Staff : Manager : Sir Alex Ferguson

Sir Alex Ferguson is the most successful manager in British football history – winning 18 major trophies during his time in charge of the Reds. Yet despite almost two decades at the Old Trafford helm he remains focused on increasing that tally, bringing yet more silverware to Manchester United.

The Reds boss enjoyed a playing career north of the border that saw him take in spells with Queen's Park, St Johnstone, Dunfermline, Glasgow Rangers, Falkirk and Ayr United. But it is not for his playing of the game that Sir Alex was to become a success.

Following a spell out of the game he moved into coaching, taking up the role of manager of East Stirlingshire, St Mirren then Aberdeen. It was his time at Pittodrie where he earned his reputation as a top coach. He broke the Glasgow dominance of Scottish football to lead Aberdeen to three Scottish titles, four Scottish cups, one League Cup and one European Cup Winners’ Cup.

Following the sacking of Ron Atkinson as manager of Manchester United, the Old Trafford hierarchy moved quickly for his services. They got their man on 6 November 1986.

Ferguson inherited a dispirited team of underachievers who had consistently, to their supporters’ discontent, failed to break Liverpool’s domination. Stuck in the bottom four of the Division One table, Ferguson immediately set about attempting to stave off the very real threat of relegation. Without resorting to the transfer market, he guided United up the table to and eleventh place finish.

By now it was clear to Ferguson that he faced a major job in turning the club around. United were an entertaining side but one that seemed unable to cope with the more physical aspects of League football. In his second season the Reds fared better finishing second behind Liverpool, but the position painted a false picture. The turning point came in the 1989/90 season.

Following a run of games in which the Reds were drawn away in every round, United picked up their first silverware of the Ferguson era. Lee Martin scoring the only goal in a final replay against Crystal Palace to in the FA Cup.

This first trophy opened the flood gates. The European Cup Winners’ Cup was won the following season in Rotterdam, Barcelona defeated 2-1 thanks to a brace from Mark Hughes. Then in 1991/02 the League Cup was added to United’s list of honours.

Sadly the title remained elusive. It was the Holy Grail to United fans, the 26 championships free years being exacerbated by Liverpool’s dominance of the domestic and European game.

In 1992/93 the long wait for the League championship came to an end. The Reds, inspired by £1m signing Eric Cantona, pipping Aston Villa in the final weeks of the season.

The shackles were broken: the double followed in 1993/94, the double-Double (with ‘kids’) in 1995/96, and another title in 1997. Finally United were matching off-field might with on-field success. Liverpool’s dominance was well and truly over.

Sir Alex’s greatest achievement came in 1998/99. No side before or since has achieved a treble haul of Premiership title, FA Cup and European Cup. On an unforgettable night in Barcelona his decision to throw on substitutes Teddy Sheringham and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer assured history was made. The pair scoring injury-time goals to win the Champions League and complete the treble.

Ferguson was knighted following that success and some suggested he should retire, believing his desire would wane following the realisation of a dream. Not a bit of it. Another title followed in 1999/2000 and he made it three-in-row in 2000/01. His eighth Premiership duly arrived in 2002/03; his fourth FA Cup a year later came against Millwall in Cardiff.

The Reds had by now entered a period of rebuilding. The side of homegrown players he’d first put together in 1995/96 was now breaking up and he’d recruited new stars like Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo, brought in to spark a new era of success.

Sir Alex believes that the Carling Cup win of 2005/06 – where the Reds beat Wigan Athletic 4-0 - may well provide the catalyst for a new era of success. And whilst Chelsea may well be the dominant force in the transfer market, Sir remains as hungry
as ever for more silverware.

So hungry in fact, that he has put on hold plans for retirement and has set his sights on making Manchester United English football’s - and Europe’s - premier force again.


Nationality: Glasgow, Scotland
Manager From: 06 Nov 1986
Years as Manager: 21
Premier League Title 1993, 1994, 1996, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2003
FA Cup 1990, 1994, 1996, 1999, 2004
League Cup 1992, 2006
UEFA Champions League 1999
UEFA Super Cup 1992
UEFA Cup Winners Cup 1991
Inter-Continental Cup 1999
FA Charity / Community Shield 1993, 1994, 1996, 1997, 2003
Joint holders 1990

Boss proud of Reds display

14/04/2007 18:55, Report by Ben Hibbs

Boss proud of Reds display

Sir Alex Ferguson described his players as courageous and hailed his side’s team spirit following the 4-1 win over Watford, which booked United’s place in the final of the FA Cup.

