... ‘Managing My Life’ is his autobiography that covers all this and more.
The book starts with a recollection of the magical events at the 1999 European Cup final when his United team beat Bayer Munich with a late come back. This was arguably the crowning glory of his Manchester ... Read review
When considering the public face of Sir Alex Ferguson--the unsmiling, world-beating ... more
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...
Postage & Packaging: £2.75 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
When considering the public face of Sir Alex Ferguson--the unsmiling, world-beating ... more
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...
Postage & Packaging: £2.75 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
When considering the public face of Sir Alex Ferguson--the unsmiling, world-beating ... more
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. Such is the power of football; but more relevantly, such is the power of raw talent, pure determination and a bit of good luck. In Managing My Life Ferguson tells the story of just how he developed from a football-mad youngster to the first British manager to win the FA Cup, the Premiership and the European Cup in one season; but whereas others with a similar experience romanticise their tough upbringing and eulogise it from the comfortable position success affords them, with Ferguson there is the feeling that the tough, uncompromising way he runs his team is a direct product of values instilled in childhood that he still holds close. I grew up accepting that shipbuilding was part of the fabric of my existence. In a community that relies heavily on a single industry, there is an intensity of shared experience that draws people together and tends to make them appreciate the need to support one another. It has been said that the values great managers like Jock Stein, Sir Matt Busby, Bill Shankly and Bob Paisley brought to their jobs in football were rooted in their mining background. I have no doubt it is true and I am sure, too, that any success I have had in handling men, and especially in creating a culture of loyalty and commitment in teams I have managed, owes much to my upbringing among the workingmen of Clydesdale. Opening the book with a word on his recent Treble success (after all, who could be expected to wait until the end of this extraordinary story for all the gory details?), Ferguson soon reveals the big secret of his success--family support. The constants throughout his life have been close friend and family relationships and an absolute passion for winning, and both are constantly recurring themes throughout the book. Candid, thoughtful and passionate, this is certainly a story no Ferguson lover can miss. But, more importantly, it is one those who hate him should be made to read--if you thought the dour face and frequent complaints to the referee were his whole character, you are sorely mistaken; they are symptoms of his never-ending quest for perfection.--Lucie NaylorThis text refers to the hardcover edition of this title.
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Advantages: Interesting early life, Great career, Interesting to read Disadvantages: None
Alex Ferguson is one of the people I most admire in football today. As much as I hate Manchester United I have to look on at his record with admiration, and I actually like the bloke as a person. Not only has he dominated English football over the last decade with his Manchester United team, also breaking the Rangers/Celtic domination in Scotland with Aberdeen and as a player. Although recently he has dropped hints otherwise, he will be retiring ... ...career. ‘Managing My Life’ is his autobiography that covers all this and more.
The book starts with a recollection of the magical events at the 1999 European Cup final when his United team beat Bayer Munich with a late come back. This was arguably the crowning glory of his Manchester career and is a good place to start with the highs, anticipation and anxiety of the build up, then the euphoria of winning.
Alex Ferguson is one of the people I most admire in football today. As much as I hate Manchester United I have to look on at his record with admiration, and I actually like the bloke as a person. Not only has he dominated English football over the last decade with his Manchester United team, also breaking the Rangers/Celtic domination in Scotland with Aberdeen and as a player. Although recently he has dropped hints otherwise, he will be retiring this summer to draw down the curtain on an illustrious career. ‘Managing My Life’ is his autobiography that covers all this and more.
The book starts with a recollection of the magical events at the 1999 European Cup final when his United team beat Bayer Munich with a late come back. This was arguably the crowning glory of his Manchester career and is a good place to start with the highs, anticipation and anxiety of the build up, then the euphoria of winning.
Then he moves onto his early life. This is a very interesting part, and for non-football fans the best bit because of the lack of football, but it does feature still. Seriously this is very interesting, he lived as a kid just meters from the river Clyde, so qualifying as real Clydesider. Also his working life as an apprentice toolmaker, living in quite poor background at a tough area of Glasgow. His father and brother, Martin both worked in a local shipyard and his family was mixed between Catholic and Protestant. This also became and issue in football when he was turned down for some clubs, most notably the mighty Rangers on his wife and family both being Catholics that caused splits though has effectively never been an issue for him. He is close to his brother Martin, both enjoy their football and grew up together.
As a player Ferguson enjoyed a good career north of the border. He started young; playing football came above his schoolwork, and signed for several big armature clubs before being signed for Queens Park, who played at the famous Hampden Park. Ferguson was a striker, tough enough to handle himself yet a talent and a nippy striker. He worked his way through the youth and second teams, then the first team. At this time he still had a job as an apprentice, but this came under pressure when he moved away to St. Johnstone. He has also played for Scotland at youth levels, and at club level he moved to Dunfirmeline where he was a regular scorer. A dream move to Rangers followed when he signed, and in the tail end of his career he signed for Falkirk. It was enough to earn a living, he was a decent enough player though it was as a manager he is most famed.
