View source for Alex Ferguson

{{short description|Scottish football manager (born 1941)}}
{{other people}}
{{pp-move-indef}}
{{pp-semi-blp|small=yes}}
{{Use British English|date=March 2024}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2020}}
{{Infobox football biography
|           name = {{br entries | {{pre-nominal styles|country=GBR|KB}} | Alex Ferguson | {{small|{{post-nominals|country=GBR|CBE}}}}}} 
|          image = SAF CL semi 2009 (cropped).jpg
|        caption = Ferguson in 2009
|       fullname = Alexander Chapman Ferguson
|     birth_date = {{birth date and age|1941|12|31|df=y}}
|    birth_place = [[Glasgow]], Scotland<!-- Only city and country name when it's a major city, no districts etc. -->
|       position = [[Forward (association football)|Forward]]
|    currentclub = 
|    youthyears1 = |youthclubs1 = Harmony Row Boys Club
|    youthyears2 = |youthclubs2 = [[Drumchapel Amateur F.C.|Drumchapel Amateurs]]
|         years1 = 1957–1960 |clubs1 = [[Queen's Park F.C.|Queen's Park]]                 |caps1 = 31 |goals1 = 15
|         years2 = 1960–1964 |clubs2 = [[St Johnstone F.C.|St Johnstone]]                 |caps2 = 37 |goals2 = 19
|         years3 = 1964–1967 |clubs3 = [[Dunfermline Athletic F.C.|Dunfermline Athletic]] |caps3 = 89 |goals3 = 66
|         years4 = 1967–1969 |clubs4 = [[Rangers F.C.|Rangers]]                           |caps4 = 41 |goals4 = 25
|         years5 = 1969–1973 |clubs5 = [[Falkirk F.C.|Falkirk]]                           |caps5 = 95 |goals5 = 37
|         years6 = 1973–1974 |clubs6 = [[Ayr United F.C.|Ayr United]]                     |caps6 = 24 |goals6 = 9
|      totalcaps = 317 |totalgoals = 171
| nationalyears1 = 1960 |nationalteam1 = [[Scotland national amateur football team|Scotland Amateurs]]<ref name=McColl>{{cite web |last1=McColl |first1=Brian |last2=Gorman |first2=Douglas |last3=Campbell |first3=George |title=FORGOTTEN GLORIES – British Amateur Internationals 1901–1974 |url=http://www.scottish-football-historical-archive.co.uk/Forgotten%20Glories.pdf |url-status=dead |pages=318 |access-date=16 July 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170702210501/http://www.scottish-football-historical-archive.co.uk/Forgotten%20Glories.pdf |archive-date=2 July 2017}}</ref> |nationalcaps1 = 1 |nationalgoals1 = 1
| nationalyears3 = 1967 |nationalteam3 = [[Scottish Football League XI]]<ref>{{cite web |title=Alex Ferguson |url=http://www.londonhearts.com/SFL/players/alexferguson.html |publisher=London Hearts Supporters' Club |access-date=5 December 2011}}</ref> |nationalcaps3 = 2 |nationalgoals3 = 1
| nationalyears2 = 1967 |nationalteam2 = [[Scotland men's national football team|Scotland]]<ref>{{cite web |first1=Stephen |last1=Bell |first2=Andre |last2=Zlotkowski |title=Scotland XI Tour of Asia and Oceania 1967 |url=https://www.rsssf.org/tabless/scotlandxi-asotour67.html |publisher=[[Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation]] |date=6 June 2008 |access-date=5 March 2011}}</ref><ref name="1967 reclassified">{{cite web |title=Former Scotland players to be recognised with international caps including Sir Alex Ferguson |url=https://www.scottishfa.co.uk/news/former-scotland-players-to-be-recognised-with-international-caps-including-sir-alex-ferguson/?rid=14258 |website=scottishfa.co.uk |publisher=Scottish Football Association |date=9 October 2021 |access-date=10 October 2021}}</ref>
|nationalcaps2 = 4 |nationalgoals2 = 3
|  manageryears1 = 1974      |managerclubs1 = [[East Stirlingshire F.C.|East Stirlingshire]]
|  manageryears2 = 1974–1978 |managerclubs2 = [[St Mirren F.C.|St Mirren]]
|  manageryears3 = 1978–1986 |managerclubs3 = [[Aberdeen F.C.|Aberdeen]]
|  manageryears4 = 1985–1986 |managerclubs4 = [[Scotland men's national football team|Scotland]]
|  manageryears5 = 1986–2013 |managerclubs5 = [[Manchester United F.C.|Manchester United]]
}}

'''Sir Alexander Chapman Ferguson''' {{post-nominals|country=GBR|size=100%|CBE}} (born 31 December 1941) is a Scottish former [[Manager (association football)|football manager]] and [[Football player|player]], best known for managing [[Manchester United F.C.|Manchester United]] from 1986 to 2013. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest managers of all time and has won more trophies than any other manager in the history of football.<ref name=":0">{{cite web |url=https://www.marca.com/en/football/international-football/2019/05/23/5ce5c24eca4741c7638b4567.html |title=Guardiola on his way to becoming the most successful coach of all time |publisher=Marca |last1=Rubio |first1=Alberto|last2=Clancy|first2=Conor|date=23 May 2019}}</ref> Ferguson is often credited for valuing youth during his time with Manchester United, particularly in the 1990s with the "[[Class of '92]]", who contributed to making the club one of the richest and most successful in the world.<ref name=":1">{{Cite news |date=2005-09-14 |title=Why youth is the key for Sir Alex |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/get_involved/4200614.stm |access-date=2022-05-06}}</ref>

Ferguson played as a [[Forward (association football)|forward]] for several Scottish clubs, including [[Dunfermline Athletic F.C.|Dunfermline Athletic]] and [[Rangers F.C.|Rangers]]. While playing for Dunfermline, he was the top goalscorer in the Scottish league in the [[1965–66 in Scottish football|1965–66]] season. Towards the end of his playing career he also worked as a coach, then started his managerial career with [[East Stirlingshire F.C.|East Stirlingshire]] and [[St Mirren F.C.|St Mirren]]. Ferguson then enjoyed a highly successful period as manager of [[Aberdeen F.C.|Aberdeen]], winning three [[List of Scottish football champions|Scottish league championships]], four [[Scottish Cup]]s and both the [[1982–83 European Cup Winners' Cup|UEFA Cup Winners' Cup]] and the [[UEFA Super Cup]] in [[1983 European Super Cup|1983]]. He briefly managed [[Scotland men's national football team|Scotland]] following the death of [[Jock Stein]], taking the team to the [[1986 FIFA World Cup|1986 World Cup]].

Ferguson was appointed manager of Manchester United in November 1986. During his 26 years with Manchester United he won 38 trophies, including 13 [[Premier League]] titles, five [[FA Cup]]s, and two [[UEFA Champions League]] titles. He was [[Knight Bachelor|knighted]] in the [[1999 Birthday Honours|1999 Queen's Birthday Honours]] list for his services to the game.<ref name=":2">{{cite news |title=Sir Alex's crowning glory |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/sport/football/398955.stm |work=[[BBC News]] |date=20 July 1999 |access-date=6 November 2012}}</ref> Ferguson is the longest-serving manager of Manchester United, having overtaken Sir [[Matt Busby]]'s record on 19 December 2010. He retired from management at the end of the [[2012–13 Manchester United F.C. season|2012–13 season]], having won the Premier League in his final season.

