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When ‘cometh’ another Alex Ferguson?
After years of setting disciples of football wondering when the world will see the last of him on the touchline, Sir Alex Ferguson has finally provided the answer himself.
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The icon of a manager, who has been the brain behind Manchester United’s out-of-the-world success story in English and global football, says he will bow off the stage at the end of the current season.
Time and again, the grapevine had buzzed with rumours about the ‘Old Fox’s’ imminent departure, but on each occasion, they turned out to be wishful thinking or baseless fear among Man United supporters over the loss of a rare breed of a ‘Generalisimo’. But this time it is for real, and Man United have to come to terms with the reality of embarking on a new journey with a new manager.
It’s never going to be the same under a different manager, but Sir Alex’s influence will be felt in another capacity to ensure the continuation of the Man U success story.
After 13 league triumphs and two Champions League successes with Manchester United that saw them overtaking Liverpool as the most successful English club last year, Sir Alex definitely has nothing more to show by way of achievements. The time to go is now when the applause is deafening.
An odyssey that began with East Stirlingshire, St Mirren and Aberdeen in his native Scotland was to culminate in 27 years of unbelievable achievements, beginning in 1986. Turning Old Trafford into a theatre of all sorts of dreams, he had the rare gift of making key signings such as the controversial Eric Cantona from France and Cristiano Ronaldo from Portugal to the amazement of connoisseurs.
But, perhaps, what Man United faithful will remember him for a long time to come was his ability to discover some super talents from the youth side of the club who, for decades, have attained the status of legends in the game — Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes, David Beckham.
No amount of space would be enough to make the telling of the Alex Ferguson story possible, but there are some chapters that he himself will forever remember.
Overcoming early years of title drought to lead the team into an era of supremacy was, doubtless, the mark of a man who had the capacity to wait for results, thanks in a large measure, of course, to the patience of the fans.
Sir Alex has a lot to look back at with nostalgia or agony in his glorious career. The 1999 upsetting of Bayern Munich in three minutes of added time to win his first UEFA Champions League with the club, and the 2011 ‘Messi-less’ 3-1 devouring of Man United by FC Barcelona led by a little Argentine magician called Lionel Messi can never be forgotten.
It is said when a man has done his best, the angels above can do no more. There goes a legend, when cometh another? The world will surely miss this man.
This article appeared in the Candid Corner column of The Mirror written by Ackah Anthony