Ferguson entered management with some lower league Scottish clubs, before his big move came when he moved to Aberdeen in the top division. There he was able to end Celtics and Rangers stranglehold up there by winning the Premiership. He also picked up some cups domestically, but an even bigger triumph was winning the European Cup Winners Cup. A move to Manchester United came about while United were going through a sticky patch not winning a lot and poor league form. His turnaround from this to domination, which only Blackburn and Arsenal have beaten is famous. The follows the progress of the seasons, not to bore you with details. As Hansen famously said ‘you’ll never win anything with kids’ Beckham, Scholes, the Nevilles, Giggs to name a few were brought on by him, but that is not without trouble. Paul McGrath and Norman Whiteside soon fell out with Ferguson over drinking and staying out late, as have others over time. Lee Sharpe signed from Torquay was more famous down here for his drugs than his football, he was more commonly known as smackhead, he too fell foul of Ferguson. There is also transfer dealings, his trouble with agents such as Kanchelski’s move and Barthez and van Niestlerooy arrival more recently. There is a lot of football there, I loved this, as clearly does he.
Aside from football Ferguson is keen on horseracing, as are many footballers who have money and time spare to put a lot in. He owns several horses, and makes pretty frequent references to his delight when one wins a race. He also (briefly) ran a pub in Glasgow, where he has several stories from the interesting characters and visitors. There is also a moment of pride when he is awarded the knighthood for services to football, and he is close to his wife Cathy and all his other family. His son Darren plays for Wrexham in the second division, again he is proud of his son who is carrying on with the tradition, though he did manage to get two of them a trial at United when he was there, so there may have been a bit of a helping hand.
A whole chapter of the book is dedicated to the great manager Jock Stein. Ferguson clearly shows in his writing how honored he was to have the chance to work under him. He is one of the footballing greats and when working under him as assistant for the national team. He was there at the game, as assistant again when Stein died of a heart attack. He had the job of telling the family, and was shocked at the loss. A nice piece of writing, much of it from the heart and very complimentary to Stein. As Scotland assistant he traveled to the World Cup in 1986 and again enjoyed the experience. Scotland manager Craig Brown parted company earlier this season; a nice end would be for Ferguson to take the job. This clearly looks unlikely Berti Vougts looks favourite to take this and Ferguson still looks set for retirement.
Overall this is well worth a read, the early days are interesting to read, while I enjoyed the parts about the career as both a player and a successful manager. He is someone you have to admire for all he has achieved, and this book is worthy of the great man. He will be missed for his influence and character in the football world. Great read.
Advantages: See text Disadvantages: very long, takes a while to get started
I am not a Manchester United fan by any means, but when my brother bought me this book as a present, who was I to say no. I picked it up immediately, intending to pretend to look at a couple of pages in good faith, but found myself engrossed and could not put it down. It really is a very good read.....
CONTENT
The book is very detailed indeed and covers Alex's life, from his childhood in tough, poverty ridden Glasgow, through his playing career ... ...of his generation. It covers the times of hardships, the joys, the injuries, the rejections, the comebacks, the transfers, the rows, the media - everything you would expect from a football player turned manager.
STYLE
Obviously Sir Alex contributed to the main facts in the book and it hasn't been written blind for him, which is the case with some biographies. Much of the book is concentrated on his early life and footballing career in a very passionate ...
Okocha 27.03.2001
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Managing My Life (My Autobiography) - Alex Ferguson
After reading ALEX FERGUSON,S auto biography,entitled "MANAGING MY LIFE",I must say that it is possibly the best biography I have read to-date. Honestly potraying his life and carrier so far.From his boyhood days in the clydside district of glasgow.Playing for various boys clubs to his rise to become a proffesional footballer.
He played for such clubs as QUEEN,S PARK,ST JOHNSTONE,DUNFERMLINE,
FALKIRK,AYR UNITED and RANGERS.Later in his football ... ...MIRREN,
ABERDEEN,briefly SCOTLAND,and MANCHESTER UNITED.HE has become a manager of great standing.
His early days of management were not all pleasent ones.Having to deal with players with drink and fitness problems.Eventually he overcame the prpblems tolead his teams to glory.
how can we forget the triple of league cup,league title and european cup wins 1998-99.
AN EXCELLENT BIOGRAPHY from anEXCELLENT MANAGER ...
veraboy 03.09.2000
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Managing My Life (My Autobiography) - Alex Ferguson
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. ... ...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 football fan and also people who are into biographies and the like. ...
jmagill 08.09.2000
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Review of Managing My Life (My Autobiography) - Alex Ferguson
Advantages: great attention to detail Disadvantages: none
this book is a must read for all united fans and anybody who likes football.sir alex pulls no punches in his account of football management,dealing with players,other managers,chairmen,and anybody else who dares criticise him.it gives you some idea of the power of the man when he even tells it like it is between him,and his chairman martin edwards.how does he get away with it,well winning a few trophies helps!!.
the book also reveals a side to sir ... ...to players,a family man.where it scores over other books is the attention to detail,all aspects of his life are covered, especially contravercial parts,which is why i think a lot of people would buy it.its a compelling read from page one,his early days in glasgow,were only the toughest survive,to last page and the glorious treble.as an autobiography its a must. ...
JoneseY 24.11.2000
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Managing My Life (My Autobiography) - Alex Ferguson
Advantages: Gives you lmore in-sight to the world of football Disadvantages: Didn't want the book to end
I read this book from cover to cover and my thoughts were "How on earth did he find the time to write a book". He is the greatest Manager of the last decade, he is honest with the players and he is held with the greatest respect by almost anybody who had dealings with him.
The book was entertaining from the very first chapter and I think that no just United fans will enjoy it but anybody who likes football.
In some parts it is hard to remember ...
HellyBelly 06.10.2000
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Managing My Life (My Autobiography) - Alex Ferguson
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