex won 38 trophies during his 26 – year reign at Old Trafford. Can there be a more fitting tribute than that fact alone? There could be no better epitaph. Nothing gave him more pleasure than lifting the next big prize and forcing Unitedʼs trophy room to fund yet another extension.

And what of The Hairdryer? During a marathon round of interviews following his departure I was asked to explain the origin of the phrase, as, for a change, the interviews following the announcements were as likely to be on news programmes as sports shows. I think it was Brian McClair that first coined the phrase in reference to the feeling of being blasted by the manager for some mistake or other and the rush of hot air that made oneʼs hair stand on end.

In “The Ferguson Effect” a book I penned in 1999 featuring stories from 40 personalities in football and the media who had come across Sir Alex, virtually all of them admitted that they had endured The Hairdryer Treatment at one stage of their lives. Myself included! The players wonʼt miss it, thatʼs for sure!

Above the parochial concerns of the United fans. the man will be remembered for the positive aspects he brought to Old Trafford and to football in the widest sense. Sir Alex delivered Unitedʼs 20th league title, his 13th Premier League title, before announcing his retirement. A fine way to bow out.

It all began on the now demolished Manor Ground in Oxford on 8 November 1986 and came to a close at Unitedʼs final game of the season at The Hawthorns and West Bromwich Albion on Sunday, 19 May 2013, whereas he would have preferred the curtain to close at Wembley in the Champions League Final.

It seems a lifetime ago when Sir Alex took over from Ron Atkinson in 1986, and of course it is, there have been few longer managerial reigns in football and certainly none as successful. If it wasnʼt for Sir Alex, David Moyes and Arsene Wenger, the average reign of a Premier League boss, currently one year and three months, would be considerably shorter.

But if you want history, tradition and silverware, then look no further than Sir Alex at Old Trafford; two Champions League crowns, the UEFA Cup Winnersʼ Cup, 13 Premier League League titles, five FA Cups, four League Cups, an Inter – Continental Club cup and a World Club Cup. World champions twice or “once more than England” as the United fans are fond of singing.

When the overnight speculation reached a crescendo that Sir Alex was about to retire and in the hours before the big announcement the next morning, I was inundated with media calls to talk about the issue, and of course, my article a year ago, an interview with the Wigan chairman and owner Dave Whelan was much quoted. The Wigan chairman had given me an interview for my ESPN column making it perfectly plain that he was sure that 2012 – 13 would be Sir Alexʼs final season in charge of Manchester United and of course it proved to be spot on.

When the big decision was announced, it was done so via Twitter, a medium that Sir Alex had been highly dubious about, indeed he would rather his players didnʼt use it, as it was always open to abuse; he warned his players about the excesses of the medium. How ironic, indicative of the changing age of football. that United tweeted: “Sir Alex Ferguson retires. thankyousiralex”. A club statement read: “The most successful manager in English football history will bow out after the West Bromwich Albion game on 19 May and join the football club board.”

Sir Alex immediately commented, “The decision to retire is one that I have thought a great deal about and one that I have not taken lightly. It is the right time. It was important to me to leave an organisation in the strongest possible shape and I believe I have done so. The quality of this league winning squad, and the balance of ages within it, bodes well for continued success at the highest level whilst the structure of the youth set – up will ensure that the long – term future of the club remains a bright one. Our training facilities are amongst the finest in global sport and our home Old Trafford is rightfully regarded as one of the leading venues in the world. Going forward, I am delighted to take on the roles of both director and ambassador for the club. With these activities, along with my many other interests, I am looking forward to the future. I must pay tribute to my family, their love and support has been essential. My wife Cathy has been the key figure throughout my career.”

The announcement was made while US markets were closed, and the club and shareholders waited eagerly to discover what, if any, impact, it would have on the share price. When trading began shares fell by 4.5% at the height of their decline. Hardly a surprise as the club has warned institutions and individual investors in its prospectus ahead of its stock market flotation that its business was dependent on its ability to attract and retain players, and naturally that largely depended on the success rating of the team, which in turn was dependent on the quality of their manager. “Any successor to our current manager may not be as successful as our current manager,” the prospectus stressed.

The US based ownership remains unpopular with the United fan base, and it has been a tricky juggling act for Sir Alex to keep the fans happy enough to diminish the protests against the highly leveraged takeover; the best way of quelling disquiet was the steady stream of trophies despite restrictions on the transfer budget inevitably a consequence of the interest repayments on the loads.

