IFFHS – THE WORLD’S BEST CLUB COACH 1999, 2008 : ALEX FERGUSON (SCOTLAND/FC MANCHESTER UNITED)

PRESENTATION

He is considered as one of the greatest managers of all time in the World ! Sir Alex Ferguson, born 31 December 1941 in Glasgow (Scotland), has coached the FC Manchester United from 1986 to 2013 ! 27 years and 1500 matches (895 victories, 338 draws, 267 defeats) : a World record in one of the best clubs in the World. What a career for the scottish former manager.

Alex Ferguson played football as forward in Scotland. He was a great top goal scorer, scoring 171 goals in his 317 matches in the Scottish League. He won the Scottish Division Two 1962/63 with St Johnstone, was crowned as the Scottish Division One Top Scorer 1965/66 with Dunfermline Athletic and won also the Scottish Division Two 1969/70 with Falkirk. He played from 1957 until 1974, and was capped one time with the Scotland Amateur National team and 7 caps with Scotland B, scoring 9 goals !

At the end of his playing career, he also worked as coach and started his managerial career with East Stirlingshire and St Mirren (1974-1978) where he won a first national title. He enjoyed a successful period in Aberdeen (1978-1986), where he won 3 Champions titles, 4 Scottish Cups, 1 Scottish League Cup, one European Cup Winner’s Cup 1982/83 and one European Super Cup 1983 ! 

After the death of Jock Stein, he briefly managed the national team of Scotland in 1985/86, taking the team to the World Cup 1986. The success of Alex Ferguson decided Manchester United to appoint him as manager. He signed in november 1986 and retired in June 2013. A love-story of 27 years with 38 Trophies, including 13 Premier League titles (1992/93, 1993/94, 1995/96, 1996/97, 1998/99, 1999/2000, 2000/01, 2002/03, 2006/07, 2007/08, 2008/09, 2010/11, 2012/13), five FA Cups (1989/90, 1993/94, 1995/96, 1998/99, 2003/04), 4 Football League Cups (1991/92, 2005/06,2008/09,2009/10), 10 FA Charity Community Shields (1990, 1993, 1994, 1996, 1997,2003,2007,2008,2010,2011), 2 UEFA Champions League (1998/99, 2007/08); one European Cup Winner’s Cup( 1990/91); one European Super Cup (1991), one Intercontinental Cup (1999) and one FIFA CLUB WORLD CUP (2008) !

Alex Ferguson is the most decorated manager in European football competitions, he won 10 Manager of the year Awards, 27 Manager of the month Awards and two Awards THE WORLD’S BEST CLUB COACH 1999 and 2008 by IFFHS. He won the President’s FIFA Award 2011 for his fantastic achievements and was knighted in the 1999 Queen’s Birthday Honours list for his services t the game.