Why Ferguson is Sir Alex Ferguson - Part 1 by Avinash Wadhwani @AvinashW1

This is the first part of two articles that seek to draw out the making of a man who perhaps shall never be surpassed in football. A man who is being honoured by a club that has no shortage of history nor legends. This feeble attempt at describing the growth of a man is a small tribute the person who has made this fan fall in love with football. Who, despite having supported only one club since he learnt to spell football, has been given the privilege to watch the birth of different teams and the evolution of a culture, which even Zeus, if he wills, will not be able to change. Here, is to SIR Alex Ferguson.

Alex Ferguson exemplifies not only what Manchester United is all about but what football is all about. Its about a will to succeed. To do the best and adhere to principles which make a man out of a boy. Fair play, mental strength (even in mind games), a never say die attitude to standing up to what you don’t like and most importantly to trust their judgment, be it in whatever.

United manager was a feisty player from the very beginning, with a hunger to succeed, which thankfully for all United fans has spilled onto his managerial career. He was ofcourse a forward, probably from where his immaculate eye for a good striker and also his killer instinct stems. Ferguson possibly never got anything the easy way, which includes the trust of the red devil fans when he took over. He was not born with a silver spoon, but with a silver shovel.

The boy who during his teens woke up at six to go play football and then trudged off to his apprenticeship, sure knows what grit, determination and hardwork can do. Something which he has never failed to impose on his players, look at Beckham, Scholes, Van der Sar and presently Chicha, just to name a few who have been affected by his sheer determination who believe in putting in blood-sweat-tears to reach the top.

SAF, came through the ranks in Scottish league, when football was at its peak and Celtic were the heirs in waiting to the acclaimed ‘Kings of Europe’ crown. He started from Queens Park, and quickly shifted to, St. Johnstone, while approaching. Legend has it that such was Ferguson’s frustration at not gaining a regular spot despite spending hours on travel time that he once asked his brother’s girlfriend to call in sick for him. The bluff was called and Ferguson was forced to start (to his surprise). Fergie being fergie, lived up to his soon to be billing of being a big match man, and scored a hat-trick, against none other, than the Rangers.

This was followed by a switch to Dunfermline. Where SAF became a full time professional and was the mischief monger in chief, for the club outplaying their potential. Ofcourse when he had been dropped for the Scottish Cup final, he did have a few choice words for the manager. Words he now reserves for the referee who makes a couple of mistakes and has the misfortune of facing him when he has to walk down the tunnel during half time. But then again, if there wasn’t the fire inside his belly and there weren’t the few abuses being hurled at you, he would just be another one who walked through Old Trafford. Ferguson swore never to leave a player in the dark until the final minutes and has justifiably never done so. Even in the case where he dropped Leighton for the FA Cup final.A man who keeps his word, ensured he kept the first principle he formulated and has done so throughout his managerial years.

This was followed by a record transfer to Rangers. Ofcourse this was to be the down of Ferguson’s career. Blamed for an error he did not commit and speaking his mind for the man he was, he was rejected to the youth team, where co-incidentally, he was to play one of the games against King Kenny, who was always going to be a thorn in Fergie backside, be it when being called upon to play for Scotland, or while managing Liverpool. Such was Ferguson’s affect that he started coaching the youth players. A fact which when bought to the managers notice, incensed him and forced him to practice alone. He was ofcourse taking his coaching badges at that point of time, already chalking out his desire to stay in the game for the kill and the gold.

Ferguson was then to move to Falkrik, where he became a player manager and was to finish his career in Ayr United. These stints of SAF, though not uneventful, were merely the end of a playing career of a player and the birth of a legend. If SAF was a boxer, he would definitely have been called Alex ‘Elbows’ Ferguson. Many a defender are testament to that. He was practicing the art of knocking the wind out of someone, when the ref couldn’t see.

Through all of the above, a common theme can be noticed, a man who never gave up (from Queens to St. Johnstone), who was willing to work hard (travelling 3 hours to play and then to work), who had the fire in his belly (shouting at the manager for dropping him) who was willing to place his principles before self interests (refusing to accept fault when with the Rangers), a willingness to work with youth (coaching the youth team) and most importantly a love for the game (taking coaching badges, while a player in his prime). This love for the game has what has made him stay in it, past his 75th birthday, well past the day in which those who came after him are gone and
enough to realize what football can do, to both person and life.