the Premiership Trophy after breaking Chelsea?s two year winning run. Personally autographed by Alex Ferguson in bold black ink. Reluctant signer. RARE £110
Sir Alex Ferguson has also been a prolific chronicler of his own life--seven autobiographies to date--but journalist, author (and United fan) Michael Crick claims now to have written the first serious, critical biography of The Boss. Crick, award-winning journalist, and biographer of Michael Heseltine and Jeffrey Archer, attempts to bring the same sort of structured research-based approach to this study of Ferguson--tracing his life from a Govan childhood, his ultimately frustrated playing career, through his first steps in management, to the trophy-harvesting Aberdeen and Manchester United sides that established his place in the pantheon. To this end, there is a page-by-page list of reference sources (including Fergie's own books), and a demonstrable intention to analyse and assess the veracity of various established "facts" about the Manchester United manager's extraordinary life and career. At times this reads like nit-picking, but what this book reinforces is that Ferguson has been and is a practised and remorseless operator in the public arena--whether it is ham-stringing opponents with his infamous "mind games", gagging the media, peddling his own "official" version of history, or establishing the strict paternalism that is the foundation of the Fergie approach to squeezing performances out of players. Alex McLeish [then playing for Ferguson at Aberdeen], for instance, says that when his father died unexpectedly in his early forties Ferguson stepped in and "assured me that he would take my Dad's place as much as he could in keeping me up to scratch". The chronicling of Ferguson's relationships with such key playersÂ?"lost boys" like McLeish, Cantona, Ince, Keane, plus the legion of stars that emerged wide-eyed from under Fergie's wing and the Old Trafford schoolboy squad--is a particularly interesting theme. Not surprisingly, given Ferguson's and Manchester United's notorious media wariness, there is little fresh material from centre-stage, but a widespread of new interviews with some of the supporting-cast in this extraordinary drama are well used, as is material from contemporary media reports, and books, including Ferguson's, that have long since drifted out of print. The result is a rounded study that nevertheless debunks elements of the Ferguson myth. Immensely readable, not least because the ambition of the man in question drives the narrative along at a tremendous gallop, The Boss is a very welcome addition to the Fergie library.--Alex Hankin
David Mach is printed on high quality 250 gsm fine art matt paper. The image quality is excellent and we want you to receive your print in perfect condition, so we will roll it very carefully by hand and place it in a strong triangular box for maximum protection in transit.
Sir Alex Ferguson has also been a prolific chronicler of his own life--seven autobiographies to date--but journalist, author (and United fan) Michael Crick claims now to have written the first serious, critical biography of The Boss. Crick, award-winning journalist, and biographer of Michael Heseltine and Jeffrey Archer, attempts to bring the same sort of structured research-based approach to this study of Ferguson--tracing his life from a Govan childhood, his ultimately frustrated playing career, through his first steps in management, to the trophy-harvesting Aberdeen and Manchester United sides that established his place in the pantheon. To this end, there is a page-by-page list of reference sources (including Fergie's own books), and a demonstrable intention to analyse and assess the veracity of various established "facts" about the Manchester United manager's extraordinary life and career. At times this reads like nit-picking, but what this book reinforces is that Ferguson has been and is a practised and remorseless operator in the public arena--whether it is ham-stringing opponents with his infamous "mind games", gagging the media, peddling his own "official" version of history, or establishing the strict paternalism that is the foundation of the Fergie approach to squeezing performances out of players. Alex McLeish [then playing for Ferguson at Aberdeen], for instance, says that when his father died unexpectedly in his early forties Ferguson stepped in and "assured me that he would take my Dad's place as much as he could in keeping me up to scratch". The chronicling of Ferguson's relationships with such key playersÂ?"lost boys" like McLeish, Cantona, Ince, Keane, plus the legion of stars that emerged wide-eyed from under Fergie's wing and the Old Trafford schoolboy squad--is a particularly interesting theme. Not surprisingly, given Ferguson's and Manchester United's notorious media wariness, there is little fresh material from centre-stage, but a widespread of new interviews with some of the supporting-cast in this extraordinary drama are well used, as is material from contemporary media reports, and books, including Ferguson's, that have long since drifted out of print. The result is a rounded study that nevertheless debunks elements of the Ferguson myth. Immensely readable, not least because the ambition of the man in question drives the narrative along at a tremendous gallop, The Boss is a very welcome addition to the Fergie library.--Alex Hankin
Reviews which might be of interest for Alex Ferguson
3 Similar Reviews of Managing My Life (My Autobiography) - AlexFerguson
Alex Ferguson Review ofManaging My Life (My Autobiography) - AlexFergusonby
gervboy
Advantages: Interesting Read Disadvantages: None
...This is a very interesting book that gives us a great insight into the mind of a great football coach. Particularly fascinating is the effect senior school had on Alex, due to his being older than his peers.I enjoyed his early life story in particular , probably because his later life is now so familiar. I found this book very interesting as I myself have played and supported the world of football for many years and it outstands me how these great people control themselves and manage their life successfully. The man has always had a good sense of humour and been able to inflict this attitude into the game and also at the expense of his opposition managers. This is a very good read and worth buying....
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Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful
somewhat helpful 27.05.2006
A Great Read........ Review ofManaging My Life (My Autobiography) - AlexFergusonby
Surge
Advantages: Disadvantages:
...This is the autobiography of AlexFerguson - he runs the Manchester United Football players with a rod of iron, but is respected for his managerial style and for the way he cares for the welfare of his players.
When considering the public face of Sir AlexFerguson--the unsmiling, world-beating football manager who has taken just about all the honours the British game has to offer--it is difficult to imagine that he grew up as the son of a ship builder on the banks of the Clyde in Glasgow. Yet Ferguson's story is much the same as many others who have made it to the top in the sport: a boy with talent who rose above the expectations of his working-class background to become a household name throughout the world. Opening the book with a word on his recent Treble success (after all, who could be expected to wait until the end...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average not helpful
not helpful 11.08.2000
Absorbing! Review ofManaging My Life (My Autobiography) - AlexFergusonby
jmagill
Advantages: Absorbing read and very well written Disadvantages: Not for non-football fans
...I had a look at this book in the shops because I'm a United fan and I decided to see if it would actually be any good or just be a ghostwritten propaganda piece. My heart sank when I saw the words "with Hugh Mcillvanney" on the inside cover. I read the intro anyway though and I'm extremely glad that I did because I learned there that the aforementioned Hugh Mcillvanney was just an Editor and was merely there to tidy up the grammar and edit the text. Apparently AlexFerguson wrote 250,000 words during the treble season and so when I read this, I bought the book immediately.
I must say that Mr.Ferguson is a very good writer as well as a great manager. The book was interesting all the way through, charting his life all the way from his Glasgow roots to his unbelievable success at Man.Utd. Overall I would recommend this book to any...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average off topic
27.05.2006
11.08.2000
08.09.2000
