Football: Alex Ferguson’s managerial career

Ahead of Paul Hayward's exclusive interview with Sir Alex Ferguson in today's New Observer, we take a look at the career of arguably the greatest manager of all time
  
  


Alex Ferguson: Alex Ferguson manager of Aberdeen
After tranforming St Mirren from a team in the lower half of the second division to first division champions in 1977, he fell out with the club and was sacked in 1978. In June of that year he became manager of Aberdeen
Photograph: Action Images Photograph: guardian.co.uk
Alex Ferguson: Martin Buchan testimonial
In 1983 Aberdeen won the Scottish Cup and then Ferguson got his first taste of European success when Aberdeen beat Real Madrid 2-1 to win the Cup Winners' Cup. Later in that year Aberdeen took on Manchester United in the testimonial match for United defender Martin Buchan with Fergie pitting his wits against Ron Atkinson who he would replace as United manager three years later
Photograph: Bob Thomas/Getty Images Photograph: Bob Thomas/guardian.co.uk
Alex Ferguson: Oxford Utd v Man Utd - Fergies first game in charge
In 1986 following a poor run of results Ron Atkinson was sacked by United and Ferguson was appointed as manager in November. His reign didn't get off to a good start though as United lost 2-0 to Oxford in his first game in charge
Photograph: PA Archive/Press Association Images Photograph: guardian.co.uk
Alex Ferguson: Ferguson celebrates after United's FA cup win over Nottingham Forest
The first few seasons did not go well at United with lacklustre performances and mid table finishes in the league. Ferguson has described December 1989 as "the darkest period [he had] ever suffered in the game." Following a run of seven games without a win, United were drawn away to Nottingham Forest in the third round of the FA Cup and it was expected that United would lose and Ferguson would be sacked. United won the game 1-0 thanks to a Mark Robins goal and the game is often cited as the match that saved Ferguson's Old Trafford career
Photograph: PA Archive/Press Association Images Photograph: guardian.co.uk
Alex Ferguson: Manchester United 1 v Crystal Palace 0
That victory seemed to spur Fergie and United on and they made their way to the 1990 FA Cup final which they won 1-0 in a replay against Crystal Palace thanks to a goal by Lee Martin
Photograph: Popperfoto Photograph: guardian.co.uk
Alex Ferguson: Alex Ferguson lifts the trophy after their 1990 FA Cup triumph
And Ferguson gets his hands on his first piece of silverware at Manchester United, the FA Cup in 1990
Photograph: Ben Radford/Allsport Photograph: Ben Radford/guardian.co.uk
Alex Ferguson: Ferguson with 1991 Cup Winners Cup
In 1991, following a 2-1 victory over Barcelona, the United manager gets his hands wins his first piece of European silverware, the Cup Winners' Cup, for the club
Photograph: Neal Simpson/Empics Sports Photograph: Neal Simpson/guardian.co.uk
Alex Ferguson: Manchester United sign Eric Cantona
In 1992 Ferguson made one of the most inspired and important signings of his career when he brought Eric Cantona from Leeds United to Old Trafford for £1.2million
Photograph: Malcolm Croft/PA Archive/Press Association Images Photograph: Malcolm Croft/guardian.co.uk
Alex Ferguson: Alex Ferguson with his first League Championship Trophy
Cantona proved to be an inspiration at United and formed a strong partnership with Mark Hughes, firing United to the top of the table and ending their 26 year wait for a league title
Photograph: Rui Vieira/Empics Sport Photograph: Rui Vieira/guardian.co.uk
Alex Ferguson: United's kids with the 1996 Premiership trophy
After finally breaking their 26 year wait, there seemed to be no stopping United and they won the title in the following year and also beat Chelsea 4-0 to win the FA Cup, giving Fergie his second League and Cup double following Aberdeen's triumph in 1985. With United missing out on the 1994-95 title and then losing their first match of the 1995-96 season, the media swooped upon Ferguson with undisguised glee. They wrote United off because their squad contained so many young and inexperience players, with Alan Hansen saying "you can't win anything with kids." United's performances improved and they won a league and cup double
Photograph: John Peters/Man Utd via Getty Images Photograph: John Peters/guardian.co.uk
Alex Ferguson: Eric Cantona scores the winning goal in the 1996 FA Cup final
United then played Liverpool in the FA Cup final which they won thanks to a late Cantona goal which gave Ferguson his second double for United
Photograph: Bob Thomas/Popperfoto/Getty Images Photograph: Bob Thomas/guardian.co.uk
Alex Ferguson: United with the Champions League Trophy in 1999
In 1999 United and Ferguson went one better by becoming the first English club to win the treble. After winning the league title, United beat Newcastle 2-0 in the FA Cup final and then went to Barcelona to face Bayern Munich in the Champions League Final. In one of the most dramatic comebacks in history, United were 1-0 down with 90 minutes on the clock but during the three minutes of injury-time Teddy Sheringham equalised and then with just seconds left, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer scored the winning goal
Photograph: Tom Jenkins Photograph: guardian.co.uk
Alex Ferguson: United 2002/2003 title victory
Ferguson has said that the 2002/2003 title victory is one of his most satisfying
Photograph: John Peters/Manchester United PLC Photograph: John Peters/guardian.co.uk
Alex Ferguson: United players celebrate after Giggs scores at Wigan
In May 2008, 25 years since Ferguson won the Cup Winners' Cup with Aberdeen, a 2-0 victory over Wigan gave him his 10th League title with United
Photograph: Tom Jenkins Photograph: guardian.co.uk
Alex Ferguson: 2008 Champions League Final
Ten days after their league triumph, United were in Moscow for the Champions League Final against Chelsea. It was an absorbing match which finished 1-1 and went to penalties, which United won. It was the second time Ferguson had won the Champions League
Photograph: Tom Jenkins Photograph: guardian.co.uk
Alex Ferguson: Manchester United's coach Ferguson salutes the crowd
In a managerial career spanning 36 years, Ferguson has won an incredible 44 trophies, including 11 Premier League titles and 2 Champions League titles
Photograph: Nigel Roddis/Reuters Photograph: Nigel Roddis/guardian.co.uk
Alex Ferguson: Manchester United's 2009 Premier League victory
Although the team had a slow start to the 2008–09 season, United won the Premier League with a game to spare, making Ferguson the first manager in the history of English football to win the Premier League three times in a row on two separate occasions. Ferguson has now won 11 league titles at Manchester United - and this one put them level with Liverpool on 18 titles overall
Photograph: Tom Jenkins Photograph: guardian.co.uk
 

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