But no one would, because he was deemed too busy and important. Ferguson writes about sitting in his office at United’s Carrington headquarters, hoping someone would swing by. But the book confirms that behind this stern image is a softer man, one who values friendships, enjoys jokes and even feels vulnerable, seeking at such moments the ordinary comfort of a cup of tea with a trusted colleague. There are gems, but their arrangement is at times disorderly.įerguson reminds you of the man in your building whose window you were afraid to break while playing cricket. Along the fence of the small airport is a lone young fan with a Manchester United flag. For example, in the chapter ‘Lean Times’, the narrative jumps without warning to a refuelling stop in Newfoundland during a tour of the US by the team. But there are moments when the narration seems hurried, making abrupt shifts. Whiffs of chewing gum, Ferguson’s chewie of choice during games, rise off the pages. There is frequent use of the Scottish colloquial ‘wee’, meaning ‘small’ or ‘little’. The tone is brisk and conversational, and passages often sound like transcripts of an informal chat. Ferguson was so closely associated with United for so long, it seems a bit of a surprise that his replacement, David Moyes, has a name of his own-that he is not simply called ‘the new Alex Ferguson’.įerguson’s autobiography is written in a style that matches his personality. They won the League 20 times and the Champions League three times. By the time Ferguson left his seat, United was a $2 billion behemoth listed on the New York Stock Exchange, and a Hall of Fame side. The English league was relaunched in 1992 as the Premier League and became immensely successful. In 1990-91, English clubs were readmitted to European football. Also, stadiums in England were in poor shape and hooliganism was the norm.įerguson arrived at United in these turbulent times. An assault on Juventus supporters by Liverpool fans before the 1985 European Cup final in Brussels had left 39 Juventus fans dead, resulting in English clubs being banned from European tournaments. Their last English league title had been in 1967, and their only Champions League (then known as the European Cup) win had been in 1968. He came on board in 1986, when United were long past the glory days of the 1950s and 60s. When such a man talks, it pays to listen.įerguson’s nearly 27-year reign at Manchester United is the longest in English football. He lived admirably off the field as well as on, shunning the celebrity life, concentrating on family and hobbies, which range from wine to racehorses to the Kennedy assassination. Ferguson wasn’t flawless but his commitment and achievements are undeniable. Manchester United’s salty, feared former coach may have subjected those responsible for the errors to his trademark ‘hairdryer’ treatment, but the book still makes for useful reading. The revelation that there are 45 errors in Sir Alex Ferguson’s auto- biography has dulled its sheen somewhat. What Sir Alex Ferguson’s autobiography lacks in depth and accuracy, it makes up in colour
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