The club still runs smoothly enough despite a debt of £370m and finances that remain tightly controlled by the Glazer family. The Americans bought the club for £790m in 2005 in a controversial deal that loaded the club with debt. One of Fergusonʼs greatest achievements has been to maintain, and indeed accelerate, Unitedʼs trophy haul despite annual interest payments of up to £70 million, restricted activity in the transfer market and the forced sale of stars such as Cristiano Ronaldo.

ʼGold Traffordʼ is a phenomenal money-making machine with global commercial enterprises, and the Glazers have expanded the commercialisation and revenue streams to a degree that has off – set some of these interest repayments. In addition the Glazers have refinanced the loans dispensing with the more expensive and potentially damaging PIK loans. Nevertheless any managerial successor would be entering a club where the priority was not neccessarily acquiring the best players but the most cost effective.

Despite constant speculation about Middle East or Chinese takeovers amounting to close to £2 billion, the Glazers have never been inclined to sell their prize sporting asset and, instead, opted for a flotation on the New York stock exchange, having abandoned a similar plan in England, and the Wall Street initiative saw the Glazers sell 16.7 million shares, equal to a 10% stake in the club. Since the flotation in August 2012, Manchester United shares have risen 34%.

The timing or Sir Alexʼs retirement created all sorts of conspiracy theories. Was it because Jose Mourniho was touted for the Chelsea job and the United board wanted him... was it because David Moyes contract was coming to an end at Everton... was it because of ill health and talk of missing the new season because of a summer hip operation. Was he pushed? The last theory was born out of the managerʼs persistent denials of any thoughts of retirement. But he might well have learned from his original plan to retire in 2001 before he backtracked explaining it had been a terrible mistake. By announcing his retirement then, in advance, it had an adverse effect on a season in which they surrendered the title to Arsenal.

Yet, just weeks before his retirement, in March, as he prepared to face Real Madrid in the Champions League, he wrote in his programme notes: “This is what it is all about – a packed Old Trafford, the floodlights on, the pitch glistening and two of the greatest and most romantic clubs in the game about to do battle. People ask me why I donʼt retire after so many years in the game, but how could anyone with an ounce of passion for football in their soul voluntarily walk away from the opportunity to be involved in this kind of occasion?” He has repeated similar sentiments a few times since that statement, insisting he was good for a few more years. He certainly put people off the scent if his intention all along was to quit.

After that gut – wrenching defeat Sir Alexʼs loyal assistant Mike Phelan pointed out that his Boss was “too distraught” convinced Turkish referee Cuneyt Cakirʼs decision to send off Nani for a high foot had robbed them of victory. Sir Alex would have liked to have departed with a third Champions League trophy and to win it at Wembley where Sir Matt Busbyʼs United triumphed against Benfica in 1968, as he had a rich sense of Unitedʼs history and traditions. Perhaps he felt the third European Cup would take more time than he had at his disposal, and that it was no longer a challenge to which he could aspire. Fergie Time was a back handed recognition of his desire to squeeze every last second from a match if there was a glimmer of hope of rescuing a game but Father Time had caught up with the man at last in his pursuit of that elusive third Champions League.

Undoubtedly the highest high point of his entire, illustrious United career was the night in Barcelonaʼs Nou Camp in May 1999 when stoppage – time goals from Teddy Sheringham and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer turned defeat into victory as the soon to be knighted Alex Ferguson muttered his now famous phrase: “Football – bloody hell.” It capped the greatest season by any English football team, a unique treble of League, FA Cup and European Cup. “Everything their hearts desire!” in the immortal words of Clive Tyldesley.

Then there was the knocking of Liverpool off their perch, with United assuming the mantel of Englandʼs most successful club. By the end of his reign he had also batted away challenges from Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester City. By the end of his reign United were a title winning machine honed to perfection to pump out result after result, even if at times the football was less than scintillating.

Sir Alex might have wanted to sit on his decision for a few days and announce it to the fans first, after he and his players had collected the Premier league trophy in the home game with Swansea at the weekend. But news of his decision was leaking out and speculation grew, especially when the Old Trafford press office refused to deny the story. The story originally emerged late on Tuesday evening, with reports that Unitedʼs player versus coaches golf day at Dunham Massey had been overshadowed by the expectation of such an announcement, with many expecting a big announcement at the Swansea game. It could only mean one thing; bookmakers had taken a lot large bets on David Moyes being next United manager. Again hardly surprising, all the clues were there with Sir Alexʼs fellow Scot out of contract at the end of the season at long – term employers Everton.

