Alex Ferguson is retiring at the end of the season, bringing a close to a trophy-filled career of more than 26 years at Manchester United that established him as the most successful coach in British football history.
"The decision to retire is one that I have thought a great deal about and one that I have not taken lightly," the 71-year-old Scotsman said in a statement on Wednesday. "It is the right time."
"The decision to retire is one that I have thought a great deal about and one that I have not taken lightly," the 71-year-old Scotsman said in a statement on Wednesday. "It is the right time."
A fresh-faced Sir Alex Ferguson was interviewed by the BBC on his first day in charge of Manchester United on 6 November 1986.
Almost 27 years later, the 71-year-old Scot stands as the most successful football manager in the history of the British game.
Here, we chronicle Ferguson's remarkable tenure.
1986-87: Ferguson is lured south from Aberdeen and appointed manager to replace Ron Atkinson on November 6, 1986. Manages a win at Liverpool but an unremarkable 11th placed finish indicates the work needed to be done.
LEAGUE: 11th. FA CUP: Fourth Round. Star Man: Paul McGrath.
1987-88: It seems progress is being made with a first top-two finish in seven years. But United are light years behind Liverpool, and Ferguson knows it. New signing Brian McClair becomes first player to score 20 league goals since George Best in 1967-68.
LEAGUE: 2nd. FA CUP: 5th Round. LEAGUE CUP: 5th Round. Star Man: Bryan Robson.
1988-89: The momentum of the previous season is lost, despite the emergency of Fergie's Fledglings. A home FA Cup quarter-final defeat by Nottingham Forest is a savage blow. The pressure is on.
LEAGUE: 11th. FA CUP: 6th Round. LEAGUE CUP: 3rd Round. Star Man: Steve Bruce.
1989-90: The breakthrough season. Signings of Paul Ince, Gary Pallister, Mike Phelan and Neil Webb are making no discernible difference to league form. Ferguson's worst day comes in 5-1 defeat to Manchester City and fan holds sign up saying '3 YEARS OF EXCUSES AND IT'S STILL CRAP - TA RA FERGIE' after home defeat to Crystal Palace. But Mark Robins goal at Forest begins run in FA Cup that ends in glory at Wembley.
LEAGUE: 13th. FA CUP: Winners. LEAGUE CUP: 3rd Round. Star Man: Mark Robins.
1990-91: The trophies continue as United claim the European Cup Winners' Cup with two Mark Hughes goals against Barcelona in Rotterdam. Agony at Wembley in the League Cup though and only marginal improvement in the league.
LEAGUE: 6th. FA CUP: 5th Round. LEAGUE CUP: Finalists. EUROPE: Cup Winners' Cup winners. Star Man: Paul Ince.
1991-92: Dramatic collapse with three successive defeats costs United the title and raises questions about whether they will ever win it. League Cup success is scant consolation.
LEAGUE: 2nd. FA CUP: 4th Round. LEAGUE CUP: Winners. EUROPE: Cup Winners' Cup 2nd Round. Star Man: Peter Schmeichel.
1992-93: United are contenders for the first Premier League title but no more - until the arrival of Eric Cantona in November becomes the catalyst for everything that is to follow. Two dramatic Steve Bruce headers help overcome Sheffield Wednesday in key end of season encounter and Ferguson learns on the golf course he is a champion.
LEAGUE: Winners. FA CUP: 5th Round. LEAGUE CUP: 3rd Round. EUROPE: UEFA Cup 1st Round. Star Man: Eric Cantona.
1993-94: Almost the perfect domestic season. Title is retained and the FA Cup is won in some comfort against Chelsea. Only defeat to Aston Villa in League Cup final prevents clean sweep. United starting to become dominant force.
LEAGUE: Winners. FA CUP: Winners. LEAGUE CUP: Finalists. EUROPE: Champions League 2nd Round. Star Man: Ryan Giggs.
