Читать книгу Glory, Glory Man Utd - Harry Harris - Страница 9

HISTORY AND TRADITION, the very ethos of Manchester United, were unashamedly rolled out, as one might have expected, for Sir Alexʼs special ʼfarewell gameʼ. It was Sir Alex Fergusonʼs 723rd match at the Theatre of Dreams, turned into a virtual testimonial dressed up as a Premier League game.

Sir Alexʼs Old Trafford debut was a 1 – 0 win over QPR 26 – and – a – half years earlier, watched by a crowd of 42,235, remarkably 14,000 shy of capacity. ʼThe Farewellʼ was full to the rafters all right. A crowd of 75,572 will long be able to say “I was there” on such a momentous occasion for the club, and British football history.

1986 was a life – time ago but it is worth reflecting on the changes Manchester has undergone under Fergieʼs reign. Back then, English clubs were still banned from Europe following the Heysel stadium disaster and Liverpool were the dominant domestic force having become only the second club in the 20th century to win the League and FA Cup double. Meanwhile supporters still had the option to watch a match from the terraces at a reasonable cost while football in general still seemed at the fringe of national life – live matches had only just began to appear on national television and the skill level quite often left a lot to be desired. Foreign imports were rare and the sport didnʼt have its own dedicated TV channels. Attendances were falling and supporters were often treated like animals with an openly hostile government openly discussing how to shut football down if hooliganism persisted. Fighting on the terraces was almost a sport within a sport and a common sight on the news.

26 and a half years later the Premier League is one of Englandʼs greatest exports with the city of Manchester gaining so much tourism through the popularity of United that it has become the UKʼs top destination outside the capital. Of course Sir Alex Ferguson, more than any other, is responsible for this economic boom in an area once synonymous with post – industrial urban decay. When he arrived in 1986 the city was falling to pieces, he leaves it as a place confident of its status on the world stage. If an academic could do a study on Sir Alexʼs economic impact on the area, I am sure he would be up there with the Victorian businessmen and benefactors who helped turn the region into the worldʼs first industrial city.

Of course, it could have been very different had the club not won the FA Cup in 1990, as the first four years were trophyless, and a day of destiny arrived with his side struggling in the League. That unexpected at the City Ground, Nottingham in a third round FA Cup tie against Brian Cloughʼs high – flying Forest team is popularly though to have saved his bacon. Mark Robins was the kid who emerged through the ranks to score the vital winner – whether Sir Alexʼs successor David Moyes is afforded the luxury of such time in an age of instant success, remains to be seen, although a six year contract was a statement of intent. Itʼs interesting to note that across Manchester another overseas owner afforded Roberto Mancini a new lucrative six – year contract upon wrestling the championship crown from United, and that lasted less than a year with the Italian appearing to be on the verge of dismissal at the end of the season.

Michael Laudrup, manager of the incidental opponent on the day, Swansea City, observed that filling Sir Alexʼs boots was the toughest job in world football. Good luck David, youʼre going to need it, and Sir Alex made the point of actually asking the fans to back his successor.

In his final programme notes, Sir Alex wrote, “To the fans, thank you. The support you have provided over the years has been truly humbling. It has been an enormous honour and an enormous privilege to have led your club and I have treasured my time as manager of Manchester United.”

There is always curiosity and fans hanging around waiting for the star – studded team bus to arrive at Old Trafford, but this time, three hours before kick – off, thousands of fans were already assembled. The small barricaded area set aside for the arrival of the team coach was a mass of people at 12.30pm, eager to be at the front to take pictures of Sir Alex leaving the team coach for the final time at Old Trafford. The fans queued to buy their programmes or fanzines featuring Fergieʼs Farewell.

Inside the stadium the atmosphere was naturally one of celebration and sentimentality, the mood captured as Frank Sinatraʼs “My Way” and Nat King Coleʼs “Unforgettable” got the fans in the mood for the tribute to the departing boss. There were plenty of banners in amongst the swarm of red flags; one read “Sir Alex – Immortal”, another “Thanks Gaffer. From The Stretford End.” , “Fergie rules” read another; but no longer.