While it might not have been entirely unexpected, nevertheless, in a contradiction in terms, it was still a huge shock when it was officially confirmed. As the BBC put it: “It was an announcement that came as a seismic shock to footballʼs system, coming so soon after a series of bullish statements from Ferguson hinting at exactly the opposite.”

From No 10, as Sir Alex occasionally dabbled in politics as well as horse racing, to The League Managers Association, where the United manager was a very active and influencial member, there was a deluge of reaction to Sir Alexʼs announcement, and as youʼd expect it was 100 per cent praiseworthy.

The LMA issued a statement, “We would like to congratulate Sir Alex Ferguson CBE on a truly remarkable and fantastic career following his announcement today that he will retire at the end of the season.” Chairman of the LMA, Howard Wilkinson observed, “todayʼs news draws to a close the career of a man and a manager, the likes of which we will never see again. His public face was always that of the ultimate professional with a fierce pride and determination to do the very best for his club. His frighteningly competitive nature has never nor ever will be equalled. He is the epitome of the mantra ʼSurvive, Win, Succeedʼ. But, in private, with those he trusted, he was the very best sort of friend you could ever wish for. To say his presence on the bench will be sorely missed in no way begins to describe the massive hole he will leave behind. He always said he was too old to retire, letʼs hope he manages to enjoy the retirement he deserves.”

Richard Bevan, chief executive of the LMA, remarked, “Sir Alex has left an indelible legacy not only at Manchester United but on the art of football management itself. 36 major trophies in 26 years in charge of the Club is a record that simply speaks for itself. Itʼs not just his longevity in the game, at one of the worldʼs biggest and most demanding clubs which is remarkable, rather it has been his ability to consistently deliver the highest levels of success throughout his 40 years and over 2150 matches in football management. What Sir Alex has achieved personally with both Manchester United and Aberdeen, where he broke the Old Firm stranglehold in winning 10 trophies in seven years before his appointment at Old Trafford, is unrivalled. At the LMA we are also extremely grateful for the amount of time and dedication he has willingly provided to our association and our members since he first joined in 1986. His input as an Executive Board member and Trustee has been invaluable in the development of the LMA. As he retires as the most successful manager in the history of the British game we congratulate him on a magnificent career and wish him all the very best for the future.”

Bryan Robson, at United from 1981 until 1994 and still an ambassador at Old Trafford and one time captain of club and country, commented, “It is unbelievable to change around probably four different squads and have the success he has. Ferguson is probably the greatest club manager ever.” Legendary goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel said, “Itʼs come as an absolute bombshell. Iʼm sad and disappointed. I was really, really hoping he was going to stay for another couple of years.” Schmeichelʼs treble – winning team – mate of 1999, Dwight Yorke, added, “Regaining the Premier League this season, heʼs managed to do that, so in many respects thatʼs the reason, with the hip operation and David Gill leaving, I just feel itʼs the right time for him to go.”

Paul Ince played under Sir Alex for six years between 1989 and 1995. The former England captain now a manger in his own right, knows there will never be another manager to replicate Fergusonʼs achievements, “You will never see anyone of his kind again. His standards were so high. He was so demanding. Yes, we had our ups and down. The way he treated me was like a son.” Former England striker Michael Owen played under Sir Alex at United from 2009 until 2012, remarked, “He is arguably the greatest manager to have ever lived and to say I played under him for three years is a proud thing to say.”

Ruud van Nistelrooy was one of several high-profile superstars who fell out with Sir Alex, yet he tweeted, “20012006, 219 games, 150 goals under the most successful manager in football history. It was a unique privilege.” Now manager of Norwegian side Molde, and tipped to be a future manager at Old Trafford, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer spent over a decade at United, playing over 200 games from 1996 until 2007. He told MUTV, “I will never forget the loyalty he showed me. Everything I have learnt I have learnt from the boss.” Richard Scudamore, Premier League chief executive, added, “The Premier League has had the privilege to witness many great players, managers and teams. No one has made as great a contribution to the Premier League than Sir Alex Ferguson.” While Stuart Lancaster, the England rugby coach commented, “His longevity and what he has achieved as a coach I think is unparalleled in world sport. I admire him hugely for what he has done.” Rory McIlroy, remarked, “An end of an era today! Sir Alex Ferguson, the greatest of all time! United will have a tough time trying to replace him!”