1994-95: Cantona launches himself into the crowd at Selhurst Park and gets eight-month ban that overshadows a dramatic conclusion to the campaign. Andy Cole gets five against Ipswich but United fail to win at West Ham to hand the championship to Blackburn, and are then beaten in the FA Cup final by Everton. Europe a disappointment too.
LEAGUE: 2nd. FA CUP: Runners-up. LEAGUE CUP: 3rd Round. EUROPE: Champions League Group stage. Star Man: Andy Cole.
1995-96: Cantona's return catapults the Red Devils back to the top with the team of kids Alan Hansen said you could never win anything with. Frenchman scores a succession of key goals to reclaim the league and the FA Cup final winner against Liverpool. Europe continues to disappoint and bizarre League Cup defeat by York, but the momentum is forwards.
LEAGUE: Winners. FA CUP: Winners. LEAGUE CUP: 2nd Round. EUROPE: UEFA Cup 1st Round. Star Man: Eric Cantona.
1996-97: With domestic supremacy assured, Ferguson sets his sights on the Champions League. They come up short though, beaten in the semi-finals by Borussia Dortmund. David Beckham makes his mark though, with a goal from the halfway line at Wimbledon.
LEAGUE: Winners. FA CUP: 4th Round. LEAGUE CUP: 4th Round. EUROPE: Champions League semi-finals. Star Man: David Beckham.
1997-98: Arsenal's emergence under Arsene Wenger catches Ferguson out. With Cantona now retired, United win just four games out of 11 in a dreadful mid-season run and other competitions equally disappointing by their high standards.
LEAGUE: 2nd. FA CUP: 5th Round. LEAGUE CUP: 3rd Round. EUROPE: Champions League quarter-finals. Star Man: Gary Neville.
1998-99: The greatest season in United's history as they become the first English team to win the Treble. Victories over Tottenham and Newcastle secure title and FA Cup on successive weekends. But it is the injury-time defeat of Bayern Munich, and those late, late goals from Teddy Sheringham and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer that will never be forgotten.
LEAGUE: Winners. FA CUP: Winners. LEAGUE CUP: 5th Round. EUROPE: Champions League winners. Star Man: Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
1999-2000: Most famous part of this season is not defending FA Cup in favour of woeful performance at Club World Championship. Ferguson claims the break in Brazil was the determining factor in United's comfortable title triumph.
LEAGUE: Winners. FA CUP: Did not enter. LEAGUE CUP: 3rd Round. EUROPE: Champions League quarter-finals. Star Man: Dwight Yorke.
2000-01: Another title cruise but more frustration in Europe. Slowly Old Trafford is changing as Jaap Stam's abrupt departure is followed by the reduction in roles for Andy Cole and Dwight Yorke. Fabien Barthez's arrival does not solve United's goalkeeping concerns.
LEAGUE: Winners. FA CUP: 4th Round. LEAGUE CUP: 4th Round. EUROPE: Champions League quarter-finals. Star Man: Teddy Sheringham.
2001-02: The arrivals of Ruud van Nistelrooy and Juan Sebastian Veron are supposed to extend United's domestic dominance and bring further success in Europe. Van Nistelrooy scores 36 times but Veron flatters to deceive and United win nothing. Ferguson abandon's retirement plans.
LEAGUE: 3rd. FA CUP: 4th Round. LEAGUE CUP: 3rd Round. EUROPE: Champions League semi-finals. Star Man: Ruud van Nistelrooy.
2002-03: Rio Ferdinand becomes the latest big-money recruit as the title is reclaimed once more. Van Nistelrooy scores an incredible 44 times but a row between Ferguson and David Beckham leaves the England skipper with a cut eye and heralds his exit from Old Trafford. Personal row erupts with major shareholders over ownership rights to Rock of Gibraltar.
LEAGUE: Winners. FA CUP: 5th Round. LEAGUE CUP: Runners-up. EUROPE: Champions League quarter-finals. Star Man: Ruud van Nistelrooy.