==Early life==
Alexander Chapman Ferguson<ref name=":3">{{cite web |title=Sir Alexander Chapman Ferguson |url=http://www.mufcinfo.com/manupag/managers/mangers_pages/ferguson_alex.html|publisher=mufcinfo.com|access-date=12 July 2011}}</ref> was born at his grandmother's home on Shieldhall Road in the [[Govan]] district of [[Glasgow]] on 31 December 1941, the son of Elizabeth (née Hardie) and Alexander Beaton Ferguson. His father was a plater's helper in the shipbuilding industry.<ref name=":4">{{cite news|first=Nick|last=Barratt|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/portal/main.jhtml?xml=/portal/2007/05/05/nosplit/ftdet05.xml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080109062735/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/portal/main.jhtml?xml=%2Fportal%2F2007%2F05%2F05%2Fnosplit%2Fftdet05.xml|url-status=dead|archive-date=9 January 2008|title=Family detective|work=The Telegraph|date=5 May 2007|access-date=30 October 2009|location=London}}</ref> He grew up in a tenement at 667 Govan Road, which has since been demolished, where he lived with his parents and his younger brother [[Martin Ferguson (footballer)|Martin]], who also became a footballer.<ref name=":5">{{cite news|first=Nick |last=Barratt |url=http://soccer-magazine.com/soccer-facts/soccer-managers/alex-ferguson-profile |title=Alex Ferguson profile |work=Soccer-Magazine.com |date=5 November 2010 |access-date=12 July 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110616032551/http://soccer-magazine.com/soccer-facts/soccer-managers/alex-ferguson-profile/ |archive-date=16 June 2011}}</ref> He attended [[Broomloan Road Primary School]] and later [[Govan High School]].<ref name=":9">{{cite news |url=http://www.theglasgowstory.com/image.php?inum=TGSg00050|title=Glasgow Caledonian University, Research Collections, Archives|publisher=TheGlasgowStory.com|year=2009|access-date=12 July 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110703141406/http://theglasgowstory.com/image.php?inum=TGSG00050 |archive-date=3 July 2011|url-status=live}}</ref> He began his football career with Harmony Row Boys Club in Govan,<ref name=upbringing>{{cite news|title=All we ever did in Govan was play football and fight...it was a great upbringing, says Sir Alex Ferguson|url=https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/alex-ferguson-says-govan-upbringing-1877559|date=9 May 2013 |access-date=29 August 2019|work=Daily Record}}</ref><ref name=blackash>{{cite news|title=Sir Alex Ferguson shares his childhood memories of Harmony Row and tells how black ash burns made him the man he is|url=https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/sir-alex-ferguson-shares-childhood-5361893|date=19 March 2015 |access-date=29 August 2019|work=Daily Record}}</ref> before progressing to [[Drumchapel Amateur F.C.|Drumchapel Amateurs]], a youth club with a strong reputation for producing senior footballers.<ref name=":10">{{cite news|title=Sir Alex Ferguson tribute to Drumchapel Amateurs' legend|url=http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/sport/13274381.Sir_Alex_Ferguson_tribute_to_Drumchapel_Amateurs__legend/|date=20 February 2014 |access-date=19 January 2018|work=Evening Times|location=Glasgow}}</ref> He also took an [[apprenticeship]] as a [[toolmaker]] at a factory in [[Hillington, Glasgow|Hillington]], being appointed a union [[shop steward]].<ref name=upbringing/>

==Playing career==
===Club===
Ferguson's playing career began as an amateur with [[Queen's Park F.C.|Queen's Park]], where he made his debut as a [[Forward (association football)#Striker|striker]], aged 16.<ref name=QPFC>{{cite web|url=http://www.qpfc.com/appearances/f/fergusonac.htm|title=Ferguson, Alexander Chapman|website=QPFC.com – A Historical Queen's Park FC Website|access-date=12 February 2018|archive-date=13 February 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180213080020/http://www.qpfc.com/appearances/f/fergusonac.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref> He described his first match as a "nightmare",<ref name="nightmare">Crick, p. 33</ref> but scored Queen's Park's goal in a 2–1 defeat against [[Stranraer F.C.|Stranraer]]. Perhaps his most notable game for Queen's Park was the 7–1 defeat away to [[Queen of the South F.C.|Queen of the South]] on Boxing Day 1959 when ex-England international [[Ivor Broadis]] scored four of the Queen of the South goals. Ferguson was the solitary Queen's Park goalscorer.<ref name=":11">{{cite web |url=http://qosfc.com/new_legendsview.aspx?playerid=1035 |title=Details of Queen of the South 7 v 1 Queens Park including Ferguson's recollection in the Ivor Broadis career profile |publisher=Qosfc.com |access-date=4 October 2013 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120713020053/http://qosfc.com/new_legendsview.aspx?playerid=1035 |archive-date=13 July 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

Despite scoring 20 [[goal (sport)|goals]] in his 31 games for Queen's Park, he could not command a regular place in the side and moved to [[St Johnstone F.C.|St Johnstone]] in 1960. Ferguson was on a part-time contract with St Johnstone, and he combined working in a Govan shipyard with training at night in [[Perth, Scotland|Perth]].<ref name=herald>{{cite news |last=Rowat |first=Alison |title=Sir Alex Ferguson: The truth about Rangers and me - Aberdeen legend speaks out in new film |url=https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/19330685.sir-alex-ferguson-truth-rangers/ |newspaper=The Herald |date=27 May 2021 |access-date=27 May 2021}}</ref> Although he regularly scored goals for St Johnstone, he was unable to command a consistent place in their team. He regularly requested transfers, and even considered emigrating to Canada.<ref name=espn-sj>{{cite news|url=http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=736532&sec=england&cc=5901|title=Ferguson reveals earlier Canada emigration plans|publisher=ESPN Soccernet|date=4 February 2010|access-date=4 February 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100206194338/http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=736532&sec=england&cc=5901 |archive-date=6 February 2010 |url-status=dead}}</ref> St Johnstone's failure to sign another forward led the manager to select Ferguson for a match against [[Rangers F.C.|Rangers]], in which he scored a [[hat-trick]] in a surprise 3–2 victory at [[Ibrox Stadium|Ibrox]].<ref name=espn-sj /><ref name=":12">{{cite news |title=Unexpected defeat of Rangers |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=gVxAAAAAIBAJ&sjid=pKMMAAAAIBAJ&pg=2306%2C2983644 |access-date=5 March 2022 |work=The Glasgow Herald |date=23 December 1963 |page=8}}</ref>

[[Dunfermline Athletic F.C.|Dunfermline]] signed him the following summer (1964), and Ferguson became a full-time professional footballer. In the following season ([[1964–65 in Scottish football|1964–65]]) Dunfermline were strong challengers for the [[List of Scottish football champions|Scottish league title]] and reached the [[1965 Scottish Cup Final|Scottish Cup Final]], but Ferguson was dropped for the final after a poor performance in a league game against St Johnstone. Dunfermline lost the final 3–2 to [[Celtic F.C.|Celtic]], then failed to win the League by one point. The [[1965–66 in Scottish football|1965–66]] season saw Ferguson notch up 45 goals in 51 games for Dunfermline. Along with [[Joe McBride (footballer, born 1938)|Joe McBride]] of Celtic, he was the top goalscorer in the Scottish league with 31 goals.<ref name="top goalscorer">{{cite web |title=Scotland&nbsp;– List of Topscorers |url=https://www.rsssf.org/tabless/scottops.html |publisher=Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation |date=12 June 2009 |access-date=30 October 2009}}</ref>

Ferguson then joined Rangers for £65,000, which was a record fee for a transfer between two Scottish clubs.<ref name=topplayers/> He performed well in Europe during his two seasons with the club, scoring six goals in nine appearances in the [[Inter-Cities Fairs Cup]] including two against [[1.FC Köln]] in the [[1967–68 Inter-Cities Fairs Cup|1967–68]] competition, and an important strike against [[Athletic Bilbao]] in the [[1968–69 Inter-Cities Fairs Cup|1968–69 edition]] which helped Rangers into the semi-finals,<ref name=":13">{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2012/mar/14/manchester-united-athletic-bilbao|title=Sir Alex Ferguson looks for feat of escapology to beat Athletic Bilbao|newspaper=The Guardian|date=14 March 2012|access-date=23 February 2018}}</ref> but on both occasions they were knocked out by English opposition. He was blamed for a goal conceded in the [[1968–69 Scottish Cup#Final|1969 Scottish Cup Final]],<ref name="blame">Crick, p. 82</ref> in a match in which he was designated to mark Celtic [[Captain (association football)|captain]], [[Billy McNeill]], and was subsequently forced to play for the club's junior side instead of for the first team.<ref name="junior">Crick, p. 83</ref> According to his brother, Ferguson was so upset by the experience that he threw his losers' medal away.<ref name="losersmedal">Crick, p. 86</ref>