But the fallout from Sir Alexʼs departure was immediate. The truth about Wayne Rooneyʼs position quickly emerged, for example. Rooney had told Sir Alex he wanted a new challenge two weeks before the managers retirement. Rooney wanted a fresh challenge after nine years at the club, but the club were adamant that their forward was not for sale as Rooney was set to be reunited with his former Everton manager David Moyes. Yet, Moyes and Rooney have had their differences. In 2008, Moyes accepted substantial libel damages over claims made in Rooneyʼs book about their relationship at Everton. Since then the pair have reconciled. In September 2012, Rooney wrote on Twitter: “Everton are playing brilliantly. David Moyes has done some job over the last 10 years.”

Rooney left Moyes and his hometown club Everton at the age of 18 in August 2004 in a deal worth an eventual 27m, scoring 197 goals in 402 appearances for United, winning five league titles, two League Cups and a Champions League. Rooney had scored 16 in 37 appearances in helping United to their 20th league title, 12 of those coming in the league. Yet there had been persistent speculation in the second half of the season that Rooney may leave, especially after being sitting out the Champions League second – round tie against Real Madrid with Danny Welbeck preferred in attack. He was no longer leader of the attack following Robin Van Persieʼs arrival from Arsenal. Days later as the speculation about Rooneyʼs future escalated Ferguson promised that he would stay at the club, saying: “Heʼll be here next year. You can have my word on that.” The manager later said Rooney would be given a new deal but that was before the truth emerged about the managerʼs retirement.

Rooney first asked to leave Old Trafford in October 2010 when he pulled out of contract talks, questioning assurances about ʼthe future squad.ʼ Fergie responded at the time saying he was “dumbfounded” and 48 hours later, Rooney signed a new five – year deal. United went on to win the title that season, and Rooney later said it was the best decision of his career to stay. This time Rooney did not submit a formal transfer request, but personally asked Sir Alex to leave.

Hours before Moyes announcement as manager and just 24 hours after Sir Alexʼs retirement, United chief executive David Gill told MUTV, “It is a dream job. The new manager will inherit a great squad and infrastructure off the pitch, with a great staff. He will be walking into a difficult situation in terms of the number of trophies, but the positive of also having the support of the Manchester United family.”

Moyes quit Everton after 11 years in charge at Goodison Park, the 50 – year – old Scot agreed a six – year deal. Sir Alex commented, “We unanimously agreed on David Moyes. David is a man of great integrity with a strong work ethic. Iʼve admired his work for a long time and approached him as far back as 1998 to discuss the position of assistant manager here. There is no question he has all the qualities we expect of a manager at this club.”

Moyes described it as “a great honour” to be appointed. “I am delighted that Sir Alex saw fit to recommend me for the job. I have great respect for everything he has done and for the football club. I know how hard it will be to follow the best manager ever, but the opportunity to manage Manchester United isnʼt something that comes around very often and Iʼm really looking forward to taking up the post next season.”

Moyes paid tribute to Everton. “I have had a terrific job at Everton, with a tremendous chairman and board of directors and a great set of players. Between now and the end of the season, I will do everything in my power to make sure we finish as high as possible in the table. Evertonʼs fantastic fans have played a big part in making my years at Goodison so enjoyable and I thank them wholeheartedly for the support they have given me and the players. Everton will be close to me for the rest of my life.” In a statement, Everton said, “The chairman, on behalf of the club, would like to place on record his thanks to David for the massive contribution he has made to Everton since his arrival in March 2002. He has been an outstanding manager.”

So not The Special One but The Chosen One. Sir Alex has enjoyed a close relationship with the new boss throughout his managerial career and even considered appointing him as his assistant when Moyes was manager at Preston. While Moyes has worked on a tight budget at Goodison Park, he failed to win a single trophy and has very limited experience in Europe, which is a big gamble for the United board, but the key to his appointment is that he is a safe pair of hands, he will continue in the Ferguson mould and retain the stability that Sir Alex created by his sheer longevity in the job at Old Trafford.