2003-04: Cristiano Ronaldo's arrival did not yield instant dividends and Kleberson, David Bellion and Eric Djemba-Djemba are a reminder that Ferguson doesn't always get it right. A first meeting with Mourinho also ended unhappily as United were beaten by Porto in the Champions League.
LEAGUE: 3rd. FA CUP: Winners. LEAGUE CUP: 4th Round. EUROPE: Champions League last 16. Star Man: Ruud van Nistelrooy.
2004-05: After Arsenal's Invincibles, Mourinho's formidable Chelsea outfit raise the bar even further. United endure only their fourth trophyless season in 17, as they are beaten in the FA Cup final by Arsenal, although the arrival of Wayne Rooney is a statement of intent LEAGUE: 3rd. FA CUP: Runners-up. LEAGUE CUP: Semi-final. EUROPE: Champions League last 16. Star Man: Wayne Rooney.
2005-06: The low point in recent times. Out of Europe at the group stage, Vodafone quit as sponsors and Roy Keane booted out after strong criticism on MUTV following defeat at Middlesbrough and Van Nistelrooy also shoved out. Season is saved by Carling Cup triumph and strong league finish.
LEAGUE: 2nd. FA CUP: 5th Round. LEAGUE CUP: Winners. EUROPE: Champions League group stage. Star Man: Rio Ferdinand.
2006-07: With Cristiano Ronaldo starting to show the form that would soon see him become the world's best player. United reclaim the title and go agonisingly close in Europe. Edwin van der Sar proves to be a significant addition.
LEAGUE: Winners. FA CUP: Runners-up. LEAGUE CUP: 4th Round. EUROPE: Champions League semi-final. Star Man: Cristiano Ronaldo.
2007-08: Ronaldo dazzles spectacularly as Ferguson lands his second Champions League in the year of the 50th anniversary of Munich. Carlos Tevez also makes a telling contribution as United retain their title.
LEAGUE: Winners. FA CUP: 6th Round. LEAGUE CUP: 3rd Round. EUROPE: Champions League winners. Star Man: Cristiano Ronaldo.
2008-09: Ferguson persuades Ronaldo to stay for another year, signs Dimitar Berbatov and gets another title. League Cup added as well as United go within one game of a complete domestic and european season - the FA Cup final being the only match they did not reach. Chastening experience in Champions League final though as United are badly beaten by Barcelona.
LEAGUE: Winners. FA CUP: Semi-final. LEAGUE CUP: Winners. EUROPE: Champions League runners-up. Star Man: Cristiano Ronaldo.
2009-10: Ronaldo leaves, as does Tevez but Rooney revels on centre stage. United fall just short though, missing out on the title by a point and losing to Bayern Munich in Europe, in controversial circumstances. League Cup is retained though.
LEAGUE: 2nd. FA CUP: 3rd Round. LEAGUE CUP: Winners. EUROPE: Champions League quarter-final. Star Man: Wayne Rooney.
2010-11: Ferguson becomes longest serving manager in United's history and team equal club record of 29 games unbeaten. Late season stutter does not cost them a record 19th championship but yet again, find Barcelona too good in what proves to be the Scot's last European final.
LEAGUE: Winners. FA CUP: Semi-final. LEAGUE CUP: 5th Round. EUROPE: Champions League runners-up. Star Man: Nemanja Vidic.
2011-12: United suffer an unexpected mishap in Europe, and then a rare trophyless season on the domestic front as a late season slump allows Manchester City to seize the initiative, before winning it in stoppage time on the final day. Ferguson tells his players never to forget how they feel.
LEAGUE: 2nd. FA CUP: 4th Round. LEAGUE CUP: 5th Round. EUROPE: Champions League group stage, Europa League last 16. Star Man: Wayne Rooney.
2012-13: Red Devils motor to their 20th title with four games to spare after the arrival of Robin van Persie proves the catalyst for their superiority. At one stage, the Treble looks on, but Ferguson's last European campaign ends in acrimony following Nani's red card against Real Madrid and Chelsea end hopes of another FA Cup.