There have been claims that he suffered [[Rangers F.C. signing policy|discrimination at Rangers]] due to his marriage to a Catholic, Cathy Holding.<ref name=":14">{{cite book|first=Harry|last=Reid|year=2005|title=The Final Whistle?|publisher=Birlinn|page=223|isbn=1-84158-362-6}}</ref> Ferguson said in a 2021 documentary film  about his life and career (''[[Sir Alex Ferguson: Never Give In]]'') that he 'assumed' that his exclusion from the first team after the 1969 cup final was due to her religion.<ref name=herald/> His autobiography noted that Rangers had known of his wife's religion when he joined the club.<ref name=":15">Ferguson, pp. 106–107</ref> In March 2021, he added that when he was signed, a Rangers director had questioned whether the Fergusons had been married in a (Catholic) [[chapel]], and that the director had replied "oh, that's okay" when told they had married in a [[registry office]].<ref name=":16">{{cite news |last= |first= |date= |title=Sir Alex Ferguson |url=https://nationalfootballmuseum.com/halloffame/sir-alex-ferguson/ |access-date=27 May 2021 |newspaper=Glasgow Times}}</ref> Ferguson left Rangers reluctantly, as he had grown up locally and had dreamed of succeeding there.<ref name=it2003/> He was upset by how newspapers would refer to him as an "ex-Rangers player" after he had left, and rarely attended gatherings of their former players.<ref name = it2003>{{cite news |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/ferguson-denies-sentiment-until-blue-in-the-face-1.385734 |title=Ferguson denies sentiment until blue in the face |first=Daniel |last=Taylor |newspaper=[[The Irish Times]] |date=22 October 2003 |access-date=27 May 2021}}</ref>

The following October, [[Nottingham Forest F.C.|Nottingham Forest]] wanted to sign Ferguson,<ref name=signforest>Crick, p. 85</ref> but his wife was not keen on moving to England at that time, so he went to [[Falkirk F.C.|Falkirk]] instead. He remained at Brockville for four years, gaining more league appearances than he had elsewhere; in recognition of his experience he was promoted to player-coach, but when [[John Prentice (footballer born 1926)|John Prentice]] became manager he removed Ferguson's coaching responsibilities. Ferguson's time at Falkirk was soured by this, and he responded by requesting a transfer and moved to [[Ayr United F.C.|Ayr United]], where he finished his playing career in 1974.<ref>{{cite book|title=The wit and wisdom of Sir Alex Ferguson|year=2013|publisher=Biteback Publishing|last=Riley|first=Chris|isbn=978-1-84954-627-0|location=London |oclc=852756978 }}</ref>

===International===
Ferguson's only involvement with the [[Scotland men's national football team|Scotland national team]] was during an overseas tour in 1967. For many years none of the tour matches were recognised by the [[Scottish Football Association]] as full internationals, and so Ferguson was deemed to have never played for Scotland. A ''[[BBC Sport]]'' article in June 2020 identified him as one of the best Scottish players to have never played a full international.<ref name=topplayers>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/53132189 |title=Scotland: Top players never to be capped by their country |publisher=[[BBC Sport]] |date=25 June 2020 |access-date=10 October 2021}}</ref> The SFA announced in October 2021 that some of the tour matches would be reclassified as full internationals, which meant that Ferguson was belatedly awarded an international cap.<ref name="1967 reclassified" />

==Managerial career==

===East Stirlingshire===
In June 1974, Ferguson was appointed manager of [[East Stirlingshire F.C.|East Stirlingshire]], at the comparatively young age of 32. It was a part-time job that paid £40 per week, and the club did not have a single [[Goalkeeper (association football)|goalkeeper]] at the time.<ref name="boss108-9">Crick, pp. 108–9</ref> He gained a reputation as a disciplinarian, with club forward [[Bobby McCulley]] later saying he had "never been afraid of anyone before but Ferguson was a frightening bastard from the start."<ref name="bastard">{{cite news|title=A leader of men is what he does best|work=The Guardian|location=UK|date=23 November 2004|url=http://football.guardian.co.uk/News_Story/0,1563,1357257,00.html|access-date=9 March 2007|first1=Sid|last1=Lowe|first2=Matt|last2=Scott|first3=Daniel|last3=Taylor|first4=Jon|last4=Brodkin}}</ref>

===St Mirren===
In October 1974, Ferguson was invited to manage [[St Mirren F.C.|St Mirren]]. While they were below [[East Stirlingshire F.C.|East Stirlingshire]] in the league, they were a bigger club and although Ferguson felt a degree of loyalty towards East Stirlingshire, he decided to join St Mirren after taking advice from [[Jock Stein]].<ref name="boss117">Crick, p. 117</ref>

Ferguson was manager of St Mirren from 1974 until 1978, producing a remarkable transformation of a team in the lower half of the old [[Scottish Football League Second Division|Second Division]] watched by crowds of just over 1,000, to [[Scottish Football League First Division|First Division]] champions in [[1976–77 in Scottish football|1977]], discovering talent like [[Billy Stark]], [[Tony Fitzpatrick (footballer)|Tony Fitzpatrick]], [[Lex Richardson]], [[Frank McGarvey]], Bobby Reid and [[Peter Weir (footballer)|Peter Weir]] while playing superb attacking football.<ref name="Sunday Herald St Mirren article">{{cite news|url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4156/is_19990530/ai_n13939368 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080107114145/http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4156/is_19990530/ai_n13939368 |url-status=dead |archive-date=7 January 2008 |title=Sunday Herald St Mirren article |access-date=9 November 2007 |first=Billy |last=Adams |date=30 May 1999 |work=The Sunday Herald }}</ref> The average age of the league winning team was 19 and the captain, Fitzpatrick, was 20.<ref name="FA article">{{cite web|url=http://www.thefa.com/Features/Postings/2004/05/GafferTapes_SirAlexFerguson.htm|archive-url=https://archive.today/20050406154845/http://www.thefa.com/Features/Postings/2004/05/GafferTapes_SirAlexFerguson.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=6 April 2005|title=Sir Alex lifts the lid|date=4 May 2004|access-date=9 November 2007}}</ref>

St Mirren have the distinction of being the only club ever to sack Ferguson. He claimed wrongful dismissal against the club at an industrial tribunal but lost and was given no leave to appeal. According to a ''[[Sunday Herald]]'' article on 30 May 1999, the official version is that Ferguson was sacked for various breaches of contract, including unauthorised payments to players.<ref name="Sunday Herald St Mirren article"/> He was counter-accused of intimidating behaviour towards his office secretary because he wanted players to get some expenses tax free. He did not speak to her for six weeks, confiscated her keys and communicated only through a 17-year-old assistant. The tribunal concluded that Ferguson was "particularly petty" and "immature".<ref name="Guardian bullying article">{{cite news|url=http://football.guardian.co.uk/Columnists/Column/0,,1684473,00.html|title=Guardian bullying article|access-date=11 November 2007|location=London|date=12 January 2006|work=The Guardian|first=Nicky|last=Campbell}}</ref> It was claimed during the tribunal by St Mirren chairman, Willie Todd, that Ferguson had "no managerial ability".<ref>{{cite web |title=Sir Alex Ferguson: dates that defined an icon |url=https://www.fifa.com/news/sir-alex-ferguson-dates-that-defined-icon-2075842 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190326001153/https://www.fifa.com/news/sir-alex-ferguson-dates-that-defined-icon-2075842 |url-status=dead |archive-date=26 March 2019 |website=FIFA.com |access-date=26 March 2019 |date=8 May 2013}}</ref>

In 2008, ''[[The Guardian]]'' published an interview with Todd (then aged 87), who had sacked Ferguson many years earlier. Todd said that the fundamental reason for the dismissal was a breach of contract relating to Ferguson having agreed to join Aberdeen. Ferguson told journalist Jim Rodger of the ''[[Daily Mirror]]'' that he had asked at least one member of the squad to go to Aberdeen with him. He told the St Mirren staff he was leaving. Todd expressed regret over what happened but blamed Aberdeen for not approaching his club to discuss compensation.<ref>{{cite news|title=31.05.1978: Alex Ferguson is fired by St Mirren|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2008/may/31/manchesterunited.stmirren|work=The Guardian|location=UK|date=31 May 2008|access-date=29 December 2008}}</ref>

