21 years & still going...

Sir Alex Ferguson celebrated a milestone in his career-being manager of Manchester United football club for 21 years, as well as the most consistently successful manager in the history of English football.


Man.United would never have tasted the kind of success they are having today had the Scotsman not arrived. United pre-Fergie was a club in disaster, languishing dangerously one place above relegation in the old First Division. The United board took swift action & decided to employ the man who was managing Aberdeen at that time to turn the club around.

















Alex Ferguson came in 1986, with the reputation of being the man able to break the Glasgow dominance (Rangers & Celtics) in the Scottish League, by leading his team Aberdeen to three Scottish titles, four Scottish cups, one League Cup and one European Cup Winners’ Cup.


However, United took time to improve. United faithfuls were impatient & calling for the sack. The FA Cup win in 1990 against Crystal Palace saved Fergie his job & gave him much needed breathing space. United then went on to win the now defunct Cup Winners Cup trophy.


Patience finally bear fruit. In the 1993-94 season, United finally won their first Premiership title in 26 years.




















The catalyst: A Frenchman bought at a mere 1 million pounds from Leeds United (what were they thinking when they let him go! Hehe...United's gain!) He would later be crowned King of Manchester United.









































One premiership title spawned into 9 more titles, 5 FA Cups, 2 League Cups, 1 Supercup, 1 Intercontinental Cup & the holy grail of all-the UEFA Champions League trophy.


















Under the management of Ferguson, Manchester United remain the only English club to have won a treble of Premiership title, FA Cup & UEFA Champions League trophy-all in one season. Sorry Liverpool, not even you can emulate this (can't resist it).


Despite the many success, I don't see any signs of Sir Alex Ferguson slowing down. He still has the hunger & motivation to win more trophies & I believe he will remain at Old Trafford and break Sir Matt Busby's record of 23 unbroken years as manager of Man.United.


Eric 'King' Cantona once said in an interview, "When his time comes, I think Alex Ferguson will die on the bench at Old Trafford"...


I also read that Paul Scholes admitted that he has much respect & is still very much frightened of Fergie today, as he did when he first signed for United as a boy. Chelsea had the 'Special One', but United have the 'Hairdryer One'...and you don't want to cross swords with him.




























As a United fan through & through since 1981, I am looking forward to many many more years of Manchester United success under Fergie.

So here's a salute to Sir Alex Ferguson-May he remain in good health & bring more glory to Manchester United!

















pictures courtesy of:

www.manutdzone.com
www.soccerlens.com
www.red11.org
www.news.bbc.co.uk
www.rte.ie/sport/soccer
www.sprig.com