LEAGUE: Winners. FA CUP: Quarter-final. LEAGUE CUP: 4th Round. EUROPE: Champions League last 16. Star Man: Robin van Persie.
Almost 27 years later, the 71-year-old Scot stands as the most successful football manager in the history of the British game.
Here, we chronicle Ferguson's remarkable tenure.
1986-87: Ferguson is lured south from Aberdeen and appointed manager to replace Ron Atkinson on November 6, 1986. Manages a win at Liverpool but an unremarkable 11th placed finish indicates the work needed to be done.
LEAGUE: 11th. FA CUP: Fourth Round. Star Man: Paul McGrath.
1987-88: It seems progress is being made with a first top-two finish in seven years. But United are light years behind Liverpool, and Ferguson knows it. New signing Brian McClair becomes first player to score 20 league goals since George Best in 1967-68.
LEAGUE: 2nd. FA CUP: 5th Round. LEAGUE CUP: 5th Round. Star Man: Bryan Robson.
1988-89: The momentum of the previous season is lost, despite the emergency of Fergie's Fledglings. A home FA Cup quarter-final defeat by Nottingham Forest is a savage blow. The pressure is on.
LEAGUE: 11th. FA CUP: 6th Round. LEAGUE CUP: 3rd Round. Star Man: Steve Bruce.
1989-90: The breakthrough season. Signings of Paul Ince, Gary Pallister, Mike Phelan and Neil Webb are making no discernible difference to league form. Ferguson's worst day comes in 5-1 defeat to Manchester City and fan holds sign up saying '3 YEARS OF EXCUSES AND IT'S STILL CRAP - TA RA FERGIE' after home defeat to Crystal Palace. But Mark Robins goal at Forest begins run in FA Cup that ends in glory at Wembley.
LEAGUE: 13th. FA CUP: Winners. LEAGUE CUP: 3rd Round. Star Man: Mark Robins.
1990-91: The trophies continue as United claim the European Cup Winners' Cup with two Mark Hughes goals against Barcelona in Rotterdam. Agony at Wembley in the League Cup though and only marginal improvement in the league.
LEAGUE: 6th. FA CUP: 5th Round. LEAGUE CUP: Finalists. EUROPE: Cup Winners' Cup winners. Star Man: Paul Ince.
1991-92: Dramatic collapse with three successive defeats costs United the title and raises questions about whether they will ever win it. League Cup success is scant consolation.
LEAGUE: 2nd. FA CUP: 4th Round. LEAGUE CUP: Winners. EUROPE: Cup Winners' Cup 2nd Round. Star Man: Peter Schmeichel.
1992-93: United are contenders for the first Premier League title but no more - until the arrival of Eric Cantona in November becomes the catalyst for everything that is to follow. Two dramatic Steve Bruce headers help overcome Sheffield Wednesday in key end of season encounter and Ferguson learns on the golf course he is a champion.
LEAGUE: Winners. FA CUP: 5th Round. LEAGUE CUP: 3rd Round. EUROPE: UEFA Cup 1st Round. Star Man: Eric Cantona.
1993-94: Almost the perfect domestic season. Title is retained and the FA Cup is won in some comfort against Chelsea. Only defeat to Aston Villa in League Cup final prevents clean sweep. United starting to become dominant force.
LEAGUE: Winners. FA CUP: Winners. LEAGUE CUP: Finalists. EUROPE: Champions League 2nd Round. Star Man: Ryan Giggs.
1994-95: Cantona launches himself into the crowd at Selhurst Park and gets eight-month ban that overshadows a dramatic conclusion to the campaign. Andy Cole gets five against Ipswich but United fail to win at West Ham to hand the championship to Blackburn, and are then beaten in the FA Cup final by Everton. Europe a disappointment too.
LEAGUE: 2nd. FA CUP: Runners-up. LEAGUE CUP: 3rd Round. EUROPE: Champions League Group stage. Star Man: Andy Cole.
