Manchester United manager - Sir Alex Ferguson

Alexander Chapman Ferguson, more commonly known as Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson, was born on 31st December 1941 in Govan, Glasgow. Sir Alex Ferguson began his football career in 1957 playing for amateur side Queens Park, but he was unable to secure a first team place and three years later moved on to fellow amateurs St Johnstone. A few years later Sir Alex Ferguson became a professional footballer signing for Dunfermline, where he remained for 3 years until joining Rangers in 1967. His tme at Rangers, the club he supported as a child, alledgedly came to an acrimonious end when he was blamed for a goal conceded in the 1969 Scottish cup final which Rangers lost. A few months after this incident Sir Alex Ferguson moved to Falkirk where he became player-coach, although when his coaching responsibilities were later removed his predictable response was to request a transfer. The final club Sir Alex Ferguson joined as a player was Ayr United where he stayed until his retirement in 1974.

Sir Alex Ferguson's managerial career seamlessly followed his retirement from playing when he was appointed manager of East Stirlingshire in June 1974, in this part-time position Sir Alex Ferguson soon earned his reputation as a disciplinarian. After just a few months Sir Alex Ferguson accepted an invitation to manage the struggling second division side St Mirren and remained with them until 1978. During his 4 years at St Mirren Sir Alex Ferguson transformed the club from a side languishing in the second division to 1977 first division champions, unfortunately one year later he was sacked by the club for various breaches of contract. Aberdeen was the next club to be managed by Sir Alex Ferguson, he joined the club in June 1978 and although the first few years were disappointing he led them to the Scottish league title in 1980. Two years later Sir Alex Ferguson led Aberdeen to Scottish Cup success which meant they qualified for the 1982/83 European Cup Winners Cup, incredibly they won this trophy too beating Real Madrid 2-1 in the final. Between 1983 and 1986 Sir Alex Ferguson won a number of Scottish League and Cup titles with Aberdeen, was awarded an OBE (1984) and took on the additional role of preparing the Scotland team for the 1986 World Cup.

In November 1986 Sir Alex Ferguson became manager of Manchester United following the sacking of Ron Atkinson, but his early years at the club were turbulent and without success. By January 1990 there were strong feelings that Sir Alex Ferguson's future with Manchester United was in doubt and it was only a third round FA Cup win over Nottingham Forest that reprieved him. Manchester United went on to win the 1990 FA Cup and with it entry into the following season's European Cup Winners Cup which they also won. Manchester United had not won the English league title for more than twenty years when in 1992 Sir Alex Ferguson signed French striker Eric Cantona, an aquisition that proved to be a defining moment in the club's history. The 1992/93 season saw the inauguration of the new English Premiership and under Sir Alex Ferguson's leadership Manchester United won the title. It was the first league title they had won for 26 years and over the next decade Sir Alex Ferguson led Manchester United to another seven Premiership titles, three FA Cup trophies and a Champions League trophy. In June 1999 he was awarded a knighthood in recognition of his services to football. 

Today Sir Alex Ferguson is still enjoying success with Manchester United, most recently with his 2008 'double' winning the Premier League and UEFA Champions League. He has won more trophies than any other manager in English football and is considered one of the best football managers in the world.