In 1977, Ferguson turned down the manager's job at Aberdeen. The role went to Billy McNeill, who returned to Celtic after only a year, leaving the role available for Ferguson once again.<ref>{{cite news |first=Harry |last=Reid |title=The goal that Alex Ferguson has been chasing all his life |work=Glasgow Herald |page=9 |date=11 April 1983 |access-date=8 January 2014 |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2507&dat=19830411&id=GsRAAAAAIBAJ&pg=3291,1799200 }}</ref>

===Aberdeen===

====Late 1970s====
Ferguson joined Aberdeen as manager in June 1978, replacing Billy McNeill who had only managed the club for one season before he was offered the chance to manage Celtic. Although Aberdeen were one of Scotland's major clubs they had won the league only once, in [[1954–55 in Scottish football|1955]] under [[Dave Halliday]]. The team had been playing well, however, and had not lost a league match since the previous December, having finished second in the league the previous season.<ref name="boss159">Crick, p. 159</ref> Ferguson had now been a manager for four years, but was still not much older than some of the players and had trouble winning the respect of some of the older ones such as [[Joe Harper]].<ref name="boss171">Crick, p. 171</ref> The season did not go especially well, with Aberdeen reaching the semi-final of the [[Scottish Cup]] and the [[1979 Scottish League Cup Final (March)|Scottish League Cup Final]], but losing both matches and [[1978–79 Scottish Premier Division|finishing fourth in the league]].

Aberdeen lost the [[1979 Scottish League Cup Final (December)|1979–80 Scottish League Cup Final]], this time to [[Dundee United F.C.|Dundee United]] after a replay. Ferguson took the blame for the defeat, saying he should have made changes to the team for the replay.<ref name="boss174">Crick, p. 174</ref>

====1980s and silverware====
Aberdeen had started the [[1979–80 Scottish Football League|1979–80 season]] poorly but their form improved dramatically in the new year and they won the Scottish league that season with a 5–0 win on the final day. It was the first time in 15 years that the league had not been won by either Rangers or Celtic. Ferguson now felt that he had the respect of his players, later saying: "That was the achievement which united us. I finally had the players believing in me".<ref name="boss175">Crick, p. 175</ref>

He was still a strict disciplinarian, though, and his players nicknamed him "Furious Fergie".<ref name="FuriousFergie">{{cite web |last=Haugstad |first=Thore |url=https://timeontheball.net/2017/06/16/furious-fergie/ |title=Furious Fergie: The early years of Sir Alex Ferguson |date=16 June 2017 |access-date=15 December 2020 |work=Time On The Ball |archive-date=5 December 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201205021924/http://timeontheball.net/2017/06/16/furious-fergie/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> He fined one of his players, [[John Hewitt (footballer)|John Hewitt]], for overtaking him on a public road,<ref name="boss179">Crick, p. 179</ref> and kicked a tea urn at the players at half time after a poor first half.<ref name="boss180">Crick, p. 180</ref> He was dissatisfied with the atmosphere at Aberdeen matches, and deliberately created a "[[siege mentality]]" by accusing the Scottish media of being biased towards the Glasgow clubs, to motivate the team.<ref name="boss191">Crick, p. 191</ref> The team continued their success with a Scottish Cup win in [[1982 Scottish Cup Final|1982]]. Ferguson was offered the manager's job at [[Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.|Wolverhampton Wanderers]] but turned it down as he felt that Wolves were in trouble<ref name="boss195">Crick, p. 195</ref> and his "ambitions at Aberdeen were not even half fulfilled".<ref name="boss196">Crick, p. 196</ref>

====European success and Scottish national side====
Ferguson led Aberdeen to even greater success the following season, 1982–83. They had qualified for the [[1982–83 European Cup Winners' Cup|European Cup Winners' Cup]] as a result of winning the Scottish Cup the previous season, and impressively knocked out [[FC Bayern Munich|Bayern Munich]],<ref>{{cite news |first=Jim |last=Reynolds |title=Magnificent Dons eclipse German stars |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2507&dat=19830303&id=mMFAAAAAIBAJ&pg=3582,722075 |newspaper=The Herald |date=3 March 1983 |access-date=10 September 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first=Jim |last=Reynolds |title=Aberdeen emerge as the best of British |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=GGgVawPscysC&dat=19830317&printsec=frontpage |newspaper=The Herald |date=17 March 1983 |access-date=10 September 2014}}</ref> who had beaten [[Tottenham Hotspur F.C.|Tottenham Hotspur]] 4–1 in the previous round.<ref>{{cite news |first=David |last=Lacey |title=Tottenham run on reserve |newspaper=The Guardian |page=22 |date=21 October 1982}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first=David |last=Lacey |title=Spurs lost in Munich fog |newspaper=The Guardian |page=26 |date=4 November 1982}}</ref> According to [[Willie Miller]], this gave them the confidence to believe that they could go on to win the competition,<ref name="boss201">Crick, p. 201</ref> which they did, with a 2–1 victory over [[Real Madrid C.F.|Real Madrid]] in the [[1983 European Cup Winners' Cup Final|final]] on 11 May 1983.<ref>{{cite news |first=Jim |last=Reynolds |title=Dons the Real European masters |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2507&dat=19860512&id=mcRAAAAAIBAJ&pg=4082,2406962 |newspaper=The Herald |date=12 May 1983 |access-date=10 September 2014}}</ref> Aberdeen became only the third Scottish team to win a European trophy and Ferguson now felt that "he'd done something worthwhile with his life".<ref name="boss203">Crick, p. 203</ref> This was followed up with victory in the [[1983 European Super Cup|European Super Cup]] in December 1983, when [[Hamburger SV]], the [[1983 European Cup Final|reigning European Cup]] champions, were beaten 2–0 over two legs.<ref>{{cite news |first=Jim |last=Reynolds |title=Aberdeen are set for superstardom |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2507&dat=19831123&id=O_s9AAAAIBAJ&pg=3873,4955762 |newspaper=The Herald |date=23 November 1983 |access-date=10 September 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first=Jim |last=Reynolds |title=Aberdeen's super heroes take the glory |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2507&dat=19831221&id=8sFAAAAAIBAJ&pg=4085,4146762 |newspaper=The Herald |date=21 December 1983 |access-date=10 September 2014}}</ref> Aberdeen had also performed well in the league that season, and retained the Scottish Cup with a [[1983 Scottish Cup Final|1–0 victory]] over Rangers,<ref>{{cite news |first=Jim |last=Reynolds |title=Don't put the blame on Russell – Greig |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=GGgVawPscysC&dat=19830523&printsec=frontpage |newspaper=The Herald |date=23 May 1983 |access-date=10 September 2014}}</ref> but Ferguson was not happy with his team's play in that match and upset the players by describing theirs as a "disgraceful performance" in a televised interview after the match, a statement he later retracted.<ref name="boss204">Crick, p. 204</ref>

After a sub-standard start to the [[1983–84 in Scottish football|1983–84 season]], Aberdeen's form improved and the team won the Scottish league and retained the Scottish Cup. Ferguson was appointed an Officer of the [[Order of the British Empire]] (OBE) in the [[1985 New Year Honours]],<ref name="OBE">{{London Gazette |issue=49969 |date=31 December 1984 |page=9 |supp=y }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sport/561724.stm|title=Lewis heads sporting honours|access-date=18 June 2007|date=12 December 1999|work=BBC News}}</ref> and was offered the managers' jobs at Rangers and [[Arsenal F.C.|Arsenal]] during the season.<ref>{{cite web |last=Murray |first=Ewan |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2011/may/10/sir-alex-ferguson-arsenal-manager |title=Sir Alex Ferguson rejected 1986 chance to become Arsenal manager |work=The Guardian |date=10 May 2011 |access-date=4 October 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Ley |first=John |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/manchester-united/8505871/Manchester-United-Sir-Alex-Ferguson-turned-down-the-opportunity-to-manage-Arsenal.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220110/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/manchester-united/8505871/Manchester-United-Sir-Alex-Ferguson-turned-down-the-opportunity-to-manage-Arsenal.html |archive-date=10 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=Manchester United Sir Alex Ferguson turned down the opportunity to manage Arsenal |work=The Daily Telegraph |date=10 May 2011 |access-date=25 June 2014}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Reynolds |first=Jim |url=http://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/spl/aberdeen/why-i-didn-t-go-to-rangers-sir-alex-ferguson-on-advocaat-s-successor-the-scotland-job-and-the-old-firm-in-the-premiership-1.200147 |title=Why I didn't go to Rangers:Sir Alex Ferguson on Advocaat's successor, the Scotland job, and the Old Firm in the Premiership |work=[[The Herald (Glasgow)|The Herald]] |date=2 February 2001 |access-date=25 June 2014}}</ref> Aberdeen retained their league title in the 1984–85 season. In [[1985–86 in Scottish football|1985–86]], Aberdeen won both domestic cups, but finished fourth in the league. Ferguson had been appointed to the club's board of directors early in 1986, but that April he told [[Dick Donald]], their chairman, that he intended to leave that summer.{{citation needed|date=March 2019}}

