Manager Profile: Sir Alex Ferguson - Part 1
Sir Alexander Ferguson is one of the most recognizable and respected managers in the history of English football. The Scottish legend has been managing Manchester United since 1986 but his career has gone from strength to strength ever since he took up his
first big management job in 1978. Not only that, Sir Alex has been in-charge at Manchester United for the past 24 years, a feat that has made him the longest serving football manager in English football for the last five decades.
Ferguson was born in Glasgow, Scotland where he lived in a lower middle class working environment. He played his first football game as a player for Queen’s Park. After spending three years with Queen’s Park and scoring fifteen goals from them in thirty-one
appearances, he moved to St. Johnstone.
Despite scoring frequently for St. Johnstone, he didn’t achieve a regular starting place in their line-up. Because of these circumstances, he requested a transfer away from the club but was awarded a surprise start against Rangers. Ferguson also known as
“Fergie” scored a shock hatrick against them and was then signed up by Dunfermline.
With Dunfermline, Fergie performed admirably and scored 66 times in 89 games. He then moved onto Rangers for sixty-five thousand pounds and left the club in 1969 after differences with the management. Ferguson ended his playing career with Ayr United where
he scored big 9 times in 24 games.
Ferguson’s first real top level management job came with Aberdeen, where he took the team to the semi-finals of the Scottish F.A Cup and the final of the League Cup in his first season. Next year in 1979, Aberdeen lost the League Cup final again to Dundee
United.
In the 1980-1981 season, Aberdeen won their first league title since 1955. Ferguson managed to snatch the league away from the Glasgow clubs for the first time in fifteen years. In 1983, Aberdeen won their first ever European competition when they defeated
Real Madrid in the final of the European Cup Winners' Cup. In 1984, Aberdeen again won the Scottish league and also retained the League Cup. In 1986, Fergie left Aberdeen and took over at Manchester United.
Manchester United was then suffering from a despairing league form and there was a culture of heavy drinking and indiscipline at the club. Ferguson, who was famous for his discipline and no nonsense methods, changed the way the players acted at the club.
He imposed curfews on them and also limited their drinking habits to a great extent; players who opposed his methods and didn’t obey his curfews, were transferred to other clubs.
Ferguson’s early years at United were plagued by a lack of success, the fans turned against him and he was almost fired from his position at the club. His first silverware at United came in 1990 as they defeated Crystal Palace in the final of F.A Cup by
one goal to nil.
In 1990-1991 season, Manchester United won the European Cup Winners' Cup after defeating Barcelona in the final by two goals to one. The season was a hopeful one for United and the success meant that fans were shifting towards Fergie’s side but the league
title still remained out of Manchester United’s grasp. Ferguson promised the fans that Manchester United will win the league next season no matter what.
In the next season, Fergie again failed to win the league title but won the UEFA Super Cup and the League Cup. In 1992-1993 season, Manchester United’s squad was reinforced by the signing of Eric Cantona from Leeds United. In 1993, Sir Alex's team won the
league by finishing ten points ahead of title rivals, Aston Villa. For the next season, Manchester United bought Roy Keane from Nottingham forest. It was indeed a massive transfer for United as Keane went onto play a huge role in their future successes.
Ferguson groomed Keane quickly as he needed another leader for his team. This effort by Fergie soon reaped rewards as Keane went onto become one of the best Manchester United captains ever.
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