Ferguson celebrates 20 years at Manchester United. A tribute to him!

Today sees Alex Ferguson officially celebrate 20 years at Old Trafford. On a day of reflection it is refreshing to see United back where they have sat so many times before.. at the top of the league. Results were favourable for United yesterday with Arsenal and Chelsea both losing allowing the red devils an opportunity to clear at the top.

So much has changed in the time Alex Ferguson has been at helm of Manchester United. When he arrived Utd were at the bottom end of the table having not won the league since 1967. The first few years were a building process. Discipline was lacking and there was a big drinking culture amongst first team players.

Ferguson brought in some key signings that were to form the backbone of United’s first team bringing success on unprecedented levels for the decade that followed. Players like Paul Ince, Steve Bruce, Brian Mclair, Bryan Robson and Gary Pallister and Mark Hughes are names synonymous with United and are all down to Sir Alex’s vision for the club.

The 1990’s saw success on a level rarely enjoyed by any football team. Winning was the norm as were the trophies. Defeat was hard to take, probably more down to the rarity of its occurrence than anything else.

Perhaps Sir Alex’s greatest accolade was in the development of the youth policy of Manchester United. He had a knack with the youngsters. It was the little things that so endeared him to them and ensured their loyalty was paramount. Giggs said of Ferguson “It was the little things with Alex, he always remembered your name and your parents names. When your growing up, little things like that are important.” It is no coincidence that players such as Gary Neville, Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes have decided to spend their entire careers at United. Sir Alex is a winner and so are his players.

1999 was the greatest season the club has ever witnessed. They clinched the league title, then went on to register victory in the FA cup, before flying out to the Nou camp to contest the European champions league cup. Within minutes they found themselves 1-0 down, a score-line that was to remain for much of the match. In a tactical masterstroke Ferguson brought on Ole Solskjaer and teddy Sherringham in a desperate attempt to grab a late goal. His players did more than that and both substitutes scored in injury time to win the champions league, a treble achievement.



The treble marked the pinnacle of Utd’s success. From there on in the class unit of 1994 dispersed for various reasons. A few stayed on, but it was very much a process of rebuilding. From 2002 to present Man Utd no longer looked like the team to beat. The likes of Arsenal and Chelsea, were now viewed as the top teams rather than United.

Ferguson has a desire for winning and was slowly planning to make United great again. The purchases of Wayne rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo brought a breath of new talent to the club, a move that has so far proved to be very shrewd. Ferguson seems intent on winning yet more silverware and is going the right way about it. As we celebrate 20 years of the mighty Sir Alex Ferguson we sit 3 points clear at the top of the premiership.

Sir Alex…Thankyou for the memories, thank you for the success. We salute you