November 1986. Ron Atkinson departed Manchester United and was replaced by Alex Ferguson. After initial struggles, Ferguson has overseen a quarter of a decade of dominance at Old Trafford and retires as the greatest manager the game has ever seen.
To stay at one club for so long is an incredible achievement in itself. To stay at that one club and consistently win titles and trophies is remarkable. The game has changed dramatically over Fergusons years at United and his greatest skill is that he has changed and evolved with it.
Throughout Fergusons tenure, the riches of the sport have gone through the roof. When he took charge, his players were not earning the fortunes that they are today. That requires a different kind of man management and he has been able to change his ways accordingly. Other changes such as the introduction of sports science and technology have shaped how to coach footballers. Ferguson has embraced such changes and continues to drag the very best out of every player in his team. It is his ability to keep up with the development of the biggest sport in the world that has kept him at the top of his profession for over 27 years.
The trophy cabinet at Old Trafford is bursting at the seams and Ferguson is the main reason behind its continued growth. He has rebuilt side after side, placing faith in youth and developing his squads into ones which can not only compete, but triumph. Ferguson has won 13 Premier League titles, 5 FA Cups, 4 League Cups, 2 Champions Leagues, 1 Super Cup and 1 World Club Cup. It’s the kind of CV every manager dreams of, but the like of which we will never see again.
His major triumph came in the 1998/99 season where Manchester United claimed ‘The Treble’. The dramatic nature of two goals in the last two minutes to complete the three major titles against Bayern Munich is Barcelona encapsulated the spirit of Ferguson that he has instilled in every single player who pulls on a United shirt. Manchseter United are a side who never give and never know when they are beaten and that is an attitude that comes from the manager.
Part of the foundation for Manchester United’s successes over the last two decades was the exceptional youth team, “Fergie’s Fledglings”. Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes were members of that group and are still at Old Trafford to this day. Other such as David Beckham, Nicky Butt and Gary Neville were instrumental in setting the ball rolling for the dominance that was to follow.
Ferguson has always believed in young players. Throughout his tenure we have seen the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney and Nani blossom from young hopefuls into world stars. Ferguson has again built a side based around young players, with David De Gea, Tom Cleverley, Rafael, Phil Jones, Danny Welbeck and Wilfried Zaha expected to continue the success of Manchester United for the next decade to come.
Sir Alex Ferguson has built a dynasty at Old Trafford and moulded the football club in his image for nearly three decades. He has overseen success after success and will be remembered as a true legend of the game. Manchester United must find a way to cope without him. Their rivals will see this as an opportunity to end the dominance of United for so long. Ferguson is the heart and sole of United and his departure will have a serious effect on the club.
Ferguson will without question leave Old Trafford as the greatest manager who ever lived. To achieve such outstanding success over such a long period of time marks him out as the true ‘special one’. Manchester United will forever be imprinted with the spirit of Sir Alex Ferguson.
