BY JAMES ROSS – FAN FUEL BLOGGER
The man born on the final day of 1941, Sir Alex Ferguson, has announced he is stepping down at the end of the current season.
As retirement news goes, it doesn’t get any bigger than this. He’s been synonymous with Manchester United with over a quarter of a century. His list of accomplishments is lengthy, and glittering. Here’s a quick rundown.
Two European Champions League titles
Two European Cup Winners Cup title
Two European Super Cup titles
One Intercontinental Cup title
One FIFA Club World title
13 English Premier League titles
Five English FA Cup titles
Four English League Cup titles
Three Scottish Premier League titles
Four Scottish FA Cup titles
One Scottish League Cup title
On 10 occasions he has been named Premier League Manager of the Year, and 27 times the Manager of the Month.
Have your say: Have an opinion on the news of the day? Better yet, want to become a Fan Fuel blogger? Email us here. | Read more Fan Fuel blogs here
It’s really all quite astounding. He’s managed to stay at a single club for 26 seasons, in an era when spending five seasons at a single club (as a manager) is a major accomplishment.
He’s constantly re-invented the Manchester United side on numerous occasions. Threats to United’s dominance came, briefly supplanting the Mancunian giants, but Sir Alex always figured out a way to overcome the latest obstacle, and beat it back behind him. First Arsenal were supposed to replace United as the dominant force in English football in the early 2000s, then Chelsea in the mid-2000s, and then Manchester City only last season. Each time, SAF schemed and quickly conjured up a way to nick back the title.
He’s been a master manipulator of the media for years, seemingly operating under a different set of rules than anyone else in English football. The English FA have almost seemed afraid of him and his tirades against referees. Perhaps they (the FA) are.
Quite simply, he’s the best. For longevity, and a track record strewn with silverware, it’s hard not to be blown away by the achievements of the wily old Scot.
Football will be a lesser game without his presence. Rest well in retirement Sir Alex Ferguson. If anyone deserves an epic send off, it’s this man.