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very often our victories were squeaked out in the last few minutes, after we had drained the life from our opponents. Games – like life – are all about waiting for chances and then pouncing on them.” The first thing that popped into my head while reading this was "I wonder how many managers we've had in Alex's 26 years in charge at United?" If Chelsea drop points, the cat’s out in the open. And you know what cats are like - sometimes they don’t come home.” Honest assessment of Alex Ferguson's time in charge at Manchester United. You have to read between the lines but his account at the helm of United for 26 years presents a great lesson in organizational management. The book highlights Ferguson's ability to evolve with time and adapt to change while maintaining absolute control at the organization. It's not as complete as I hoped it would be. But then again, he's already had another autobiography published in 2000 titled 'Managing My Life: The Autobiography'. I haven't read that book yet, so I'm guessing that much of what's incomplete here is covered in that book.
They say he’s an intelligent man, right? Speaks five languages! I’ve got a 15-year-old boy from the Ivory Coast who speaks five languages!” (On Wenger) Well, according to Wikipedia we've had 23 managers (some for less than two games, some repeat offenders like good old Kevin Keegan). I actually thought we might have had more considering how much of a carousel the post actually resembles. As good as Fergie was as a manager I wonder how long he would have lasted at Newcastle... The celebratory, revealing, inspiring, and entertaining autobiography of the greatest manager in the history of British soccer.
Whether dribbling or sprinting, Ryan can leave the best defenders with twisted blood” (On Ryan Giggs) The Mail on Sunday in their review stated ‘Ferguson emerges from this account as a genuine national hero, one of the great Scots of the 20th century.’ It was the most emphatic display of selflessness I have seen on a football field. Pounding over every blade of grass, competing if he would rather die of exhaustion than lose, he inspired all around him. I felt such an honour to be associated with such a player.’ (on Roy Keane’s inspired performance in the semi-final of the UEFA Champions League against Juventus in 1999) Sometimes you look in a field and you see a cow and you think it’s a better cow than the one you’ve got in the field.” (Over Rooney and his 2010 u-turn from leaving the club) It is fair to start this review by saying I am a huge Manchester United fan so for me this book has a special feel. The book shows a unique sense of humour to Sir Alex Ferguson which was never very evident in his time on TV during interviews and matches.
I think he was an angry man. He must have been disturbed for some reason. I think you have got to cut through the venom of it and hopefully he’ll reflect and understand what he said was absolutely ridiculous.’ (On Benitez) There has been a lot of expectation on Manchester City and with the spending they have done they have to win something. Sometimes you have a noisy neighbour and have to live with it. You can’t do anything about them…” (On Man City) There’s a reason that God gave us two ears, two eyes and one mouth. It’s so you can listen and watch twice as much as you talk. Best of all, listening costs you nothing.” There are a number of subjective and objective criteria that I use as a way to rank players. The subjective ones include their ability with both feet; their sense of balance; the disciplined fashion in which they take care of their fitness; their attitude towards training; the consistency between games and over multiple seasons; their demonstrated mastery in several different positions; and the way they add flair to any team for which they play. The objective ones that are impossible to dispute are: the number of goals they have scored; the games they have played for several of the best club teams in the world; the number of League championship and cup medals they have won, and their appearances in World Cups. When you employ this sort of measurement approach, it becomes far easier to define the very highest levels of performance. The people who are least confused about this are other players.”
He’ll be getting a hug and a kiss from me - maybe even two!’ (on his friend Sam Allardyce after Bolton stalled Chelsea’s title challenge in 2006-2007) So no doubt people are going to think me a Man U supporter for having read Alex Ferguson's autobiography. No, no, no. I would like to point out I go for a rather sad club, one that is very well supported but are run more like a comedy club than anything else. Yes, I support the Toon and unless Sheikh-el-Billionaire comes in and buys out that clown Mike Ashley, we'll never win a damn thing! At least our jail-bird shirts look cool, eh? ;)
Perhaps the most important element of each activity is to inspire a group of people to perform at their very best. The best teachers are the unsung heroes and heroines of any society,” Author and Journalist Frank Worall published his biography on the Old Scot in charge of Manchester United a few months United won their 12th EPL title under Ferguson in 2011. The beautifully researched book is full of insider anecdotes and was described by The Mail on Sunday as If they lose faith in your knowledge, they lose faith in you. That grasp of the facts must be kept at a high level, for all time. You have to be accurate in what you say to the players.” I’m privileged to have followed Sir Matt because all you have to do is to try and maintain the standards that he set so many years ago.” (On Sir Matt Busby)This is "control" – the key word in Ferguson's philosophy of management – exerted well after the final whistle has been blown. Over the past four years, Alex Ferguson has been reflecting on and jotting down the highlights of his extraordinary career, and here he reveals his amazing story as it unfolded, from his very early days in the tough shipyard areas of Govan. Sir Alex announced his retirement as manager of Manchester United after 27 years in the role. He has gone out in a blaze of glory, with United winning the Premier League for the 13th time, and he is widely considered to be the greatest manager in the history of British soccer. Over the last quarter of a century there have been seismic changes at Manchester United, with the only constant element the quality of the manager's league-winning squad and United's run of success, which included winning the Champions League for a second time in 2008. Sir Alex created a purposeful, but welcoming, and much envied culture at the club which has lasted the test of time. Ferguson claims the FA used to go after high-profile targets, such as Manchester United and Wayne Rooney, because it resulted in favourable publicity. "It was never really possible to work out who was running English football's governing body," he writes. "It's an institutional problem. Reformers go in there 6 feet 2 inches tall and come out 5 feet 4 inches." He says Greg Dyke has to reduce the number of people involved in decision making: "A committee of 100 people can't produce sensible management." Ferguson also, perhaps predictably, declares that there are no "really top" referees in the modern game, damning them as unfit and "as a group, not doing their job as well as they should be". OG Ruud was rude The pace of the game demanded a referee who was fit. It is an indictment of our game. You see referees abroad who are as fit as butcher’s dogs. We have some who are fit. He wasn’t fit. He was taking 30 seconds to book a player. He was needing a rest. It was ridiculous.’ (On referee Alan Wiley)
As a lifelong Manchester United supporter I felt compelled to read this book by United's most successful Manager of all time even though I've never read a sport biography or autobiography before. I'm a manchester united fan from 15 years give or take .. i thought i knew everything about the club .. well this book proved me wrong. If I have my health I can carry on. There will be a point when I do quit but I have absolutely no idea when that is.” Jose understands winning and losing are twins in a way. When you win you don’t gloat and when you lose you don’t go bananas.” (On Mourinho) The experience of defeat, or more particularly the manner in which a leader reacts to it, is an essential part of what makes a winner.”Wayne is truly blessed. He doesn’t just have ability, he has a fire inside him.’ (After Rooney joined United in 2004) You must be joking. Do I look as if I’m a masochist ready to cut myself? How does relegation sound instead?’ (When asked if Liverpool were genuine title contenders in 2007)
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