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Alex FergusonMidfielder, coach
Date of Birth: 31.12.1941
Country:  Great Britain |
Content:
Biography of Alex Ferguson
Alex Ferguson, a British football icon, is surrounded by an aura of mystery. Although much is known about the greatest coach in Britain of all time, understanding who Ferguson really is, beyond the surface, is quite difficult. Born on December 31, 1941 in Govan, Glasgow, Scotland, Ferguson started his football career as a midfielder and later became a coach.
Playing Career
- 1958-1960: Queens Park
- 1960-1964: St. Johnstone
- 1964-1967: Dunfermline
- 1967-1969: Rangers
- 1969-1973: Falkirk
- 1973-1974: Ayr United
- July-October 1974: East Stirling (player-manager)
- October 1974-April 1978: St. Mirren
- June 1978-November 1986: Aberdeen
- 1986: Scotland national team
- November 1986: Manchester United (England)
- Winner of the UEFA Champions League: 1999
- Winner of the Intercontinental Cup: 1999
- Winner of the Cup Winners' Cup: 1983, 1991
- Winner of the UEFA Super Cup: 1983, 1991
- Scottish champion: 1982, 1983, 1984, 1986
- English champion: 1990, 1994, 1996, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2003
- Winner of the FA Community Shield: 1994, 1996, 1997
- Winner of the Scottish Cup: 1982, 1983, 1984, 1986
- Winner of the FA Cup: 1990, 1994, 1996, 1999
- Winner of the Scottish League Cup: 1986
- Winner of the Football League Cup: 1992
- World Manager of the Year: 1993, 1999
- Knighted by the British Crown
"He always dictates his will, and he has always been hungry for success. He dislikes talkers and those who bluff, and has always fought against such people in our team. Personally, I owe him a lot. When troubles arose in life, he was always there for me... He didn't want obedient boy scouts around him and accepted players with all their strengths and weaknesses." - Manchester United captain Roy Keane.
Alex Ferguson's Career
On the misty Albion, there is a belief that the great coach Alex Ferguson was marked with some sort of greatness from birth. Ferguson himself tends to explain the turning points in his career as strange coincidences, thus fueling the mystical image surrounding him. However, it is unlikely that his family, who lived on the outskirts of Glasgow and had no connection to football, seriously considered the extraordinary talents of a child born during World War II. Ferguson's passion for football was as ordinary as wearing a kilt for a true Scottish Highlander. It is difficult to see the makings of an extraordinary personality in Ferguson as a football player. Although he managed to climb from the modest Queens Park to the formidable Glasgow Rangers, Alex never achieved fame as a player. In fact, he became the "evil genius" for fans of his own team at one point. After a humiliating defeat against their eternal rivals, Celtic, in the final of the Scottish Cup in 1969 (0-4), fans, club management, and even some teammates blamed the "unlucky" forward, whom they quickly blamed for the loss. Ferguson saw this as the first "sign of destiny" that made him seriously consider a career as a coach. He continued to play for Falkirk and Ayr United before trying his hand at coaching in 1974. In 1978, he took over Aberdeen, where he achieved his first significant success as a relatively unknown coach. He managed to break the monopoly of Celtic and Rangers in the Scottish league and won the championship title three times with Aberdeen, as well as four Scottish Cups. In 1983, after Aberdeen's sensational victory in the European Cup Winners' Cup, Ferguson gained recognition at the European level. He was invited to become the head coach of the Scotland national team, but after just six months, he realized the mistake he had made and moved to Manchester. Here, he was met with hostility. The challenges he faced as a player were nothing compared to what he experienced in the early years of his tenure at Manchester United. Ferguson was often ridiculed by local fans and labeled as "Fergie the Talker" for attempting to explain the team's failures. Initially, there was indeed much to criticize. A 1-5 defeat to their arch-rival Manchester City almost led to Ferguson's dismissal. His career at Manchester United seemed to be hanging by a thread, with the outcome of one match determining his future. The crucial moment for Ferguson (and for Manchester United) came in an ordinary game in the 1990 FA Cup third round, where the team narrowly defeated Nottingham Forest. The winning goal, scored by Mark Robins, not only saved Ferguson from being fired but also opened the door to a great future for Manchester United. In the following years, Ferguson and Manchester United won numerous titles, including the Premier League, FA Cup, League Cup, and the UEFA Champions League. He became the most successful manager in the history of English football. Ferguson's leadership extended beyond the success on the pitch; he built a powerful youth academy and broke transfer records in England. The names of players like Ryan Giggs, David Beckham, and the Neville brothers are known around the world. Manchester United transformed from a regular club into a football empire, with Ferguson as its driving force. Despite the immense wealth of his players, Ferguson managed to motivate them and maintain their hunger for success. His methods of coaching and management may not be easily explained, but they have proven to be successful. Ferguson's second passion after football is horse racing. He owns several racehorses, each worth tens of thousands of pounds. This Scottish working-class man does not have the habit of drinking Scotch whisky, like his father and grandfather did. Instead, he has a refined taste for wine, favoring reds. Ferguson is known for his long work hours, often working 18-hour days. He is a meticulous and hands-on manager, always paying attention to every detail. Although the question of how long he intends to stay at Manchester United has been a common one, it never bothered him much. For Ferguson, every day spent in Manchester is a happy day, and he believes that no one consciously turns their back on fortune.