Ferguson had been part of the coaching staff for the [[Scotland men's national football team|Scottish national side]] during qualifying for the [[1986 FIFA World Cup|1986 World Cup]], but manager [[Jock Stein]] had [[1985 Wales vs Scotland football match|collapsed and died on 10 September 1985]] – at the end of the game in which Scotland qualified from their group for a play-off against [[Australia men's national soccer team|Australia]]. Ferguson promptly agreed to take charge of the Scottish national side against the Australians and subsequently at the World Cup. To allow him to fulfil his international duties he appointed [[Archie Knox]] as his co-manager at Aberdeen. However, after Scotland failed to progress past the group stages of the World Cup, Ferguson stepped down as national team manager on 15 June 1986.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=YNJAAAAAIBAJ&pg=6630,3393659|title=Fergie Steps Down|date=16 June 1986|work=Evening Times|access-date=10 June 2011}}</ref>

Around this time, Tottenham Hotspur offered Ferguson the chance to take over from [[Peter Shreeves]] as manager, but he rejected this offer and the job went to [[Luton Town F.C.|Luton Town's]] [[David Pleat]] instead. There was also an offer for Ferguson to replace [[Don Howe]] as Arsenal manager, but he rejected this offer as well, and fellow Scot [[George Graham (footballer, born 1944)|George Graham]] took the post instead.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/m/man_utd/8092670.stm|title=Ferguson 'almost became Arsenal boss'|access-date=10 June 2009|work=BBC News|date=10 June 2009| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090613050103/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/m/man_utd/8092670.stm| archive-date= 13 June 2009 | url-status= live}}</ref> That summer, there had been speculation that he would take over from [[Ron Atkinson]] at [[Manchester United F.C.|Manchester United]], who had slumped to fourth in the English top flight after a ten-match winning start.<ref name=":13" />

It was not the first time that Ferguson had been linked with a move to England. In February 1982, Wolverhampton Wanderers had approached him about succeeding [[John Barnwell]] as manager as they were heading for relegation from the First Division.<ref>{{cite news|title=Tributes to former Wolves chief Harry Marshall|url=https://www.expressandstar.com/news/2010/09/30/tributes-to-former-wolves-chief-harry-marshall|work=Express & Star|access-date=8 May 2011|date=30 September 2010}}</ref> He rejected this offer, perhaps concerned about the club's financial stability, as they were more than £2&nbsp;million in debt at the time and narrowly avoided going out of business. At the end of the 1984–85 season, it was reported that Ferguson was being considered for the [[Liverpool F.C.|Liverpool]] manager's job after the retirement of [[Joe Fagan]] was announced, but the job was quickly accepted by Liverpool striker [[Kenny Dalglish]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=YLZAAAAAIBAJ&pg=5732,6946410|title=Dalglish in frame to replace Fagan as manager|newspaper=The Glasgow Herald|date=30 May 1985|page=20|via=Google News}}</ref>

Although Ferguson remained at Aberdeen over the summer, he did eventually join Manchester United when Atkinson was sacked in November 1986.<ref>{{cite news|last=Paul|first=Ian|title=Ferguson agrees to Old Trafford move|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=96RAAAAAIBAJ&pg=4349%2C1816052|access-date=26 March 2019|work=The Glasgow Herald|date=7 November 1986|page=32}}</ref>

===Manchester United===

====Appointment and first FA Cup title====
{{BLP sources section|date=March 2019}}
Ferguson was appointed manager at [[Old Trafford]] on 6 November 1986.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021 |title=35 years since Sir Alex became United boss |url=https://www.manutd.com/en/news/detail/sir-alex-ferguson-35-years-since-legendary-man-utd-manager-appointed-6-november-2021}}</ref> He was initially worried that many of the players, such as [[Norman Whiteside]], [[Paul McGrath (footballer)|Paul McGrath]] and [[Bryan Robson]] were drinking too much and was "depressed" by their level of fitness, but he managed to increase the players' discipline and United climbed up the table to finish the season in 11th place, having been 21st (second from bottom) when he took over.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Herbert |first=Ian |date=2016 |title=Sir Alex Ferguson 'massively exaggerated' Manchester United drinking culture, says Ron Atkinson |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/sir-alex-ferguson-s-manchester-united-drinking-culture-claim-was-a-massive-exaggeration-says-ron-atkinson-a7308871.html}}</ref>

His first game in charge was a 2–0 defeat at [[Oxford United F.C.|Oxford United]] on 8 November, followed seven days later by a goalless draw at newly promoted [[Norwich City F.C.|Norwich City]], and then his first win (1–0 at home to [[Queens Park Rangers F.C.|Queens Park Rangers]]) on 22 November.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Marshall |first=Adam |date=2021 |title=35 years since Sir Alex's first United game |url=https://www.manutd.com/en/news/detail/35th-anniversary-of-sir-alex-ferguson-first-game-as-man-utd-manager-against-oxford}}</ref> Results steadily improved as the season went on, and by the time they recorded what would be their only away win of the league campaign at title challengers and rivals Liverpool on [[Boxing Day]], it was clear that United were on the road to recovery.<ref name=":7">{{Cite web |date=2023 |title=Manchester United football club match record: 1987 |url=https://www.11v11.com/teams/manchester-united/tab/matches/season/1987/}}</ref> The year 1987 began on a high note with a 4–1 victory over [[Newcastle United F.C.|Newcastle United]] and United gradually pulled together in the second half of the season, with relatively occasional defeats on the way, and finished 11th in the final table. Ferguson's mother Elizabeth died of lung cancer, aged 64, three weeks after his appointment. Ferguson hired Archie Knox, his assistant at Aberdeen, in the same role at Manchester United in 1986.<ref name=":7" />

In the 1987–88 season, Ferguson made several major signings, including [[Steve Bruce]], [[Viv Anderson]] and [[Brian McClair]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024 |title=Steve Bruce |url=https://www.manutd.com/en/players-and-staff/detail/steve-bruce}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Viv Anderson Manchester United Signed and Framed Photograph |url=https://vivanderson.co.uk/product/viv-anderson-manchester-united-signed-and-framed-photograph/ |access-date=2024-10-17 |website=Viv Anderson |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Brian McClair Signed Manchester United Picture |url=https://www.superstarspeakers.co.uk/product-page/brian-mcclair-signed-manchester-united-picture-1 |access-date=2024-10-17 |website=Superstar Speakers |language=en}}</ref> The new players made a positive contribution to a United team who finished in second place, nine points behind Liverpool. Liverpool's points lead, however, had been in double digits for most of the season and while United had lost only five league games all season, they drew 12 games, leaving some way to go before United could match their northwestern rivals.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Manchester United - Players, Ranking and Transfers - 87/88 |url=https://www.footballdatabase.eu/en/club/team/30-manchester_united/1987-1988 |access-date=2024-10-17 |website=footballdatabase.eu}}</ref>

During the season, United played two friendly matches in Bermuda against the [[Bermuda national football team|Bermuda national team]] and the Somerset Cricket Club.<ref name=Bermuda>{{cite web |url=http://footysphere.com/post/13169778853/alex-ferguson-bermuda-man-utd |title=Manchester United Tour of Bermuda 1987 |work=footysphere.com |access-date=23 July 2016 |archive-date=16 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190416105542/http://footysphere.com/post/13169778853/alex-ferguson-bermuda-man-utd |url-status=dead}}</ref> In the match against Somerset, both Ferguson himself and his assistant Archie Knox took to the field, with Knox even getting on the scoresheet. The match was Ferguson's only appearance for the Manchester United first team.<ref name=Bermuda/>

