The most successful manager in Premier League history has finally decided to hand over the reigns.
After 27 years and 38 trophies Sir Alex Ferguson has announced the shock news that he will be retiring from his position as Manchester United manager at the end of the season.
With the most successful boss in British history stepping down from one of the biggest roles in football, fanatix takes a look back at the moments that defined the Scot’s time at Old Trafford.
Hired as Manchester United manager – 1986
On November 6 1986 Manchester United announced that Scottish manager Alex Ferguson would be the successor to Ron Atkinson.
Ferguson was fairly unknown outside of Scotland, but as Aberdeen boss he had broken the stranglehold of the Old Firm and against the odds won three Scottish Premier League trophies and four Scottish cups.
This impressive haul was topped off by a European Cup Winners’ Cup win in 1983, although Red Devils fans didn’t immediately take to the man known as ‘Furious Fergie.’
Wins first trophy at Old Trafford – 1990
After three-and-a-half trophyless seasons Ferguson almost faced the chop for not delivering the success he had had in abundance at Aberdeen.
Yet in 1990 the Glaswegian brought the first major honour to the red half of Manchester when the side beat Crystal Palace in an FA Cup final replay after a 3-3 draw at Wembley.
United joined Aston Villa and Tottenham as seven-time winners of the cup and with the team finishing 13th in the old First Division the trophy may well have saved Ferguson’s job.
‘King Eric’ arrives at United – 1992
Things were changing in English football in 1992. The Premier League was about to take over as the chosen name for the First Division, bringing with it bagfuls of money from new TV station BSkyB and countless sponsors.
Such a time needed a glamorous figure to embody it – step forward Eric Cantona.
The controversial Frenchman had just won the last ever First Division title with Leeds United, but his attitude had left him an unwanted man at Elland Road.
Rumours were rife that Leeds boss Howard Wilkinson sold Cantona to the their bitter rivals to stir things up, but a modest £1.2million fee, a famous flicked up collar and four-and-a-half years of unprecedented success proved Fergie had other plans for ‘King Eric.’
Fact – Cantona is the only footballer to win back-to-back English league titles with two different clubs.
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