Tag: Ferguson

Ex Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson confesses that Drumchapel Amateurs are still embedded in his thoughts and his managerial stardom can be contributed just to them. He thanks the legend late Douglas Smith for helping him with life skills that has made him the man that he is today. Smith was a pioneer in his time, finding the Glasgow Club some sixty four years back, and encouraging amateur football players to try their luck in international football.

Sir, Ferguson in an effort to pay homage to the unappreciated hero of football, unveiled the portrait of the prodigy of Drum Chapel, Douglas Smith. The Old Trafford super manager, have gone up the ladder of success with a career laden with trophies but he recalls Smith, saying the real life lessons of discipline, not swearing, being competitive in ones game and cleanliness have been given much importance by him besides football. This is and always has been the code of success in Sir Ferguson’s life. He further added that he had learnt the lesson of punctuality from his father, hence courtesy him and Smith, he was always on time for everything till date.

The biggies of Scottish football, like John Robertson, Kenny Dalglish, Jim Cruickshank, Pat Crerand, John O’Hare, Tommy Craig, Archie Gemmill, Maurice Johnston, Asa Hartford etc are all a part of ex Drumchapel list. The current Manchester United coach Moyes too is part of the record, hence proving that Smith defiantly has made a mark.

Fergie insists that money never played a factor in Smith’s noble motive of building the career of young talented footballers. The focus was always on paying extra attention to detailing and quality time spent. He added that sure it helped because he was well to do, but the time he devoted to them was absolutely incredible.

Sir Ferguson is in the news for his remarkable achievements once again- The erstwhile Man U boss has been acknowledged with the prestigious Diamond Award at the recently held “BBC Sports Personality of the Year” award ceremony this month.

It was the 60^th anniversary for the illustrious award function.

71 year old Ferguson had been a true bliss for the leading soccer club. Throughout a prolonged odyssey of twenty-six years as the club manager, which ended in May this year, the former Man U manager won as many as 38 trophies- including thirteen league titles, 5 FA cups, 4 League Cups and 2 Champions League trophies.

“It’s a great honor. Thanks to BBC & everybody for this reward”, remarked the happy Scot. “I have had a wonderful life, a wonderful career. I am still very busy. I haven’t gone away yet you know one thing, I chose the perfect time for retirement as twenty-seven years in the very soccer industry is quite hard. Once again thank you very much.”

Ferguson officially took to retirement after helping his club secure the recent Premier League 2012-2013 title. It was another Scot David Moyes who took over the baton as the senior Scot stood down in the mid quarter of 2013.

“Sir Ferguson’s achievements can be safely dubbed as unique. We wish to recognize and honor this by celebrating Sir Alex’s last incredible season as the manager with a special award”, stated BBC Sport director Barbara Slater. “Sir Ferguson had earlier won the prestigious Lifetime Achievement honor as Sports Personality in the year 2011 given his claims on some most coveted trophies in soccer world. The very fact that his sparkling success went on for another more decade & afterwards escalates his achievements as something more remarkable. He’s somebody who is respected by many- both in & outside of soccer, irrespective of their soccer allegiances.”

The Scottish and former manager of Manchester United for over 26 years had a road named in his honor which is near the club’s Old Trafford.

Sir Alex, won two Champions League titles and five FA Cups during his 26 years with the club, said it had been an “incredible journey”.

He said: “It’s a privilege and an honor to have a road named after me, you don’t expect these things in life and it encapsulates the 26 years.

“I thank everyone for being here – my friends, family and my wife and boss. She picked all the winning teams by the way.”

Waters Reach will now be called Sir Alex Ferguson Way. The 71-year-old was also awarded the Honorary Freedom of the Borough of Trafford.

Another of his recent accomplishments is the success of his autobiography book as it became the fastest-selling non-fiction book as it made over 115,000 copies in a single week.

The book reveals some of the most personal events of his life including him having a great relationship with the current coach of Chelsea, Jose Mourinho and another noteworthy event which takes an entire chapter of his book was the title winning season of Manchester City as it was hard for him to cope with.

Some other events stated in the book was the change that David Beckham experienced turning from a football player into a celebrity. Sir. Alex Ferguson admired Beckham even considering him as a son but later he was changed and allowed the fame get to his head as he had forgotten what had made him a star and neglected to work as hard as he used to in the pitch.

Former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson is regarded as one of the best managers in the world. He spent more than 25 years in charge of Manchester United during which time he made the club one of the best in the world. Over the course of his managerial career, which lasted more than 40 years, he has lifted more than 40 trophies. Former Tottenham and Portsmouth manager Harry Redknapp has praised the achievements of his compatriot, who will be taking over as the ambassador and director of the club from the new season.

He has also revealed that the achievements of Ferguson is not unique because every manager manages to get promoted from the Championship can be considered in the same breath. Cardiff, Hull City, and Crystal Palace were all promoted to the Premier league recently and they will be playing in the top division of English football this season. Redknapp has praised the achievements of Mackay, Steve Bruce, and Ian Holloway respectively. He has said that their achievements are in no way inferior to the achievements of Sir Alex Ferguson, Rafa Benitez, and Arsene Wenger.

Redknapp has also said that all the three promoted teams from the Championship this season have a real chance of staying up in the Premier league after their debut campaign. Redknapp, meanwhile, will be focusing on getting his QPR team back into the Premier league.

“Malky Mackay, Steve Bruce and Ian Holloway fly the flag for Team GB as the managers who got their clubs promoted from the Championship. What they have all done is as good as anything Alex Ferguson, Roberto Mancini, Rafa Benitez and Arsene Wenger achieved. To get a team promoted is a hell of a task and I believe all three teams have a great chance of staying up next season,” said Redknapp.