Sir Alex Ferguson does not apply to that philosophy. The Manchester United manager announced his retirement Wednesday after 26 years at the helm of the most successful soccer team in English soccer.
After winning the Champions League for the first time in 1999
Ferguson was quoted saying “football, bloody hell.” How else could one describe
scoring two goals in injury time to pull out one of the most dramatic and stunning
victories in European soccer?
The result
against Bayern Munich may have been lucky, but the process to get there was
not, which is the trademark of a great coach. Ferguson’s “Football, bloody hell”
comment 14 years ago may be the easiest way to describe a career that featured
winning nearly 50 trophies.
Though most of those trophies were won at Manchester United,
but this is also a man who led a Scottish team, Aberdeen, to a European trophy
in 1983. Yes, Aberdeen. Not one of the glamour clubs in Scotland, but Aberdeen.
When Ferguson’s team takes the field on May 19, it will be
his 1,500th and final match with Manchester United. It’s an
extraordinary tenure with any club, let alone one with high expectations.
For context, Ferguson has won more league championships (16)
than Jose Mourinho, Pep Guardiola, Jupp Heynckes and Jurgen Klopp combined. That
quartet of names was some of the popular choices thrown out in the media to
replace the maniacal manager of Manchester.
Someone will be the next Manchester United manager. However,
he will soon realize the sport has evolved tremendously over the last 35 years except
in one area — Sir Alex’s way to will a team to trophies.
Even those with fonder memories than most will admit there
is no replacing Ferguson.
Laughs and liveliness,
-Wb
p.s. How many managers would be allowed to go four years
before winning their first trophy? Ferguson was special indeed.
