For 26 years, Sir Alex Ferguson ruled, managed, and governed Manchester United. He has won several trophies for the club than any contemporary manager has done for any other team.
A name which is revered by foes as well as friends alike, this man has played one of the most important parts in making Manchester United the great club that they are. 13 premier league titles, 5 FA Cups, and 3 European cups all this speaks volumes about the kind of person and the greatness of the man that Sir Alex Ferguson is.
It was on the 6th of November, 1986 that Sir Alex was appointed as the manager of Manchester United and the rest as they say is history. The move marked the beginning of one of the most successful managerial career ever and a career that span for a period of 26 fruitful and eventful years for both, the great Scot as well as the great team.
With his immediate arrival, he made the disciplinary part much strict and the impact was evident instantly. He made United jump 10 places and finish 11th from a second bottom position of 21st in his first year in charge. The next season simply got better with United signing some brilliant players like Steve Bruce and Jim Leighton and finishing second just 9 points or three wins away from their northwestern rivals, Liverpool
Sir Alex Ferguson tasted his first league success in 1992 when he signed the maverick Eric Cantona who formed a formidable and fearsome pair with Mark Hughes. This partnership was instrumental in making Manchester United the brilliant club that they were at that season and made them grab the cup for the first time in 26 years.
He simply made matters turn for the better for the club by winning the double of Premier League and FA cup in 1994-95 and repeated the great feat in 1995-96.
The latter was the period when he introduced Nicky Burt, David Beckham, Paul Scholes, Gary Neville to the world, all of whom later would go on to become legends in the football arena. He was criticized by many pundits for his actions but he silenced his critics by winning both the Premier League as well as the FA cup with “his kids”.
In 1998-99 Ferguson created history by winning the treble of Champions League, FA Cup as well as the Premier League. As European champions, Manchester United was invited for the first time to play in the Intercontinental Cup and Club World Championship.
From 1999-2002, Ferguson made sure that Manchester United retained the Premier League and create a hattrick of success. The 2003-04 season is described by Ferguson as his most satisfying ever having come back from 10 points down to eventually winning the trophy.
He won the Champions League again in 2006 and two more premier leagues in 2008-09, 2010-12, and again in 2012-13. On 13th may, 2013 he announced his retirement thus, ending the most illustrious career ever on the grounds of Old Trafford.
