SIR ALEX FERGUSON

SIR ALEX TIMELINEPlaying career Early Managerial

CareerManchester United

1974-1978 1985-1986

1972

1986-present

31 Dec 1941

1957-1966

1967-19721978-1985

1973-1974

THE EARLY YEARS

Sir Alex Ferguson was born on 31st December 1941, at his grandmothers house, in Glasgow Scotland. His father (Alexander) was a plater’s helper in the shipbuilding industry. His mother (Elisabeth) helped with the children. He has a younger brother Martin who was born a year after Alex in 1942.

EARLY MANAGEMENTAt the age of 32 Ferguson was appointed manager of East Stirlingshire

Early evidence of Ferguson’s reputation as a disciplinarian can be found by a quote from East Stirlingshire’s club forward Bobby McCulley

I had never been afraid of anyone

before but Ferguson was a

frightening bastard from the

start.

MOVING ON UP1974 TO 1978

After a short successful stay at East Stirlingshire he moved to St. Mirren in the October of the same, taking a team that was in the lower half of the second division to a team that won the Scottish first Division in 1977.

Part of his success was his ability to discover amazing talent, and play superb attacking football.

He developed a very young team with the average age of the winning side only being 19 years of age.

FIRST TASTE OF REAL SUCCESS

1978-1986

Sir Alex began working with Aberdeen in June 1978.

During his time at Aberdeen, he kept up his appearance of being a strict Disciplinarian.

This strict show of discipline lead his Aberdeen players to nickname him “Furious Fergie’’.

AS A MANAGER

Ferguson’s managerial career begin with the Scottish club Aberdeen; and eventually he begin his Manchester United managerial career in 1986. From

then on, the ailing Manchester United side began its climb to the top.

He combines many of the qualities required of a good football manager.

He is knowledgeable about the game. He does a lot of research. He is a good man-manager. He seems to know what

attitude to use against different players. Thirdly, he stamps his authority on his team, allowing no

prima donnas in the team, showing that there is no individual larger than the club.

WHY IS ALEX A SUCCESSFUL MANAGER

Praises the player as well as criticizes them.

Do not hesitate to punish a player (Rooney was dropped).

Ferguson's fiery temper is legendary. His primary school teacher said that he "could start a fight in an empty room".

But a bollocking is soon followed by an arm round the shoulder.

Shield players from the media where necessary (notably Ryan Giggs in his first season) and makes a point of never publicly criticising them.

FERGUSON WINNING FORMULA

Young players brought through the ranks in a close-knit family atmosphere.

Tight Discipline and commitment is total.

Inspiring loyalty and self-belief.

Deliberately created the scence of Paranoia towards outside world

Everone is against you , he told his players

The referees,

the FA, the press,…

Paranoia

Sir Alex Ferguson saw the importance of instilling humility in his players.

He never allowed a single player to rise above the club. The player is never above the club, he would say.

If you can believe this, your organization will outlast the people in it.

APPROACH AS A MANAGER

The man is not bigger than the organization

When you are building an organization for the long term, you need to seriously consider good succession as well.

Sir Alex Ferguson saw the importance of constantly grooming players from their youth to play in the first team.

For long term success, he saw that he had have a youth team that would take over the club in the future.This approach was very different from a lot of the other top clubs in Europe; who bought top veteran players by paying top dollar for them.

Succession is important

Don't tolerate a lack of focus or commitment

Stay on good terms with ex-employees

Defend your team in public

It's even more important to defend your boss in public

Mind games aren’t just for Uri Geller

LEADERSHIP LESSONS FROM SIR ALEX FERGUSON

Distinguish between control and power, Getting things done is important, but you want to gain respect, not instil fear.

Delegate so you can observe what is going on around you. Trust others to do their jobs, whilst standing back to consider the quality of what is being done and the direction in which things are going.

LEADERSHIP ADVISE FROM SIR ALEX FERGUSON

Gain respect not fear

Delegate and observe

Consider what might be learnt from setbacks in order to improve, but never make panicky responses. When making important and difficult decisions be decisive and if you believe in what you are doing, stick to your guns.

