1. When he was manager of Man United, being invited into his office after the match to toast was an honor for any coach. Sitting there, looking around the room, listening to his wise words was an unforgettable experience.
He can talk about his players, about the magic of the king’s sport, about Man United’s past and present or how to cope with pressure. No matter the topic, he expressed his ideas with clear grammar, good word choice and a bit of charm.
Once a reporter asked Ferguson if he only had one bullet, would he “save” it for Victoria Beckham or Arsene Wenger, Ferguson smiled and replied: ” Can I have one more bullet, please? “
Ferguson is a man familiar with attacks. After a defeat, people blame his players, himself, his Govan roots. On the contrary, he also attacked everything to protect his students, including the referee and the media. ” Go away and just write trash ” is a classic quote from Ferguson, when he wanted to defend Juan Sebastián Verón.
That is part of Ferguson’s leadership art. He has great eloquence and is able to inspire thousands of people in his talks.
He is regularly invited to lecture by Harvard University. This explains why his Man United team always thrives in the second half, and always knows how to overcome difficulties. Because the message he conveyed was very “pressing”, it went straight to the players’ heads. Ferguson is a rare person who can become a leader in any field, from politics to business.
It’s just that Ferguson chose football. And his leadership, management, vision and training skills have given Ferguson a completely unique position in the military world. It also explains why he was able to last so long in top football. Sir Alex is the only coach who is not outdated. Not because he updates every day, but because he knows how to divide tasks among his assistants.
He leads, not takes over. And that leadership brought Man United 13 Premier League Cups, 2 Champions Leagues and many other titles. If you include his successful time with Aberdeen, Ferguson has always been an excellent manager throughout his decades-long coaching career.
And for that reason, Ferguson received the support of almost the entire football world. Moreover, he also enjoys the respect of people who have nothing to do with the field. Because he not only conveyed the message of the ball but also the desire to work and the desire to live.
2. Ferguson’s knowledge is very broad because he has many hobbies outside of life. He often attends art auctions, he is very fond of artist Jack Vettriano, he owns a horse farm and has considerable knowledge of history and politics. Ferguson can talk about a wide range of topics, with admirable knowledge. He did not limit himself within the framework of football. So his statements are always diverse and attractive.
He has the ability to write many more books and still sell them like hotcakes. His inner discipline in his work alone is worth learning from. When he was in charge, he only slept 5 hours a day. He comes to the training ground very early. Besides having a few glasses of wine after each match, he is healthy and alert.
After retiring, he always kept himself busy with speaking engagements and being an ambassador for Man United. So when the news that he had a brain hemorrhage spread, perhaps half the world’s population was startled and prayed for his recovery.
Because he lived a life of gratitude and inspiration. How could Leeds United fans forget that he rushed back from a Champions League match to attend the funeral of legendary Billy Bremner? Liverpool fans will forever remember how Ferguson responded to the Hillsborough disaster. As Kenny Dalglish sat dazed in his office, one of the first calls he received was from Ferguson, asking for help. “A wonderful gesture,” Dalglish recalls.
Ferguson and Dalglish should have hated each other, given their early encounters in the context of the Rangers – Celtic, Manchester United – Liverpool feud. But Ferguson values his opponents as well as his friends. Even when the publisher printing Dalglish’s autobiography asked the Liverpool legend who he wanted to write the foreword, Dalglish named Ferguson.
The publisher was stunned to hear this name, but Dalglish said: “His words are golden words. He will accept.” Then Dalglish’s autobiographer came to Ferguson’s house… asking for letters. He spent 8 minutes saying the preface, and this writer had to admit that they were ivory words.
Ferguson is a fan of beautiful football. He admired his students, as much as they admired him. Fascinated by Ryan Giggs’ goal against Arsenal in the 1999 FA Cup semi-finals, he did not hesitate to compare it with Marco van Basten’s volley against the Soviet Union at EURO 1988, or Diego Maradona’s solo goal at Mexico 1986.
His former players still call him “the Boss”. Ferguson is a master at moving between the carrot and the stick. When Ronaldo and Nani got up to the podium to receive their medals for the EURO 2016 champions, they realized Ferguson was waiting to hug them, like a proud father waiting for his children. Ferguson is a person willing to ride a motorbike around Paris just to… find Eric Cantona.
That’s why Cantona prayed for him to survive. Edwin van der Sar never forgot how Ferguson was there when his wife also suffered a brain hemorrhage. Ferguson was with Cristiano Ronaldo at the time of his father’s death.
Not only the people he worked with, his opponents also thanked Ferguson. They did not forget his encouragement when they lost their jobs. There were many reporters he banned, but the number of reporters he was willing to cooperate with, even sending interviews via email, sending videos they requested… were also countless.
That’s why he is not alone in this fight. In the history of football, there has rarely been anyone who received so many prayers in his match with the Grim Reaper.
