Sir Alex Ferguson’s career honours as a player and manager
When it comes to regrets at Manchester United, even the best have a few. Sir Alex Ferguson celebrates his 80th birthday today and, out of all the figures in the club’s history, he may just be the biggest of all. Yet despite winning 13 Premier League titles, even he doesn’t feel entirely satisfied with the way his time at Old Trafford worked out.
Ferguson made United dominate the Premier League during his spell in charge, as well as helping them win two Champions League titles.
But the Scot confessed earlier this year that he still has regrets, despite being regarded as one of the best managers of all time.
Ferguson recently promoted the documentary Never Give In and, speaking in a Q&A session, revealed the sadness he felt at having to offload the likes of Paul Parker, Steve Bruce, Gary Pallister and Denis Irwin.
“In terms of the regrets, the 1994 team I had, the back four all seemed to grow old together,” he said.
“And that’s a terrible thing to happen to the manager because these guys were fantastic for me.
Sir Alex Ferguson won the lot during his spell at Man Utd (Image: GETTY)
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“The problem for me is ‘what do I do about it?’. I managed to organise a move for them, and they did well out of it, but telling them is very, very difficult.
“The same when having to let young players go.
“The process was the youth coach and the welfare chap would come in with the player you’re going to let go.
“Maybe he’s only 17, 18 years of age. The way we’d explain it is we’d try and get him a team. We’d try and get him a club and ‘we’re sorry we’re having to do this’. That’s terrible.
“That is the worst thing, having to let a young player go.
Sir Alex Ferguson had Man Utd regrets over Paul Parker, Denis Irwin and Steve Bruce (Image: GETTY)
Football is cutthroat. When players age, some clubs shun them and demote them.
But Ferguson was willing to go the extra mile, making sure the likes of Parker, Bruce, Pallister and Irwin got what they wanted as well.
Without such an approach, it’s interesting to think how Ferguson’s career could have worked out.
Footballers need coaching, sometimes sternly, but also need an arm round their shoulder when the chips are down.
Ferguson was a master of this. The very best. And it’s telling that, all these years on from his retirement, United remain a shadow of what they used to be.
Sir Alex Ferguson quit Man Utd in 2013 after winning the Premier League (Image: GETTY)
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In 2014, Ferguson said bringing through the Class of 92’ was his biggest achievement at the club.
And that also speaks volumes about the man he is and what he values within football.
"Many people have different interpretations of what I've made Manchester United over the last 26 years, with great players, Rooney, Ronaldo, Cantona, Keane, Robson, Schmeichel, there's too many to talk about,” he said.
"But honestly I think the spirit of Manchester United has come from the '92 team.
“I think that gave everyone at the club, not just the supporters, myself, my staff the directors, Bobby Charlton who was brought up in the Matt Busby era, it brought back the history of Manchester Utd, no question."