The end of the Ron Atkinson era was a joyless place for United fans. A once all-conquering force had grown bloated, weak and unable to defend itself. Without a league title in 19 years, United were slumped in the relegation zone, looking up at teams the likes of Best, Charlton and Law once ruled over. Something had to give, and on November 6th, 1986, Atkinson made way for the man tasked with returning our club to former glories. That man was Alex Ferguson.
The deal was done at a motorway services in Lanarkshire, with Ferguson driving down from Aberdeen to change his destiny with the flick of a pen. But these were just the formalities - for Ferguson made his decision the moment he picked up the phone. Manchester United was just too big a romantic proposition to turn down.
From the outside, the revolution was an understated one. Out walked the flamboyant, bejewelled Atkinson; and in strode a no-nonsense Glaswegian in a grey suit. He came with a reputation as a hard taskmaster, whose disciplined approach had achieved notable success north of the border. Ferguson had won a European Cup Winners' Cup and broken the Old Firm monopoly with Aberdeen. But his biggest challenge awaited at Old Trafford.
Twenty-five years later, and with the great man still on his throne, we can say with some authority he emphatically met that challenge. A haul of 12 league titles, five FA Cups, four League Cups, a Cup Winners' Cup and two Champions League triumphs attests to that; not to mention a quarter of a century spent entertaining the millions of United fans all over the world.
As we celebrate the great man's silver jubilee, here are five Ferguson masterstokes that played a role in his becoming the most successful British manager in history.
1. He signed The King
United were on the verge. Ferguson and his team should have won the title 1992, but the weight of expectancy proved too much to bear.
Bitter rivals Leeds were the beneficiaries, and it was only right they should send a thank-you gift six months' later. That gift was Eric Cantona, and for £1.2 million Ferguson signed a player who would alter United's destiny.
"He swaggered in, stuck his chest out, raises his head and surveyed everything as though he were asking 'I'm Cantona, how big are you? Are you big enough for me? '" Ferguson said.
Five years' later The King walked out of Old Trafford arguably the most worshipped United player of his generation, perhaps ever. On his lead, Ferguson's team had finally claimed an elusive league title, channelling the Frenchman's self-belief and free-flowing expression on the pitch to prolific success. Without him, there's an argument none of this would have ever happened.
2. He waited for Ruud
United needed a goalscorer, and in the summer of 2000 it looked like they were about to land one of the most prolific in Europe. Ruud van Nistelrooy was setting the Eredivisie alight with PSV, and a deal was in place for him to join United for around £18.5 million. That was until he broke down with a serious knee injury in training.
Some managers would have moved on, but Ferguson had such faith in Van Nistelrooy's potential he spent the next year keeping in regular contact and monitoring the Dutchman's recovery. The following April, Ferguson's finally got his man - and Ruud repaid him for his patience with 150 goals in five seasons at United.
3. He rebuilt Beckham
David Beckham returned from the 1998 World Cup the most vilified man in the country. An effigy of him was strung up outside a London pub, and thousands joined the chorus of hate against a player charged with causing England's penalty shoot-out defeat to Argentina. "Ten brave lions, one stupid boy," read the famous headline. Beckham was getting a beating.
It would take a man of Ferguson's experience to guide him through the domestic season that followed. The United manager had been there since Beckham joined as a teenager, and had developed a fatherly bond that would lend itself to the task at hand perfectly. The pair would have their differences in years to come, but Beckham owes a debt of eternal gratitude to the faith and support of his manager that season.
From the depths of despair, Beckham rose to achieve the best season of his career - winning the Treble, and answering his critics with a new maturity on the field. As comebacks go, it was almost as emphatic as the one he orchestrated at the Camp Nou the following May.
4. He improved on Beckham with Ronaldo
When Beckham left for Real Madrid in 2003, there were those who accused Ferguson of pushing him out the door to serve his own purpose, and not for the good of the team. From the outside, it seemed fairly obvious Brand Beckham had become too much to bear for his manager. But was that really reason enough to let him go?
Ferguson delivered the perfect response. He signed an 18-year-old Cristiano Ronaldo, who proceeded the grace the number seven shirt in a manner not seen since you-know-who played his way into Old Trafford legend.
Ronaldo might not have been intended as a replacement for Beckham, but that's how it worked out. And to put him in the seven shirt was Ferguson's way of resigning the Beckham era to the past, and pointing United fans to the future.
5. He put faith in youth
The youthful team Ferguson sent out against Aston Villa, on the opening day of the 1995-96 season, would prompt Alan Hansen to make his most famous contribution to punditry. "You'll never win anything with kids," Hansen said, after watching United beaten 3-1 at Villa Park. Nine months' later, and in no small part due to the contributions of Nicky Butt, Paul Scholes, the Neville brothers and Beckham, United were celebrating the Double.
Having sold Paul Ince, Andrei Kanchelskis and Mark Hughes over the summer, the United manager had been widely criticised for not making a move in the transfer market. We'd lost the title at West Ham on the last day of the season, and the FA Cup Final to Everton. Surely we needed new blood to mount a response?
Ferguson knew better. He trusted his young players, and when they were met by a returning Cantona in October 1995, they set about repaying his faith. They would go on doing so for some years afterwards.
Source: DSG