Wayne Rooney struck twice in what the boss described as his best performance of the season, while Cristiano Ronaldo scored his 21st goal of the season so far and Kieran Richardson completed the scoring.

“I thought it was a fantastic team display,” Sir Alex told MUTV. “I'm really proud of them because in terms of losing Rio Ferdinand and having to reshape the team, it was a marvellous performance.

“Our courage was excellent and when you see the way the lads were in the dressing room after the match, it tells you we have got a special bunch of players.

“Watford are such an aggressive team and they ask the question of you: ‘Are you prepared to put your head on this ball?’ You have to be up to the challenge, it was a hard-working performance.

“The courage was excellent. Wes Brown and Gaby Heinze stuck their heads on every cross that came into our box. But we had so many outstanding players. Wayne Rooney was fantastic, that was his best performance this season. The goal threat from him and Cristiano Ronaldo will take us far. We scored four but we could have scored more.”

United's attacking play has been aided by the return to action of Alan Smith, whose influence in recent weeks has made a notable difference on the pitch and in the dressing room.

“Alan Smith has breathed new life into us,” he said. “He has brought something different to the party. His enthusiasm is infectious, and defenders hate playing against him. I actually feel sorry for them sometimes because he is such a strong and determined lad. He is leading the line so well and running his guts out. He’s made a difference to us, I’m telling you. I’m pleased for the boy.”

The boss also praised the United supporters at Villa Park, who he said created a deafening and inspiring atmosphere for his team.

“Our fans today, what do you make of them? They were absolutely out of this world. Sometimes I couldn’t even hear my bench when they were trying to pass me messages. It was unbelievable.”

Alex Ferguson era, pre-Treble (1986-1998) History

Alex Ferguson arrived from Aberdeen to replace Atkinson and guided the club to an 11th place finish. The following season (1987-88), United finished second, with Brian McClair becoming the first United player since George Best to score twenty league goals in a season.

However, United struggled throughout the next two seasons, with many of Ferguson's signings not reaching the expectations of the fans. Alex Ferguson was reportedly on the verge of being sacked at the beginning of 1990 but a Mark Robins goal gave United a narrow 1-0 win in the third round of the FA Cup over Nottingham Forest kept the season alive and the team went on to win the competition, beating Crystal Palace in a replay in the final.

United won the European Cup Winners' Cup in 1990-91, beating that season's Spanish champions Barcelona in the final, but the following season was a disappointment for United as a late season slump saw them miss out on the league to rivals Leeds United. Meanwhile in 1991, the club floated on the London Stock Exchange with a valuation of £47 million[6], bringing its finances into the public eye.

The arrival of Eric Cantona in November 1992 provided the crucial spark for United, and blending with the best of trusted talent in Gary Pallister, Denis Irwin and Paul Ince, as well as budding stars like Ryan Giggs, they finished the 1992-93 season as Champions for the first time since 1967. They won the double (the league and the FA Cup) for the first time the following season, aided by the capture of Roy Keane, a determined midfielder from Nottingham Forest, who would go on to become the team captain. In the same year however, the club was plunged into mourning following the death of legendary manager and club president Matt Busby, who died on 20 January 1994.

In 1994-95, Cantona received an eight month suspension for jumping into the crowd and assaulting Crystal Palace supporter Matthew Simmons for racial abuse, in United's game at Selhurst Park. Drawing their last league match and losing to Everton in the FA Cup final left United as runners-up in both the league and FA Cup. Ferguson then outraged the supporters by selling key players and replacing them with players from the club's youth team, including David Beckham, Gary Neville, Phil Neville and Paul Scholes. The new players, several of whom quickly became regular internationals for England, did surprisingly well and United won the double again in 1995-96. This was the first time any English club had won the double twice, and the feat was nicknamed the "Double Double".

They won the league in 1997, and Eric Cantona announced his retirement from football at the age of 30. They started the following season (1997-98) well, but they finished the season in second place, behind the double-winning champions Arsenal.