David Conn’s previous article, although not strictly part of the 2007-
era, provided an interesting backdrop to what was soon to come for Alex
Ferguson: back-to-back World Soccer Manager of the Year awards...
N
ovember 6,1986 would
prove an auspicious day for
British football. That was
when Manchester United
appointed Alex Ferguson as manager.
Now, after 21 years, his passion for
football – winning football, that is –
is undiminished even at 65 and after
steering United to19 major trophies
and winningWorld Soccer’s 2007
World Manager of the Year.
The Scot proved the point yet again a
few weeks back when he was banished
from the dugout and charged by the FA
with using “abusive and insulting words”
to referee Mark Clattenburg during a1-
defeat by Bolton. Ultimately, no action
was taken, and Ferguson remained
unrepentant: “A team near the bottom
will battle, scrap and fight because they
do not have the quality of team we do,
but the key thing is how the referee
controls it.” Ferguson plainly felt that
Clattenburg had not done so adequately.
The manager’s overall trophy haul,
including those won with Aberdeen,
stands at a British record 29. He also
picked up a knighthood along the way.
This year he led United to the league
championship for the ninth time and
then the Community Shield.
And still he goes on. As David
Beckham once said: “He is a man
with a mission. It’s why so many people
admire him so much. It’s also why he
winds so many other people up. But
whatever the gaffer says or does, it’s
never: ‘I want this for Alex Ferguson.’ It’s
always: ‘I want this for the club.’ He isManchester United through and through.”
But Ferguson is also a realist. He has
neverbeenafraidtodroporevensell
stars if he thinks they are no longer of
use to the club. The list includes such
names as Beckham, Roy Keane,Jaap
Stam and Ruud van Nistelrooy.
Ferguson believes that the current
squad is the strongest in his time at
the club. He does not say such things
lightly, so every observer of the game
should take notice. “We have our own
established young players, led by Wayne
Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo, and then
more recent additions this year, such as
Owen Hargreaves, Carlos Tevez, Nani and
Anderson,” Ferguson says. “In fact, it is
difficult to know when to stop when
talking about our important players.
This team has to win something. They
have a great chance of doing so.”
The secret of his success is the
same as that of his most illustrious
predecessor, Sir Matt Busby: to not be
afraid to spend heavily on new players
but also believe in mixing in the best
products of United’s world-famous
youth system.
As Ferguson says: “You have
moments of real optimism and
enthusiasm here. Unfortunately,
there has to be an end product, and
that means we have to win silverware.
If we do it with the current group, it will
be done in the right way because they
play in the right way - the Manchester
United way.” Which is also, to his
enduring credit, the Ferguson way.
Keir RadnedgeTHE MANAGERS