Much has been made of the error in the United boardʼs judgement in retaining Sir Matt Busby in 1971 as a succession of his successors tried and failed while his larger than life figure was retained in the background. Many of the remaining players felt that Busby was their father figure and he was an intimidating force behind the scenes, the reverse is likely to be true in the modern ear, as the game has changed unrecognisably.

When Busby left the United hot – seat, they were already an anachronism. Poor training facilities, outdated training methods and non – existent tactics were glossed over by the geniuses of Law, Best and Charlton. The 1968 European Cup triumph allowed supporters to believe that the United way was superior when in fact, it was probably the last flourishing of an approach to football that died out in the late fifties. The years following Busbyʼs retirement saw United decline. George Best, once hailed the greatest player in the world, typified the depths to which the club sank. Relegation just six years after that European triumph seemed inevitable.

The modern United by contrast is a well-run, forward thinking institution. The care of its players is first class, how else to explain the apparently endless career of Ryan Giggs? Yes, the club has been dominated by the patriarchal Ferguson for the past few decades, but he leaves behind an incredible legacy that stretches from boardroom to canteen staff.

Back in 2011 two former Manchester United managers Tommy Docherty and Wilf McGuinness told me that Sir Alex Ferguson was the greatest manager of all time in British football. Sir Alex surpassed Sir Matt Busbyʼs record as the longest serving Manchester United manage, and in the opinion of the Doc and McGuinness he was now the undisputed No 1. In fact the Doc goes as far as to declare that with Lionel Messi the best player in the world, Sir Alex is the best manager in the world.

Unitedʼs record 19th English League title was his 12th League honour at the club. Little wonder he was named Manager of the Year by his fellow League managers and also picked up a special merit award for having passed 2,000 matches as manager. Speaking at the LMA awards dinner in London via video link from Old Trafford, Ferguson said, “Itʼs a wonderful honour – it has been a fantastic season for us in the most difficult league in the world.” Ancelotti, sacked by Chelsea the same day, attended the dinner and Ferguson said to him: “Carlo you are a fantastic man and you have showed great courage in coming to the dinner, well done.”

In a chapter on the title victory in 1956, McGuinness declared that Sir Alex has established his credentials as the all-time No. 1 Boss in British football. The Doc, as you would expect, is far more colourful in the way he describes Sir Alex.

The Docherty era at United lasted five exciting and enormously entertaining seasons from December 1972 until July 1977. Weeks after his greatest feat, defeating Liverpool 2 – 1 at Wembley to lift the FA Cup, the manager with the most one-liners in the game was sacked following his affair with the wife of his physiotherapist, Laurie Brown. Many believe that, had he survived, he would have built a title winning team, but the ever irrepressible and irascible Doc isnʼt so sure.

“I never got the chance to win the League, and might never have in any case even if I stayed because I needed a goalkeeper and although they were willing to pay Stoke £200,000 for Peter Shilton, they wouldnʼt pay him £200 – a – week in wages. I am not saying I would have won the League, but we were always good to watch, it was always a pleasure for me to watch such an attacking team, and who knows we might have gone on to win it. I was sacked, and we all know why, but it was hypocrisy, there were things going on that we now know about too. The game has changed immensely and I donʼt like the present game – the money, the salaries, the players, itʼs not as I knew it. The game has gone as far as I am concerned. Yes, I resent what happened to me at United. Chelsea are wonderful to me, they sent me a £200 Harrods hamper every Christmas, but when I asked for a couple of tickets to take my daughter on her 21st birthday to Old Trafford, they sent me two tickets and invoiced me for £88.”

Sometimes it is hard to separate the jokes from the facts, but the mind seems as sharp as ever, and the wit as pointed. Even so The Doc loved his time at Old Trafford and despite a fall out with Ferguson when he was Scotland manager, he has nothing but praise for the United boss, the highest possible praise. “He has got to be the greatest manager of them all. He is world class. Messi is the best player in the world at the moment, and Fergie is the best manager in the world at the moment. Cloughie did fantastic with a small club like Forest, Revie and Bill Nicholson were among the very best, but Fergie is the best.”

The Doc, being a former manager, cannot register a vote in the Playersʼ Player poll, but for the record he selects a trio of players in his own era as his personal favourites, Martin Buchan, Steve Coppell, Gordon Hill, Lou Macari, Jimmy Greenhoff and Stuart Pearson, but added that “Roy Keane was world class.”