1995-96: Cantona's return catapults the Red Devils back to the top with the team of kids Alan Hansen said you could never win anything with. Frenchman scores a succession of key goals to reclaim the league and the FA Cup final winner against Liverpool. Europe continues to disappoint and bizarre League Cup defeat by York, but the momentum is forwards.
LEAGUE: Winners. FA CUP: Winners. LEAGUE CUP: 2nd Round. EUROPE: UEFA Cup 1st Round. Star Man: Eric Cantona.
1996-97: With domestic supremacy assured, Ferguson sets his sights on the Champions League. They come up short though, beaten in the semi-finals by Borussia Dortmund. David Beckham makes his mark though, with a goal from the halfway line at Wimbledon.
LEAGUE: Winners. FA CUP: 4th Round. LEAGUE CUP: 4th Round. EUROPE: Champions League semi-finals. Star Man: David Beckham.
1997-98: Arsenal's emergence under Arsene Wenger catches Ferguson out. With Cantona now retired, United win just four games out of 11 in a dreadful mid-season run and other competitions equally disappointing by their high standards.
LEAGUE: 2nd. FA CUP: 5th Round. LEAGUE CUP: 3rd Round. EUROPE: Champions League quarter-finals. Star Man: Gary Neville.
1998-99: The greatest season in United's history as they become the first English team to win the Treble. Victories over Tottenham and Newcastle secure title and FA Cup on successive weekends. But it is the injury-time defeat of Bayern Munich, and those late, late goals from Teddy Sheringham and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer that will never be forgotten.
LEAGUE: Winners. FA CUP: Winners. LEAGUE CUP: 5th Round. EUROPE: Champions League winners. Star Man: Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
1999-2000: Most famous part of this season is not defending FA Cup in favour of woeful performance at Club World Championship. Ferguson claims the break in Brazil was the determining factor in United's comfortable title triumph.
LEAGUE: Winners. FA CUP: Did not enter. LEAGUE CUP: 3rd Round. EUROPE: Champions League quarter-finals. Star Man: Dwight Yorke.
2000-01: Another title cruise but more frustration in Europe. Slowly Old Trafford is changing as Jaap Stam's abrupt departure is followed by the reduction in roles for Andy Cole and Dwight Yorke. Fabien Barthez's arrival does not solve United's goalkeeping concerns.
LEAGUE: Winners. FA CUP: 4th Round. LEAGUE CUP: 4th Round. EUROPE: Champions League quarter-finals. Star Man: Teddy Sheringham.
2001-02: The arrivals of Ruud van Nistelrooy and Juan Sebastian Veron are supposed to extend United's domestic dominance and bring further success in Europe. Van Nistelrooy scores 36 times but Veron flatters to deceive and United win nothing. Ferguson abandon's retirement plans.
LEAGUE: 3rd. FA CUP: 4th Round. LEAGUE CUP: 3rd Round. EUROPE: Champions League semi-finals. Star Man: Ruud van Nistelrooy.
2002-03: Rio Ferdinand becomes the latest big-money recruit as the title is reclaimed once more. Van Nistelrooy scores an incredible 44 times but a row between Ferguson and David Beckham leaves the England skipper with a cut eye and heralds his exit from Old Trafford. Personal row erupts with major shareholders over ownership rights to Rock of Gibraltar.
LEAGUE: Winners. FA CUP: 5th Round. LEAGUE CUP: Runners-up. EUROPE: Champions League quarter-finals. Star Man: Ruud van Nistelrooy.
2003-04: Cristiano Ronaldo's arrival did not yield instant dividends and Kleberson, David Bellion and Eric Djemba-Djemba are a reminder that Ferguson doesn't always get it right. A first meeting with Mourinho also ended unhappily as United were beaten by Porto in the Champions League.
LEAGUE: 3rd. FA CUP: Winners. LEAGUE CUP: 4th Round. EUROPE: Champions League last 16. Star Man: Ruud van Nistelrooy.