United were expected to do well when [[Mark Hughes]] returned to the club two years after leaving for [[FC Barcelona|Barcelona]], alongside [[Jim Leighton]] from [[Aberdeen F.C.|Aberdeen]]; but the [[1988–89 Manchester United F.C. season|1988–89 season]] was a disappointment for them, finishing 11th in the league and losing 1–0 at home to Nottingham Forest in the [[1988–89 FA Cup#Sixth round proper|FA Cup sixth round]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hill |first=Courtney |date=2023 |title=Transfer Tales: How Hughes returned to United |url=https://www.manutd.com/en/news/detail/transfer-tales-on-mark-hughes-and-his-return-to-man-utd}}</ref> They had begun the season slowly, going on a nine-match winless run throughout October and November (with one defeat and eight draws) before a run of generally good results took them to third place and the fringes of the title challenge by mid February. However, another run of disappointing results in the final quarter of the season saw them fall down to mid-table.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-10-07 |title=Manchester United - Fixtures & Results 1988/1989 |url=https://www.worldfootball.net/teams/manchester-united/1989/3/ |access-date=2024-10-17 |website=worldfootball.net |language=en}}</ref>

For the [[1989–90 Manchester United F.C. season|1989–90 season]], Ferguson further boosted his squad by paying large sums of money for midfielders [[Neil Webb]], [[Mike Phelan]], and [[Paul Ince]], as well as defender [[Gary Pallister]] and winger [[Danny Wallace (footballer)|Danny Wallace]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Team |first=Editorial |date=2023 |title=Remembering Ince's United achievements |url=https://www.manutd.com/en/news/detail/paul-ince-extract-from-30-years-of-premier-league-book-ahead-of-reading-tie}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2024 |title=Gary Pallister |url=https://www.manutd.com/en/players-and-staff/detail/gary-pallister}}</ref> The season began well with a 4–1 win over defending champions Arsenal on the opening day, but United's league form quickly turned sour. In September, United suffered a humiliating 5–1 away defeat against [[Manchester derby|fierce rivals]] [[Manchester City F.C.|Manchester City]]. Following this and an early season run of six defeats and two draws in eight games, a banner declaring, "Three years of excuses and it's still crap&nbsp;... ta-ra Fergie." was displayed at Old Trafford, and many journalists and supporters called for Ferguson to be sacked.<ref name="3years">{{cite news|title=Arise Sir Alex?|work=BBC News|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/special_report/1999/05/99/uniteds_treble_triumph/354282.stm|access-date=3 December 2005|date=27 May 1999}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Sir Alex Ferguson's 20 years at Manchester United|work=BBC Sport|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/m/man_utd/6113634.stm|access-date=11 August 2011|date=6 November 2006}}</ref> Ferguson later described December 1989 as "the darkest period [he had] ever suffered in the game", as United ended the decade just outside the relegation zone.<ref>{{cite news|title=Ferguson hungry for more success|work=BBC News|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/m/man_utd/8062015.stm|access-date=11 August 2011|date=22 May 2009|first=David|last=Ornstein}}</ref><ref name="jc27">{{cite book|first1=Alex|last1=Ferguson|first2=Peter|last2=Fitton|title=Just Champion!|publisher=Manchester United Football Club plc|year=1993|isbn=0-9520509-1-9|page=27}}</ref>

Following a run of seven games without a win, Manchester United were drawn away to Nottingham Forest in the third round of the FA Cup. Forest were performing well that season and were in the process of winning the League Cup for the second season running,<ref name="Robins">{{cite news|title=How Robins saved Ferguson's job|work=BBC Sport|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/m/man_utd/6096520.stm|access-date=8 August 2008|date=4 November 2006|first=Chris|last=Bevan}}</ref> and it was expected that United would lose the match and Ferguson would consequently be sacked, but United won the game 1–0 due to a [[Mark Robins]] goal and eventually reached the final. This cup win is often cited as the match that saved Ferguson's Old Trafford career.<ref name="Robins"/><ref name="20years">{{cite web|title=20 years and Fergie's won it all! |work=[[Manchester Evening News]] |date=6 November 2006 |url=http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/football/manchester_united/s/227/227442_20_years_and_fergies_won_it_all.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20121205103730/http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/football/manchester_united/s/227/227442_20_years_and_fergies_won_it_all.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=5 December 2012 |access-date=8 August 2009 }}</ref><ref name="Pressure">{{cite news|title=Recalling the pressure Ferguson was under, the probability is that a 1–0 victory at Forest in the third round of the FA Cup saved him|first=Ken|last=Jones|work=The Independent|location=UK|date=8 May 1997|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/recalling-the-pressure-ferguson-was-under-the-probability-is-that-a-10-victory-at-forest-in-the-third-round-of-the-fa-cup-saved-him-1260371.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120125131259/http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/recalling-the-pressure-ferguson-was-under-the-probability-is-that-a-10-victory-at-forest-in-the-third-round-of-the-fa-cup-saved-him-1260371.html |archive-date=2012-01-25 |url-access=limited |url-status=live|access-date=8 August 2009}}</ref> United went on to win the FA Cup, beating [[Crystal Palace F.C.|Crystal Palace]] 1–0 in the [[1990 FA Cup Final|final replay]] after a 3–3 draw in the first match, giving Ferguson his first major trophy as Manchester United manager. United's defensive frailties in the first match were blamed on goalkeeper Jim Leighton. Ferguson dropped Leighton for the replay, bringing in [[Les Sealey]].

====United's European firsts and Ferguson's seconds====
{{BLP sources section|date=March 2019}}
[[File:Alex Ferguson mars 1992.JPG|thumb|right|Ferguson in 1992]]
Although United's league form improved greatly in [[1990–91 Manchester United F.C. season|1990–91]], they were still inconsistent and finished sixth. There were some excellent performances that season, including a 6–2 demolition of Arsenal at [[Arsenal Stadium|Highbury]], but results like an early 2–1 loss at newly promoted [[Sunderland A.F.C.|Sunderland]], a 4–0 September hammering by Liverpool at Anfield, and a 2–0 home defeat by [[Everton F.C.|Everton]] in early March (the game where 17-year-old talented prospect [[Ryan Giggs]] made his senior debut) showed that United still had some way to go.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-10-07 |title=Manchester United - Fixtures & Results 1990/1991 |url=https://www.worldfootball.net/teams/manchester-united/1991/3/ |access-date=2024-10-15 |website=worldfootball.net |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Diller |first=Kyle |title=Manchester United History: 1990-99 |url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/1180672-manchester-united-history-1990-99 |access-date=2024-10-15 |website=Bleacher Report |language=en}}</ref>

Even after the FA Cup victory in the previous season, some still had doubts about Ferguson's ability to succeed where all the other managers since [[Matt Busby]] had failed&nbsp;– to win the league title.<ref name="Pressure"/> They were runners-up in the [[1991 Football League Cup Final|League Cup]], losing 1–0 to [[Sheffield Wednesday F.C.|Sheffield Wednesday]]. However, they won the [[1991 European Cup Winners' Cup Final|European Cup Winners' Cup]], beating that season's Spanish champions [[FC Barcelona|Barcelona]] 2–1. It would be United's only Cup Winners' Cup title.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bostock |first=Adam |date=2020 |title=Glory Days: United's second European trophy |url=https://www.manutd.com/en/news/detail/glory-days-how-man-utd-won-the-european-cup-winners-cup-in-1991}}</ref> After the match, Ferguson vowed that United would win the league the following season, and at long last he seemed to have won over the last of his sceptics after nearly five years in the job.<ref name="mml302">Ferguson, p. 302</ref>

