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Legendary Wisdom from Sir Alex Ferguson: Memorable Quotes that Define Leadership and Success

Sir Alex Ferguson, born as Alexander Chapman “Alex” Ferguson, has been the manager of Manchester United since 1986. Before managing Manchester United, SAF managed the Scotland national football team for a brief period in 1986 before he moved to the Aberdeen Football Club (AFC) where he enjoyed large success, winning the scottish Premier Division 3 times, the Scottish Cup 4 times, the Scottish League cup 1 time as well as winning the UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup and UEFA Super Cup.

In 1986, he joined Manchester United and has spent 26 years at MANU. When he arrived, Manchester United was in a mediocre situation and he set his goal to break record and to knock off Liverpool (the eternal enemy) as he stated in an interview:

My greatest challenge is not what’s happening at the moment, my greatest challenge was knocking Liverpool right off their ******* perch. And you can print that.

In total, Ferguson won 48 trophies as a manager, making him the most successful British football manager in history. Ferguson is famous for his famous quotes, funny comments and mind games. He made friends with many managers in the game, but also developed adversary off the field, as in Arsene Wenger’s case:

They say he’s an intelligent man, right? Speaks five languages. I’ve got a 15-year-old boy from the Ivory Coast who speaks five languages!

In 2011, Old Trafford renamed its North Stand to Sir Alex Ferguson Stand, and a statue was unveiled in his honour which led him to say he following words:

It’s a really proud moment for me. Normally people die before they have a statue. I’m outliving death!

Sir Alex Ferguson Famous Quotes

I’m a dinosaur, I’m an absolute dinosaur but what I am, I’m a winner. And I want all these players and I said it to them yesterday, when we lost the league to Leeds United in 1992 the young players came out that day and the Liverpool supporters were asking for their autographs, Giggs, Scholes, Neville, Beckham, and they were tearing them up, tearing their autographs up. And I said to Giggs and the boys ‘remember this day’, and exactly what I said to them yesterday – those Sunderland fans were cheering for city, remember the day. We won’t forget that, I’m telling you. So well done to the players, a fantastic group, they will be alright, don’t worry about them, a great bunch of lads, brilliant, well done boys.

The years of Eric Cantona have been great for all of us. He has had a huge impact on the development of our younger players. Eric has been a model professional and he has been a joy to manage. He’s certainly one of the most gifted and dedicated players that I’ve ever had the pleasure of working with.

Alex Ferguson on Cantona

Whenever fans discuss United’s greatest-ever side, you can be sure that for many, Eric’s name will be very high on the list.

on Eric Cantona

He’s unique, especially in the modern day. If you go back many years then you will find somebody like him, but, [it’s amazing] in the modern day at the highest level, where it is really difficult to survive in our job. He’s absolutely incredible at what he does and we can’t even imagine when he’ll stop, he’s unbelievable.

Jose Mourinho on SAF

Rafa Benitez is very lucky because on his CV in two weeks time he could have two World Championships to his name – and nothing to do with the teams. Jose Mourinho won the treble after going to Inter Milan. He (Benitez) took over and won a World Championship without having to do anything. He had nothing to do with the construction of the teams and that’s where I feel real disappointment for Roberto Di Matteo. He could really have on his CV an FA Cup, a Champions League and a World Club Championship.

To spend twenty years at one club is unique in this era. Ryan has been a fantastic servant to United. It will be a comforting thought if he ends his career here.

Denis Law was my hero as a player. I idolised him. When I first met him I was so excited.

It was a freakish incident. If I tried it 100 or a million times it couldn’t happen again. If I could I would have carried on playing!

on David Beckham boot flying incident

I’m privileged to have followed Sir Matt because all you have to do is to try and maintain the standards that he set so many years ago.

He was certainly full of it, calling me “Boss” and “Big Man” when we had our post-match drink after the first leg. But it would help if his greetings were accompanied by a decent glass of wine. What he gave me was paint-stripper.

on Jose Mourinho.

It was the most emphatic display of selflessness I have seen on a football field. Pounding over every blade of grass, competing if he would rather of exhaustion than lose, he inspired all around him. I felt such an honour to be associated with such a player.

on Roy Keane’s performance against Juventus

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