2004-05: After Arsenal's Invincibles, Mourinho's formidable Chelsea outfit raise the bar even further. United endure only their fourth trophyless season in 17, as they are beaten in the FA Cup final by Arsenal, although the arrival of Wayne Rooney is a statement of intent LEAGUE: 3rd. FA CUP: Runners-up. LEAGUE CUP: Semi-final. EUROPE: Champions League last 16. Star Man: Wayne Rooney.
2005-06: The low point in recent times. Out of Europe at the group stage, Vodafone quit as sponsors and Roy Keane booted out after strong criticism on MUTV following defeat at Middlesbrough and Van Nistelrooy also shoved out. Season is saved by Carling Cup triumph and strong league finish.
LEAGUE: 2nd. FA CUP: 5th Round. LEAGUE CUP: Winners. EUROPE: Champions League group stage. Star Man: Rio Ferdinand.
2006-07: With Cristiano Ronaldo starting to show the form that would soon see him become the world's best player. United reclaim the title and go agonisingly close in Europe. Edwin van der Sar proves to be a significant addition.
LEAGUE: Winners. FA CUP: Runners-up. LEAGUE CUP: 4th Round. EUROPE: Champions League semi-final. Star Man: Cristiano Ronaldo.
2007-08: Ronaldo dazzles spectacularly as Ferguson lands his second Champions League in the year of the 50th anniversary of Munich. Carlos Tevez also makes a telling contribution as United retain their title.
LEAGUE: Winners. FA CUP: 6th Round. LEAGUE CUP: 3rd Round. EUROPE: Champions League winners. Star Man: Cristiano Ronaldo.
2008-09: Ferguson persuades Ronaldo to stay for another year, signs Dimitar Berbatov and gets another title. League Cup added as well as United go within one game of a complete domestic and european season - the FA Cup final being the only match they did not reach. Chastening experience in Champions League final though as United are badly beaten by Barcelona.
LEAGUE: Winners. FA CUP: Semi-final. LEAGUE CUP: Winners. EUROPE: Champions League runners-up. Star Man: Cristiano Ronaldo.
2009-10: Ronaldo leaves, as does Tevez but Rooney revels on centre stage. United fall just short though, missing out on the title by a point and losing to Bayern Munich in Europe, in controversial circumstances. League Cup is retained though.
LEAGUE: 2nd. FA CUP: 3rd Round. LEAGUE CUP: Winners. EUROPE: Champions League quarter-final. Star Man: Wayne Rooney.
2010-11: Ferguson becomes longest serving manager in United's history and team equal club record of 29 games unbeaten. Late season stutter does not cost them a record 19th championship but yet again, find Barcelona too good in what proves to be the Scot's last European final.
LEAGUE: Winners. FA CUP: Semi-final. LEAGUE CUP: 5th Round. EUROPE: Champions League runners-up. Star Man: Nemanja Vidic.
2011-12: United suffer an unexpected mishap in Europe, and then a rare trophyless season on the domestic front as a late season slump allows Manchester City to seize the initiative, before winning it in stoppage time on the final day. Ferguson tells his players never to forget how they feel.
LEAGUE: 2nd. FA CUP: 4th Round. LEAGUE CUP: 5th Round. EUROPE: Champions League group stage, Europa League last 16. Star Man: Wayne Rooney.
2012-13: Red Devils motor to their 20th title with four games to spare after the arrival of Robin van Persie proves the catalyst for their superiority. At one stage, the Treble looks on, but Ferguson's last European campaign ends in acrimony following Nani's red card against Real Madrid and Chelsea end hopes of another FA Cup.
LEAGUE: Winners. FA CUP: Quarter-final. LEAGUE CUP: 4th Round. EUROPE: Champions League last 16. Star Man: Robin van Persie.
Source : BelfastTelegraph, BBC , Reuters , Mirror
Music by : Kevin MacLeod
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