During the 1991 close season, Ferguson's assistant Archie Knox departed to Rangers to become assistant to [[Walter Smith]], and Ferguson promoted youth team coach [[Brian Kidd]] to the role of assistant manager in Knox's place.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Fifield |first=Dominic |date=2013-05-08 |title=From Archie Knox to Mike Phelan: Sir Alex Ferguson's seven lieutenants |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2013/may/08/alex-ferguson-number-twos-manchester-united |access-date=2024-10-19 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref> He also made two major signings – goalkeeper [[Peter Schmeichel]] and defender [[Paul Parker (footballer)|Paul Parker]] – to bolster his side.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Staplehurst |first=Jack |last2=Austen-Hardy |first2=Patrick |date=2024-06-02 |title=I told United boss I was tempted by move - what he said next changed my career |url=https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/man-utd-transfer-manager-29270551 |access-date=2024-10-19 |website=Manchester Evening News |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Paul Parker Defender, Profile & Stats {{!}} Premier League |url=https://www.premierleague.com/players/317/Paul-Parker/overview |access-date=2024-10-19 |website=www.premierleague.com |language=en}}</ref> There was much anticipation about the breakthrough of the young Ryan Giggs, who had played twice and scored once in the 1990–91 campaign, and the earlier emergence of another impressive young winger in the shape of [[Lee Sharpe]], who despite their youth had made Ferguson feel able to resist plunging into the transfer market and buying a new player to take over from the disappointing Danny Wallace on the left wing. He had also added Soviet midfielder [[Andrei Kanchelskis]] to the right wing, giving him a more attacking alternative to older midfielders [[Mike Phelan]] and Bryan Robson.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=English Football Stats - League Stats - Manchester United - Results - 1991/92 |url=http://www.englishfootballstats.co.uk/League%20Stats/League%20Results/Manchester%20United/1991-92.htm |access-date=2024-10-15 |website=www.englishfootballstats.co.uk}}</ref>

The [[1991–92 Manchester United F.C. season|1991–92 season]] did not live up to Ferguson's expectations and, in Ferguson's words, "many in the media felt that [his] mistakes had contributed to the misery".<ref name="mml311">Ferguson, p. 311</ref> United won the [[1992 Football League Cup Final|League Cup]] and [[1991 European Super Cup|European Super Cup]];<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024 |title=Manchester United football club match record: 1992 |url=https://www.11v11.com/teams/manchester-united/tab/matches/season/1992/}}</ref> both for the first time, but lost out on the [[1991–92 Football League#First Division 2|league title]] to rivals [[Leeds United F.C.|Leeds United]] after leading the table for much of the season. A shortage of goals and being held to draws by teams they had been expected to beat in the second half of the campaign had proved to be the undoing of a United side who had performed so well in the first half of the season. Ferguson felt that his failure to secure the signing of [[Mick Harford]] from [[Luton Town F.C.|Luton Town]] had cost United the league, and that he needed "an extra dimension" to the team if they were to win the league the following season.<ref name="mml320">Ferguson, p. 320</ref>

During the 1992 close season, Ferguson went on the hunt for a new striker. He first attempted to sign [[Alan Shearer]] from [[Southampton F.C.|Southampton]], but lost out to [[Blackburn Rovers F.C.|Blackburn Rovers]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Redmond |first=Robert |date=2018-09-23 |title=The exact reason why Alan Shearer didn't join Manchester United has been revealed |url=https://www.sportsjoe.ie/football/alan-shearer-man-united-137764 |access-date=2024-10-15 |website=SportsJOE.ie |language=en-US}}</ref> He also made at least one approach for the Sheffield Wednesday striker [[David Hirst (footballer)|David Hirst]], but manager [[Trevor Francis]] rejected all offers and the player stayed put. In the end, he paid £1&nbsp;million for 23-year-old [[Cambridge United F.C.|Cambridge United]] striker [[Dion Dublin]] – his only major signing of the summer.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Smith |first=George |date=2024-02-20 |title=I was told I wasn't allowed to join Utd - what I did next is my biggest regret |url=https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/manchester-united-transfer-ferguson-news-25402113 |access-date=2024-10-15 |website=Manchester Evening News |language=en}}</ref>

After a slow start to the [[1992–93 Manchester United F.C. season|1992–93 season]] by sitting 10th at the beginning of November, it looked as though United would miss out on the [[1992–93 FA Premier League|league]] title yet again. However, after the purchase of French striker [[Eric Cantona]] from Leeds for £1.2&nbsp;million, the future of Manchester United, and Ferguson's position as manager, began to look bright.<ref>{{Cite web |title=30 years ago: The phone calls that took Cantona to Man Utd |url=https://www.premierleague.com/news/59999 |access-date=2024-10-15 |website=www.premierleague.com |language=en}}</ref> Cantona formed a strong partnership with Mark Hughes. On 10 April 1993, United were second in the league when they faced Sheffield Wednesday at home. United were losing with four minutes to go before [[Steve Bruce]] equalised. After 7 minutes of injury time – which was subsequently dubbed "Fergie Time", alluding to extra minutes allegedly being granted to Ferguson's teams to get a goal – Bruce scored the 97th minute winner, with Ferguson [[goal celebration|celebrating the goal]] by running from his dugout on to the touch line, while assistant Brian Kidd ran on to the field.<ref name="Fergie Time">{{cite news |title=From the Vault: Manchester United, 'Fergie Time' and Steve Bruce's headers|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2013/apr/10/vault-steve-bruce-headers-manchester-united |access-date=15 October 2018 |work=The Guardian}}</ref> Seen as being a decisive victory, it put United top of the league, where they remained. Winning the title ended United's 26-year wait for a league title, and also made them the first [[List of English football champions#Premier League (1992–present)|Premier League champions]]. United finished with a ten-point margin over runners-up [[Aston Villa F.C.|Aston Villa]], whose 1–0 defeat at [[Oldham Athletic A.F.C.|Oldham Athletic]] on 2 May 1993 had given United the title. Ferguson was later voted [[LMA Manager of the Year|Manager of the Year]] by the [[League Managers' Association]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=1993 |title=1992/93: The season that changed everything |url=https://www.manutd.com/en/1992-1993-season |website=Manutd.com}}</ref>

====1993–95: Double win and loss====
{{blp unsourced section|date=March 2019}}
The [[1993–94 Manchester United F.C. season|1993–94 season]] brought more success. Ferguson added Nottingham Forest's 22-year-old midfielder [[Roy Keane]] to the ranks for a British record fee of £3.75&nbsp;million as a long term replacement for Bryan Robson, who was nearing the end of his career.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2009/apr/23/roy-keane-career-highs-lows |title=The highs and lows of Roy Keane's career |date=23 April 2009 |access-date=13 July 2011 |work=The Guardian |location=London}}</ref> United led the [[1993–94 Premier League]] table virtually from start to finish.<ref name=":8" /> Ferguson was the first winner of the [[Premier League Manager of the Month]] award, introduced for the start of the 1993–94 season, when he collected the accolade for August 1993.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ferguson's incredible stats as he enters Hall of Fame |url=https://www.premierleague.com/news/3123421 |access-date=2024-10-19 |website=www.premierleague.com |language=en}}</ref> Cantona was top scorer with 25 goals in all competitions despite being [[Foul (association football)|sent off]] twice in the space of five days in March 1994. United also reached the League Cup final but lost 3–1 to Aston Villa, managed by Ferguson's predecessor, Ron Atkinson. In the FA Cup final, Manchester United achieved an impressive 4–0 scoreline against [[Chelsea F.C.|Chelsea]], winning Ferguson his second [[Double (association football)#England|League and Cup Double]], following his Scottish Premier Division and Scottish Cup titles with Aberdeen in 1984–85, though the League Cup final defeat meant that he had not yet achieved a repeat of the treble that he had achieved with Aberdeen in 1983.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Squad of Manchester United 1993-94 Premier League {{!}} BDFutbol |url=https://www.bdfutbol.com/en/t/t1993-942019.html#google_vignette |access-date=2024-10-15 |website=www.bdfutbol.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Agenda {{!}} Lowry |url=https://thelowry.com/whats-on/manchester-united-double-winners/ |access-date=2024-10-15 |website=thelowry.com}}</ref><ref name=":8">{{Cite web |date=2020-03-25 |title=Manchester United 1993/94 – Stand Out Seasons |url=https://prostinternational.com/2020/03/25/manchester-united-1993-94-stand-out-seasons/ |access-date=2024-10-15 |language=en-GB}}</ref>

