If you were to look up the word legend in the Italian dictionary, you would find numerous entries and innumerable examples. At some point, however, you would come across the following definition: "Fact that transcends the ordinary or protagonist of an exceptional story". The name of Sir Alexander Chapman Ferguson, for all simply Sir Alex, should rightfully be placed in brackets to this sentence.
This gentleman born in Glasgow almost 70 years ago (he will turn them on 31 December) is the only current manager to deserve the title of legend. To explain his greatness, you don't need many words, just read the list of his palmares: 47 overall trophies, of which 10 with Aberdeen and 37 with Manchester United, the club to which he has dedicated the last 25 years of his life. To the team titles then, personal ones (19!) must be added, among which the 10 as the best coach in the Premier League and that of the best manager of the nineties stand out. In addition to football awards, Ferguson boasts the highest title that a subject of her majesty can receive: on 20 July 1999, in fact, Queen Elizabeth II appointed him Sir, specifically Commander of the Order of the British Empire . In short, without beating about the bush we are facing a phenomenon, for which time seems to never pass.
But the most surprising thing about this "eternal boy" is the ability to adapt to modern times and to renew itself year after year. In the era of the iPad on the bench and of coaches who look more and more like scientists, complete with a team in tow, Ferguson continues to win with his methods, which evidently work better than others. He doesn't deceive the fact that Sir Alex has only coached a big team like Manchester United: in recent years the competition, in England and in Europe, has increased dramatically, yet the Scotsman has never stopped raising trophies. Ryan Giggs aside (Paul Scholes retired at the end of last season), there is no survivor of the United founded by Ferguson, and this means knowing how to renew continuously. Two summers ago, the American ownership sold Cristiano Ronaldo, the club's undisputed star, to Real Madrid. Sir Alex didn't bat an eyelid, he reassembled the team and last year he conquered the Premier League, also touching the Champions League, denied him only by Messi's super Barça.
An all-round manager, capable of coaching on and above all off the field: the rules imposed by him are strict, whoever makes a mistake pays, without distinction. David Beckham knows something about it, who on February 360, 13, after a defeat in the FA Cup against Arsenal, saw a shoe thrown in the eye by Ferguson, enraged by the player's lack of commitment.
Don't look in anyone's face, to make everyone feel the same, Sir Alex's strategy has been the same for 25 years. But despite all the records being broken (he became Manchester United's longest-serving manager overtaking Matt Busby), Ferguson has no plans to quit. Last Saturday, after winning at Old Trafford against Norwich City, the Scotsman stated verbatim that “the desire to continue is there, at least for another 3 – 4 years”. A highlander in all respects, who wants to have fun and entertain for a long time, in defiance of all those who would like to take his place at the "Theater of Dreams". And given Sir Alex's way, they'll have to wait a long time.
THE LAST EPISODES OF CHAMPIONS:
1 Anquetile