Walking onto the pitch, 70,000 red flags with the word ʼChampionsʼ waved as Sir Alex was announced as “the man who made the impossible dream possible”. Even Sir Bobby Charlton was waving one of the red flags standing in the directorsʼ box. The music, well, The Impossible Dream, of course. Cue massive applause when the departing emerged from the tunnel. No red and white scarf tied fashionably like Roberto Mancini, nor designer gear like Jose Mourinho or Andre Villas – Boas, instead the uniform of an archetypal old fashioned British coach, that of dark overcoat worn against the Mancunian rain, covering the usual favoured black fleece zipped up, against the cold. Yes, it was still peeing down and chilly in the middle May in Manchester.

Unitedʼs electric scoreboard cut through the gloom and rain to beam brightly “26 years – 38 trophies. ʼChampionsʼ was spelled out by the fans’ cards in white against the red background on the stand which bears his name. He received a guard of honour from both teams. He smiled and applauded back. He gave a thumbs up to both teams as he headed to his position on the sideline, signing a profusion of autographs before the kick-off. By the way, the fans also gave a tremendous reception to Paul Scholes. But this was only going to be about one man.

As for the match itself, United won 2 – 1, with Rio Ferdinand scoring a late winner in the 87th minute, heaven sent, another late goal. How Sir Alex thrived on late goals. He loved them. At least it was a few minutes before the end rather than in Fergie time, a new addition to the football vocabulary invented by Sir Alexʼs desire to extract every possible second of over time to gain any kind of advantage he could. The whole event on the field was irrelevant in the sense that this was Sir Alexʼs Day, the result didnʼt really matter, but better a win to sign off with. The fans sang ʼChampionsʼ naturally, but also mocked City ʼWe Won Our Trophy Back and Now Youʼve Got The Sackʼ. And of course, there had been rumours in the media for weeks that Mancini was a Dead Man Walking, and would have been sacked regardless of the FA Cup Final defeat to Wigan the day before Sir Alexʼs big day.

Javier Hernandez opened the scoring, and another cacophony of sound as the fans bellowed “Stand Up for Alex Fergusonʼ, and of course they all did. Michu equalised, and the fans joked ʼYouʼre Be Sacked In The Morning!” Again it seemed part of the script that one of the central characters of the season, whose future was under constant review, Rio Ferdinand, should pop up with the late winner. It was Rioʼs first goal in five years. Hereʼs another one for the stats freaks, Sir Alex won 514 of 723 home games at Old Trafford. Quite some record, but just one of many stunning stats that Sir Alex leave us all with.

But itʼs not just records Sir Alex has broken. He has broken some of the biggest egos in the game. Wayne Rooney was not included in the team, he wasnʼt even in the United squad. After the game, Sir Alex confirmed Rooney had asked for a transfer and it “made sense” for him not to play, even though the request was turned down. Asked whether the Rooney will stay at the club, Sir Alex smiled, “Itʼs not my decision now!” Rooney had played under Moyes as a teenager at Goodison Park before joining United in August 2004, and although they fell out over Rooneyʼs autobiography, they had since repaired their relationship. That, though, didnʼt necessarily mean a healing of the rift between Rooney and the club, but with Sir Alex gone, it might mean another chance with Moyes.

Although Rooney did not play any part against Swansea he did join his team – mates in the Premier League title celebrations after the match when United were presented with the trophy. Rooney watched in his tracksuit from his executive box, holding his baby and with his very pregnant wife Colleen, but changed into full kit for the title presentation on the pitch, where he was noticeably jeered by some supporters when collecting his winnersʼ medal. He did manage a cursory embrace with his departing manager, who was by the podium to greet all his players before receiving the trophy, but it was far from convivial, and it was clear Rooney was upset about being on the bench for the big Champions League tie with Real Madrid, and equalled fed up at being hooked so many times. Sir Alex later explained, “I donʼt think Wayne was keen to play, simply because he has asked for a transfer. I think he should go away and think it over again. He wasnʼt happy about being taken off a few times this season but a Wayne Rooney in top form wouldnʼt be taken off.”

Even Rooneyʼs future was little more than a side show to the main event, and nothing was going to detract from that, not even a sulking superstar, irrespective of how big the headlines that had created, Sir Alexʼs farewell inspired whole pull outs

As a fitting farewell Sir Alex received a standing ovation. Sir Alex addressed the fans, microphone in hand, something he had done at the end of each season reviewing the past season giving a rallying call to the next. This was vastly different, as he told them, “I have no script in my mind. Iʼm just going to ramble and hope I get to the core of what this football club has meant to me. Thank you to Manchester United, not just the directors, medics, staff, players, supporters, all of you. Thank you. You have been the most fantastic experience of my life.”

