Glory, Glory Man Utd. Harry Harris
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 –