I went about my normal duties on a very wonderful Wednesday morning, hoping that all things will fall into place and the day that started so gracefully, would end even better. However, sadly, it was not to be. I was in the bank that morning when the news came in and confirmed all the rumours which started the day before. It read--- 'SIR ALEX FERGUSON CALLS TIME ON HIS MANCHESTER UNITED CAREER'. The bombshell instantly shook and shocked me beyond my bones. The day I most dreaded in my entire football life was staring me in the face in the most extraordinarily devastating manner. I never imagined that this day would ever ever come...at least not at a time when we were thinking of mounting a serious challenge for next season's UCL title after the extremely infuriating way we bowed out this term and preparing to literally set Britain ablaze on Sunday and Monday in celebration of our 20th English League title.
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| The Managerial demigod drinking to the 20th |
Born on new year's eve in 1941, the great man began his managerial journey some 39 years ago at East Stirling and passed through St Mirren and Aberdeen before eventually reaching the touchline of Manchester United. He ignored the overtures of Arsenal, Spurs, Rangers, Wolves, and Liverpool to take over at the Theatre which was in a sorry state at the time of his arrival in November 1986. He met the red devils 2nd from bottom in the English 1st Division and ended his first season with the club in 11th place. A creditable position. This was the beginning of a long period of absolute success, although it didn't start until 1990 when the F.A Cup was won. His 1st trophy as Manager of Manchester United. Before then, the Scot was almost sacked by the club after a terrible run of form that saw them winless in 8 games, with six of them ending in defeat. The fans came up with a banner which read 'Three years of excuses and its still crap...Ta ra Fergie'. Journalists were also vociferous in their dislike and unappreciation of the job done so far. Fergie had enjoyed so much success in his career to that point and was somewhat in a new situation. He described December 1989 as the darkest period of his career until that point. The European Cup Winners Cup came a year after and that was it. The red army kept marching on and titles came season after season, year after year, campaign after campaign. The FERGIE DYNASTY was built with so much success and pure excellence. From Jim Leighton to Shinji Kagawa, the esteemed Legend has managed some of the most talented footballers on the planet and accolades have followed.
When it became clear that perhaps the Greatest Manager the World will ever see, is stepping down on May 19, tributes began to pour in. Richard Scudamore of the Premier League, Greg Dyke, the F.A Chairman-elect, and many other notable figures within the game, have paid respect to the great career Fergie has had and his unrivalled contributions to the British game. The man has touched so many lives, changed so many destinies, created others, and transformed MANCHESTER UNITED to one of the most SUCCESSFUL FOOTBALL CLUBS in the World on and off the pitch. He made the 20-time English Champions the most supported team on Earth and unearthed some of Football's most talented professionals. Giggs, Scholes, Beckham, Keane are just few examples. He's had great men by his side all of these 26+ years. The likes of Sir Bobby Charlton, Archie Knox, Walter Smith, Carlos Queiroz, Martin Edwards, David Gill, Peter Kenyon, Greg Dyke, Gerry Cox, etc have supported him over the years and made him feel comfortable and secure.
People call his retirement the end of an era. I disagree. It is the end of a lifetime. I do not know what will become of my beloved Manchester United after the West Brom game. The club acted swiftly, sealing the deal to bring David Moyes from Everton to replace the irreplaceable. The 50 year spent 11 years with the Blues of Merseyside and won nothing. All we hear is he stabilized he club and breathed a new lease of life into the team. He worked with a tight budget and had a great interest in youth and academy players, promoting some of them and giving them a chance to show what they are capable of. He is also said to be strong-willed, determined, and very disciplined. He is always in control of things and according to the Board, he fits the bill perfectly. Let's wait and see.
Next Sunday's match at the Hawthorns will be Fergie's 1500th as MUFC boss and painfully, his last ever as a manager. It will be a scene of emotions and tears which is set to start in two days when the occasion is supposed to be that of excitement, joy and jubilation. Old Trafford will be unusually quiet when the Swansea match gets underway and eventually ends. Celebrations will take place nonetheless, but it will be lowkey and the focus and attention will be on Fergie rather than the trophy we have worked very hard to win. Surely, the man knows when best to take decisions. It is said that the BEST OF MEN leave the stage when the ovation is loudest. None could be louder than Sunday. The jamboree will be noisier than any that has ever been witnessed, but the mood will be down.
Players like Robin Van Persie and Shinji Kagawa who signed just under a year ago will feel really upset by this development. Even the carousal of a premier League winners medal can't be enough to console them. Wilfried Zaha who has yet to kick a ball for his new club, will never get the chance to work under the Greatest Football Manager of all time. Something that must have swayed his decision to join the red army. Sometimes, what we propose, God feels the need to rearrange.
Sir Alex Ferguson embodies(d) everything Manchester United. The future without him is bleak at the moment, until proven otherwise. When he appears at Old Trafford for the last time on Sunday, even his worst enemies will be in awe and admiration of his infinite, all conquering physique and powers which he used to rule the English game for the best part of 20 years. The undisputed Numero Uno of British Football Managers is actually bowing out of a game he loved and excelled in for almost 40 years. Whatever his reasons are or might be, he must have taken them for the interest of himself and his family. Afterall, he had always put the club and supporters first for a long time now. His retirement U-Turn in 2002 signalled another push for that Historic 19th crown. The one most treasured by all United supporters. He told the media that his major aim was to knock Liverpool off their f*cking perch and they could go ahead and print it. He is the motivator in chief, the master tactician, the old dinosaur, and above all, the most trustworthy friend you could ever have.
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| Stern looking..Retirement has come unexpectedly. |
The great Sir Alex has always treated everyone around the Club as one big family and held each person in high esteem from the groundsmen to the grand commanders. Sir Bobby Charlton was effusive in his appreciation of the fantastic job the Super Scot has put in at the club and stated that he made his job much easier because there was no need to reevaluate anything. Success has become part and parcel of the club since Mark Robbins scored that goal at the City ground in 1990. It is widely believed that the now Huddersfield managers' goal is the reason we celebrate the myth called Chapman.
Many of us, passionate fans, might NEVER get over this sudden, below the belt blow.....Except of course David Moyes continues from where SAF stopped----Competing for every Title on offer and winning a fair bit.
We cannot do more or less than to wish the PEERLESS, INIMITABLE, UNMATCHED, INCOMPARABLE, OUTSTANDING AND UNPARAGONED LEGEND OF THE SPORT a happy Life as he moves upstairs at the Theatre which he superlatively turned to one of dreams and miracles. He lived the dream...He made do his pledge of delivering Manchester United the 19th (2011) and the 20th on April 22, 2013....Liverpool are now 2 behind and we have the bragging rights. GRACIAS CAMPEON!!!!!!!!!!!!! Manchester United and indeed the entire World will indubitably and undoubtedly miss you. It might take eternity to actually come to terms with the fact that you will never be on the touchline again or sit in that comfortable Audi seat. WE WILL MISS YOU BOSS! Tears won't ever be enough. #THANKYOUSIRALEX
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