As the rain fell he implored his loyal fans to “stand by your new manager”. David Moyes could not have got better backing, “Iʼd like to remind you that at the start, the club stood by me, the staff stood by me, the players stood by me and now it is your job to stand by our new manager.”

He thanked fans and supporters, and his family, ahead of his trophy presentation. Managing the club was the “most fantastic experience of my life” he said and that he was “very fortunate” to manage some of the countryʼs best players. It was “not the end” he told the fans. The next time he takes his seat at Old Trafford it will be in the directorsʼ box, “Iʼll be able to now enjoy watching the team rather than suffer with them.”

Sir Alex praised Paul Scholes, who was chosen to play after announcing his retirement the day before the game. He told the fans, “Before I start blubbing, I want to pay tribute to Paul Scholes who retires today. He is an unbelievable player, one of the greatest players this club will ever have. Paul, I wish you a good retirement, though I know youʼll be around, annoying me! And I wish Darren Fletcher a speedy recovery for the club.”

He went on, “I wish the players every success for the future. You know how good you are, the jersey you are wearing, and all the people here. Donʼt let yourselves down. Iʼm just going inside now. Thank you once again, from all the Ferguson family. Theyʼre all up there – 11 grandchildren. Thank you. Thank you.”

The stadium erupted in applause at the comments, and then the rest of the Ferige Show was the thing that epitomised his reign more than anything – delivering the silverware. Two of Sir Alexʼs most tried and trusted former captains, Steve Bruce and Bryan Robson carried the Premier League trophy out to the middle. “Albert give us a wave” was the chant as kit man Albert Morgan, also due to retire at the end of the season, emerged from the tunnel.

Later, in his media conferences, he disclosed the timetable for his big decision. “I decided to retire last Christmas. Things changed when my wife Cathyʼs sister died. She has lost her best friend, her sister. Also, I wanted to go out a winner. It was very difficult [to keep it under wraps]. There were times when we sometimes blurted it out to the family. We told our sons in March. My brother didnʼt even know until Tuesday.” He doesnʼt know where the leak came as news filtered out of the club hours ahead of his retirement announcement. He explained, “This club is a sieve”.

Sir Alex added, ʼThe most important achievement was winning the first league and the door opened after that. We just grew and grew and grew. We had some fantastic teams. He insisted he wonʼt be bored, “Iʼve got a lot of things to do. My son Jasonʼs been organising things. I wonʼt be sitting still.” As for his big day, he said, “Itʼs fantastic. What a send-off. I was bubbling there for a bit. The atmosphere was unbelievable. Iʼm very proud of my fans, they were great. Iʼve had a few days of wobbling a bit but you have to gather yourself. I wanted the fourth official to put up seven minutes! I was going to kill him!”

“What will you miss most?” Sir Alex was asked. “Those last – minute goals,” he said. “I love those.”

The players were full of praise for their departing manager, as you might have expected, led by club captain Nemanja Vidic, “I think it is a special day, in one way we are happy to get the trophy but in another we are sad the manager is not here another year. It will be strange not to see him in the dressing room. This is a big club and will always be a big club but it is sad after so many years, without him is going to be sad.”

Rio Ferdinand commented, “It is phenomenal what he has achieved. It speaks volumes about the type of man he is, and his desire to win, that he’s leaving the club behind in a healthy state.” Michael Carrick observed, “Itʼs been an emotional day for everyone. It was a strange feeling and itʼs been like that all week. It was a special, special day. Even in the changing room he tried to keep it as normal as possible but in the back of your mind you were thinking this is the last one. With the reception he got, it was amazing.”

Robin van Persie revealed the lure of working with Sir Alex was one of the chief reasons he chose United over City. He explained added: “Itʼs an unbelievable day but a sad one as well. I had the honour to work with him for one year and itʼs been an unbelievable year. Heʼs made such an impact on me. He may be the greatest manager ever and heʼs such a nice person. Before the game, he couldnʼt see anything about him retiring. All week heʼs been focused on what to do and what to expect. Itʼs a massive honour for me to say Iʼve worked with him for a year.”