Gordon Strachan knows how Liverpool are feeling in pursuit of an elusive first title for 12 years as he suffered similar frustrations with United. It took United 26 years to break down the barriers for a title triumph, although it eluded Strachanʼsʼ era. Liverpool will be anxious that it isnʼt such a long wait as that. Strachan told ʼ20|13ʼ, “It drags on each year, and each year it gets worse and worse, you know itʼs a long time since the last one and you get the feeling its never going to come. You know you are at a great club, as we did during our time at United without a title, but you rely on the other players, you rely on reputations and you end up living off the legends, the names of the past, and the longer it goes on the more you feel you are never going to win the League. I was at a great club and delighted to play for United. But itʼs like putting badly at golf and sometimes you need a complete change, a drastic change to solve the problem.”

Sitting sipping a coke at the 18th hole at Celtic Manor, it was typical of golf loving Strachan to use a golfing analogy but when it comes to assessing Unitedʼs 19th title, he goes for the driver and gave the subject some welly, “United have proved they can win in style in the past, theyʼve proved they can win hanging in there. Whatever anyone says about playing this style or that, if you ask any manager the first thing they will tell you they want to do is to win, than nobody can touch you. United like to play to a certain standard, apparently they have this philosophy about style, but so too does a club like West Ham, but ask them whether they would stick to their philosophy or stay in the Premier League, the same goes for Nottingham Forest. Ok the United team that won the 19th title might not have had the flair of the past teams, but their home record was phenomenal.”

With his own vast managerial knowledge, Strachan knows the values and virtues of Sir Alex, and his worth to United, “While some clubs have a lull in their trophy cabinet and use that time to rebuild, Fergie tends to re – shape his teams when they are winning trophies, and buying the likes of Ashley Young who can play anywhere in the front four or off the main striker, is one of the typical Fergie signings, a player who can give the team more flair when it needs it. Having said that, United won this title with a home record that was phenomenal, not great away from home, granted, but itʼs no fluke that Fergie keeps on winning.

“Ask anyone who built the best team at St. Mirren, and they will tell you Fergie did, ask anyone who built the best team at Aberdeen, and they will tell you Fergie did, and this legendary period at United is down to the manger, a terrific manager, the best manager, to do it once is good, but three times at three clubs is just ridiculous.”

Born in Glasgow to a Protestant, working class family, Sir Alexʼs leadership skills first came to the fore as a shop steward in the Clyde shipyards, when Ferguson led an unofficial walk – out over a pay dispute. Ferguson cut a reasonably impressive figure with Rangers as a player but was made a scapegoat following the teamʼs humiliating 4 – 0 defeat against arch-rivals Celtic in the 1969 Cup Final. He switched to management, first with St Mirren and then, from 1978, at Aberdeen. His tough-talking, hands-on approach enabled him to smash the Celtic – Rangers “Old Firm” monopoly, winning three championships, four Scottish Cups and the European Cup Winnersʼ Cup in six years. Known for his fiery temper, he also won the reputation of a fiercely loyal coach who invests time and effort in star players and apprentices alike.

Appointed as successor to Ron Atkinson in 1986, the Scot took time to adapt to English football. Following a first full season in which he guided United to a runners-up finish, United struggled, the nadir coming in September 1989 when United were hammered 5 – 1 by bitter rivals Manchester City. A few months later, during a 2 – 1 home defeat to lowly Crystal Palace, a banner was unfurled which read, “Three years of excuses and itʼs still crap – ta – ra Fergie.” Yet despite relegation form he was saved by a ʼmake or breakʼ cup run that took United all the way to a final victory over, ironically enough, Crystal Palace. From then Fergieʼs United career blossomed – Cup Winnersʼ Cup and League Cup successes were capped with the coveted league title 7 years into the Guvʼnor from Govanʼs reign. Now, with 12 Premier League crowns, five FA Cups, four League Cups, two European Cups, a European Cup Winnersʼ Cup and a career total of 47 trophies in 37 years, Sir Alex has a medal haul beyond comparison.

Yet he is forbidden to keep a single piece of silverware inside his house by his wife, Cathy, who was not even impressed with the knighthood he received in 1999. Ferguson said in an interview with the LMAʼs The Manager magazine, “I prefer to think about whatʼs ahead and what I can achieve next and I think that has kept my feet on the ground quite well. Iʼve never got carried away with it. My wife, Cathy, is fed up with the whole thing. When Alastair Campbell phoned her about my knighthood she said to him, ʼDo you not think heʼs had enough rewards?ʼ Youʼll not find a thing about my career in the house at all. Sheʼs unbelievable. I canʼt even take a football book home or sheʼll say, ʼWhat are you doing with that?”