The right time to act decisively is actually when things are going well. Standards improve over a period of time as a result of action taken, reach a peak and then begin to decline as other new factors come into the equation. To sustain progress long term, it is important to make decisive changes just before this peak is reached.

Analyse defeat in order to improve

Be decisive and stand your ground

Remember small things, like names

Take care of yourself.

Make all staff feel part of the team.

Watch your diet, sleeping hours and how you present yourself to people.Try to make all staff feel like an important part of the team.

Books on Alex Ferguson Leadership

1. A Will to Win: The Manager's Diary BY Sir Alex Ferguson and David Meek

2. Managing My Life: My Autobiography BY Sir Alex Ferguson

3. This Is the One BY Daniel Taylor

4. The Boss BY Michael Crick

5. Seeing Red BY Graham Poll

ALEX FERGUSON QUOTES

“At the end of this game, the European Cup will be only six feet away from you and you’ll not even able to touch it if we lose. And for many of you that will be the closest you will ever get. Don’t you dare come back in here without giving your all”

“Only true champions come out and show their worth after defeat and I expect us to do that”

“I've never played for a draw in my life”

“I think it’s important to work and I’m entitled to work. Some people do not want to work but I want to continue working”

Firas Bushnaq summarizes Ferguson’s management principles, as they apply to a CEO of an early stage company

Identify yourself with your company brand

Cultivate every interest group in your company

Gather information everywhere

Seek total control, but recognize when you cannot have it

Don’t let others cause you stress

Remember that crises blow over

Always be unsatisfied

Sir Alex Ferguson Outstanding

Achievements An Inaugural inductee of the English hall of Fame

An Inaugural recipient of the FA Coaching diploma

Vice-president of the National Football Museum

Member of the Executive Committee of the league managers association

Only manager to win the top league Honours and the double north and south of the England –Scotland border

Officer of the Order of the British Empire, Commander of the British Empire, Knight Bachelor

LMA Manager of the Decade (1): 1990s

LMA Manager of the Year (3): 1998–99, 2007–08, 2010-11

LMA Special Merit Award (2): 2009, 2011

Premier League Manager of the Season (10):1993–94, 1995–96, 1996–97, 1998–99, 1999–2000, 2002–03, 2006–07, 2007–08, 2008–09, 2010–11

UEFA Manager of the Year (1): 1998–99

UEFA Team of the Year (2): 2007, 2008

Onze d'Or Coach of the Year (3): 1999, 2007, 2008

IFFHS World's Best Club Coach (2): 1999, 2008

IFFHS World's Best Coach of the 21st Century (1): 2012

World Soccer Magazine World Manager of the Year (4): 1993, 1999, 2007, 2008

Laureus World Sports Award for Team of the Year (1): 2000

BBC Sports Personality of the Year Coach Award (1): 1999

BBC Sports Personality of the Year Lifetime Achievement Award (1): 2001

European Hall of Fame (Manager): 2008

FIFA Presidential Award: 2011

FWA Tribute Award : 1996

PFA Merit Award: 2007

Mussabini Medal : 1999

Sir Alex Ferguson has won 48 trophies as a manager, making him the most successful British football manager in history….

AT ST. MIRREN FC

Scottish First Division (1)

 

Scottish Premier Division (3)Scottish Cup (4)Scottish League Cup (1)UEFA Cup Winners' Cup (1)UEFA Super Cup (1):

TROPHIES AS A MANAGER

AT ABERDEEN FC

AT MANCHESTER UNITED FC

Premier League (12) 

FA Cup (5) 

League Cup (4) FA Community Shield (10)

UEFA Champions League (2)

UEFA Cup Winners' Cup (1)

UEFA Super Cup (1)

Intercontinental Cup (1):

FIFA Club World Cup(1)

Statistics as a Manager

BEST SIGNINGS

MASSIMO TAIBICARLOS TEVEZ LOUIS SAHA

The Economist described Sir Alex Ferguson as Britain's Steve Jobs, given his unorthodox, talent-obsessed and sometimes bruising approach to making something beautiful….

BY: Shoaib Arif & Shuja Marwat