The evergreen Giggs added, “Sir Alex just said play the game and not the occasion. He wanted to win the game, wanted it to be an entertaining game and for us to do the things which he has wanted us to as a manager. The memories of him that stick out are when I was younger. When I was 13 playing for Salford Boys and looking to the sidelines and there was Alex Ferguson watching.” Retiring Paul Scholes remarked, “Itʼs been a good day. Weʼve won the game, thatʼs all that matters. Weʼll celebrate tonight and hopefully in more years there will be more trophies for these players. Today it was just nice to get through the game. I thought Sir Alex handled it well, he spoke really well and he has done a fantastic job here. I know itʼs the right time for me to go. Itʼs not been the season I would have liked personally, but weʼve won the league and itʼs a great day.”

Phil Jones added, “Itʼs been incredible [working under Sir Alex Ferguson]. Heʼs a fantastic manager. What heʼs done for me has been fantastic and I canʼt thank him enough.” Jonny Evans said, “Obviously with the manager retiring, the atmosphere here is even more emotional. Itʼs a great day to be involved. Heʼs had a big effect on my career. Itʼs hard to put into words. We probably wonʼt notice it until a few years down the line when heʼs not here anymore. I think heʼs always had the ability to get the most out of his squad, with rotating the team and motivating players.”

Michael Laudrup recognised the match had been overshadowed as he pointed out in the immediate post-match interview, “It is a special day. It is one thing that a manager in a big club stops, but this is a lifetime not a small era. It is incredible. I have a lot of respect for Sir Alex to have so many years in the same club, so unique. It is a lifetime. I said before and just after, it is a celebration. For us it is a game in which we could relax. We did what we have done this season, finish ninth and we will stay there, we won the League Cup also.”

Not too far away, and a touch earlier in the day, over at Goodison Park, Sir Alexʼs chosen successor, David Moyes received heart felt applause from Everton fans as his team concluded their penultimate match before he departed for the managerial role at Old Trafford. Moyes was moved by the reception he received both before, during and after the 2 – 0 win over West Ham in his final appearance at Goodison. Moyes was highly emotional from the moment he arrived at the ground, applauded in by stewards, until at the end when he was awarded a guard of honour by his own players prior to the post – match lap of appreciation. Moyes would have sympathised if some supporters, who sang his name throughout, were not happy with his departure. He commented, “I am a football supporter and if I had been on the terraces today I would have clapped the manager – I might not have liked what he was doing but I would have certainly applauded. I think just by the reaction from most people in the last few days I thought it would be okay but if you are a football supporter you are entitled to support your team and if someone is not on your team you donʼt know what will be the reaction.

“It was really emotional from the moment I came in: all the stewards were standing clapping me and I didnʼt know what to do. I came here 11 years ago and it was really emotional walking out on to the pitch, a lot of people didnʼt know who I was I donʼt think. I got off to a great start (winning 2 – 1 over Fulham) so I am really fortunate I had a reception like I did today. I am gobsmacked, very thankful and humble for what the people of Everton have shown today. What I will miss is what you saw in the middle of the second half – the supporters were not cheering David Moyes, they were cheering their football club and standing up for it. I thought that was the toughest part for me today – it was a difficult time – because the crowd showed how big Everton are and what it means to them. More important for me was how well Everton played today. I thought they played like a top team today – I donʼt mean a team in fifth or sixth, I mean a top team. I think we would have been a match for any side: the players were terrific in showing a level of professionalism just to make sure they couldnʼt get caught up in anything.” David Moyes was applauded out of his final press conference at by the media.

After a quarter of a century of unbridled success, a big down turn was predicted with bookmakers lengthening their odds of Manchester United retaining their Premier League title, with City installed as firm favourites, although that was prior to their shock FA Cup Final defeat by Wigan! One bookie commented, “No one knows how to build a title winning side like Sir Alex and for that reason we have had no option but to ease the price of the Reds winning the League next season.”

However, after the emotionally charged long farewell at Old Trafford there was a deep feeling that this was not just the end of an Old Trafford era, the end of a United dynasty, but the possibility of one of British sports greatest institutions hitting a dramatic downward turn, very much the way Liverpool dominated English and European football when no one could see that ever ending. Has Unitedʼs time come to an end? As Micheal Laudrup pointed out in the BBC studios as a first-time guest on Match of the Day, Sir Alexʼs boots are pretty big and will take some filling. One of world footballʼs biggest legends as well as now a success with Swansea, Laudrup stressed that this was now the biggest job to fill in world football simply by the extraordinary duration Sir Alex had held office at Old trafford and with such unparalleled success. Little wonder Sir Alex wanted his fans and Board to back the new manager.