Stability has been the key to keeping control over players. Compared to rivals such as Chelsea who continually to change managers, Sir Alex says, “I would never have expected to achieve what I have achieved. There have been periods where there have been sudden leaps. Going to Aberdeen took me to a different level and it was an opportunity I grasped. When we won our first trophy at Manchester United there was that sudden leap of confidence and a sense that I was safe in the job. That stability is important, not for me, but for the players, because when they know who the manager is going to be every day it makes an immense difference to the structure, the confidence and the power base of the club, thereʼs no doubt about that.”

Sir Alex is “terrified” at telling his ʼFerguson Babesʼ, the players at the start of his phenomenal success, that their time is up. Dreading the day he has to tell Giggs itʼs time to go, or when Paul Scholes quits. “Itʼs a horrible thing to say, but you canʼt be sentimental in this job. I love the players that Iʼve had and Iʼve been very, very fortunate to have had great players who have come through my career with me. At Aberdeen there were the likes of Miller, McLeish, and Kennedy, who were a bunch of players that were very loyal to me. At United Iʼve had Giggs, the Nevilles, Scholes and Butt, who represent the spirit of the club. All of the players that I have had here have played a part in my success. So when I see something happening, as in the cases of Nicky Butt and Phil Neville, Iʼve had to release them to other opportunities. It was getting to the stage that I was terrified of talking to them and telling them they werenʼt playing. It wasnʼt fair to them because they were good players and played a big part in the resurrection of Manchester United. When the time came for me to let them go I knew I was cutting really important, loyal strings and I didnʼt enjoy it.

“My job is to manage United, to produce results and I am no different from any other manager. Iʼll not be regarded in the same way if Iʼm not successful. Everything to do with me is black and white; if itʼs on the football field and I see something that I feel is a retrograde step for the club I have to act and make decisions, which is something that I have always been good at. I can make quick decisions and I am lucky that way. In management you have to be able to make decisions; sometimes youʼre not right, but that doesnʼt concern me too much because the important thing is being able to do it.”

David Moyes hails from a similar background to Sir Alex, and has many similar traits, but its typical of Sir Alex that he has not recommended a big name like Mourinho or one of the ʼflavour of the monthʼ candidates favoured by other clubs. Instead he has nominated another Scot, who will no doubt rely on the advice and guidance of his predecessor, warming to it, rather than fearing it.

Many have believed that when Sir Alex goes, United will finally lose their grip on their dominance both domestically and fade as a force in Europe. Much responsibility lies with Sir Alex for taking the brave decision to opt for ʼstabilityʼ over ʼstyleʼ while a few critics have claimed that United will tread water now, content with a top four place and the odd cup run.

Anyone who sincerely believes this does not understand the legacy of the greatest of them all.

SIR ALEX FERGUSON HONOURS

St Mirren (1)

i Scottish First Division (second tier) title 1976 – 77

Aberdeen (10)

3 Scottish Premier League titles: 1979 – 80, 1983 – 84, 1984 – 85

4 Scottish FA Cups: 1981 – 82, 1982 – 83, 1983 – 84, 1985 – 86

I Scottish League Cup: 1985 – 86

I European Cup Winners Cup: 1982 – 83

I UEFA Super Cup: 1983

Manchester United (38)

13 Premier League titles: 1992 – 93, 1993 – 94, 1995 – 96, 1996 – 97, 1998 – 99, 1999 – 2000, 2000 – 01, 2002 – 03, 2006 – 07, 2007 – 08, 2008 – 09, 2010 – 11, 2012 – 13

5 FA Cups: 1989 – 90, 1993 – 94, 1995 – 96, 1998 – 99, 2003 – 04

4 League Cups: 1991 – 92, 2005 – 06, 2008 – 09, 2009 – 10

10 Charity/Community Shields: 1990 (shared), 1993, 1994, 1996, 1997, 2003, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011

2 Champions League: 1998 – 99, 2007 – 08

I European Cup Winners Cup: 1990 – 91

I UEFA Super Cup: 1991

I Intercontinental Cup: 1999

I FIFA Club World Cup: 2008