Ferguson made only one close-season signing, paying Blackburn £1.2&nbsp;million for [[David May (footballer)|David May]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=David May Manchester United Signed Champions League Picture |url=https://www.superstarspeakers.co.uk/product-page/david-may-manchester-united-signed-champions-league-picture |access-date=2024-10-19 |website=Superstar Speakers |language=en}}</ref> There were newspaper reports that Ferguson was also going to sign highly rated 21-year-old striker [[Chris Sutton]] from Norwich City, but the player headed for Blackburn instead.<ref name=":3" /> [[1994–95 Manchester United F.C. season|1994–95]] was a harder season for Ferguson. Cantona assaulted a Crystal Palace supporter in a game at [[Selhurst Park]], and it seemed likely he would leave English football. An eight-month ban saw Cantona miss the final four months of the season. He also received a 14-day prison sentence for the offence but the sentence was quashed on appeal and replaced by a 120-hour community service order.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Smyth |first=Rob |date=2020-01-25 |title=Eric Cantona and 'the hooligan': the impact of the kung-fu kick 25 years on |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2020/jan/25/eric-cantona-kung-fu-kick-hooligan-25-years-later |access-date=2024-10-15 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref> United paid a British record fee of £7&nbsp;million for Newcastle United's prolific striker [[Andy Cole]], with young winger [[Keith Gillespie]] heading to the north-east in exchange.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The inside story of the transfer: When Newcastle sold Andy Cole to Man United{{!}} All Football |url=https://m.allfootballapp.com/news/All/The-inside-story-of-the-transfer-When-Newcastle-sold-Andy-Cole-to-Man-United/2176485 |access-date=2024-10-15 |website=AllfootballOfficial |language=en}}</ref> The season also saw the breakthrough of young players [[Gary Neville]], [[Nicky Butt]] and [[Paul Scholes]], who provided excellent cover for the long periods that United were left without some of their more experienced stars. However, the championship slipped out of Manchester United's grasp as they drew 1–1 with [[West Ham United F.C.|West Ham United]] on the final day of the season, when a win would have given them a third successive league title. United also lost the [[1995 FA Cup Final|FA Cup final]] in a 1–0 defeat by Everton.<ref>{{Cite web |title=1994-1995 Manchester United Stats, Premier League |url=https://fbref.com/en/squads/19538871/1994-1995/Manchester-United-Stats |access-date=2024-10-15 |website=FBref.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Man Utd v Man City, 1994/95 {{!}} Premier League |url=https://www.premierleague.com/match/1076 |access-date=2024-10-15 |website=www.premierleague.com |language=en}}</ref>

====1995–98====
Ferguson was heavily criticised in the summer of 1995 when three of United's star players were allowed to leave and replacements were not bought. First Paul Ince moved to [[Inter Milan|Internazionale]] of Italy for £7.5&nbsp;million, long-serving striker Mark Hughes was sold to Chelsea in a £1.5&nbsp;million deal, and Andrei Kanchelskis was sold to Everton.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bradburn |first=Laura |date=2017-03-14 |title=How Paul Ince overcame oppression to become an Inter great - |url=https://www.gentlemanultra.com/2017/03/14/how-paul-ince-overcame-oppression-to-become-an-inter-great/ |access-date=2024-10-15 |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Harrison |first=Matt |date=2012-04-29 |title=A Bull in a China Shop: Mark Hughes and Barcelona |url=https://lostboyos.wordpress.com/2012/04/29/a-bull-in-a-china-shop-mark-hughes-and-barcelona/ |access-date=2024-10-15 |website=Lost Boyos |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Squires |first=Theo |date=2020-04-20 |title=Andrei Kanchelskis explains why Everton transfer made Fergie apologise |url=https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/andrei-kanchelskis-explains-everton-transfer-18118670 |access-date=2024-10-15 |website=Liverpool Echo |language=en}}</ref> Ferguson felt that United had a number of young players who were ready to play in the first team. The youngsters, who would be known as "Fergie's Fledglings", included Gary Neville, [[Phil Neville]], [[David Beckham]], Paul Scholes and Nicky Butt, who would all go on to be important members of the team.<ref name=":4" /><ref name=":5" /> And so the [[1995–96 Manchester United F.C. season|1995–96 season]] began without a major signing, at a time when the likes of Arsenal, Liverpool and Newcastle were making the headlines with big-money signings.<ref>{{Cite web |title=1995/1996 Premier League's Transfers Table: all official deals |url=https://www.footballdatabase.eu/en/competition/transfers/166-premier_league/1995-1996 |access-date=2024-10-15 |website=footballdatabase.eu}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2010 |title=Premier League Transfers 1995 - Winter |url=https://tribuna.com/en/league/epl/transfers/1995-winter/}}</ref>

A youthful United team lost 3–1 in their opening league game of the 1995–96 season, against Aston Villa.<ref>{{cite news |title=Ferguson watches seeds of doubt grow |first=Keith |last=Pike |page=23 |newspaper=The Times |location=London |date=21 August 1995}}</ref> On ''[[Match of the Day]]'', pundit [[Alan Hansen]] criticised their performance, ending his analysis with the words, "You can't win anything with kids."<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/15527986 |work=BBC Sport |first=Alan |last=Hansen |title=Sir Alex Ferguson 25 years: 'You can't win anything with kids' |date=2 November 2011|access-date=9 May 2013}}</ref> United won their next five matches and were boosted by the return of Cantona, who made his comeback against Liverpool in October 1995. For much of the season, the team trailed league leaders Newcastle and found themselves ten points behind by Christmas; this later was narrowed to seven points after defeating them on 27 December 1995.<ref name=":6">{{Cite web |title=1995/96 Season Review |url=https://www.premierleague.com/history/season-reviews/4/report |access-date=2024-10-15 |website=www.premierleague.com}}</ref> The gap increased to 12 points, but a series of wins, coupled with Newcastle dropping points, meant by late March, United moved to the top of the table. In a televised outburst after his team's win against Leeds, Newcastle manager [[Kevin Keegan]] responded angrily to Ferguson's comments: "We're still fighting for this title, and he's got to go to Middlesbrough... I would love it if we beat them, love it."<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2009/jan/10/sir-alex-ferguson-premierleague |title=Three Premier League managers whom Fergie made flip – and one rival who bit back |newspaper=The Guardian |location=London |date=10 January 2009 |access-date=9 May 2013}}</ref> A win against [[Middlesbrough F.C.|Middlesbrough]] on the final day sealed the title for United and the team beat Liverpool by a goal to nil to win the [[1996 FA Cup Final]]; this was their second double in three years. A week after the cup final, Ferguson agreed a four-year contract to remain at United.<ref>{{cite news |title=Ferguson accepts four-year contract |first=David |last=Maddock |page=48 |newspaper=The Times |location=London |date=17 May 1996}}</ref><ref name=":6" />

United started the following season thrashing the previous year's league runners-up Newcastle 4-0 in the [[1996 FA Charity Shield|Charity Shield]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Morton |first=David |date=2021 |title=Newcastle United at Wembley 25 years ago - an awful game, but a massive day out for the fans |url=https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/history/newcastle-united-wembley-25-years-21274151#}}</ref> They went on to win their fourth league title in five seasons at the end of the [[1996–97 Manchester United F.C. season|1996–97 campaign]], made easier by the fact that their rivals were "not up to the job".<ref>{{cite news |title=Amazing how other teams keep letting United win |first=Jim |last=White |page=30 |newspaper=The Guardian |location=London |date=23 April 1997}}</ref> Under Ferguson, the team made a better go in the Champions League and reached the semi-final stage for the first time in 28 years.<ref>{{cite news |title=United take a stroll into semi-finals |first=David |last=Lacey |page=26 |newspaper=The Guardian |location=London |date=20 March 1997}}</ref> United did not advance any further, after defeat by [[Borussia Dortmund]] of Germany.<ref>{{cite news |title=Ricken wrecks United's dream |first=David |last=Lacey |page=28 |newspaper=The Guardian |location=London |date=24 April 1997}}</ref> Norwegian signings [[Ole Gunnar Solskjær]] and [[Ronny Johnsen]] were the notable additions to the squad, with the former ending the season as the club's top goalscorer. In May 1997, Cantona informed Ferguson of his decision to retire from football.<ref name="barc">Barclay, pp. 301–2</ref> The player "felt exploited by United's merchandising department" and questioned the ambition of the club, reasons which Ferguson understood.<ref name="barc"/> Striker [[Teddy Sheringham]] was signed as Cantona's replacement from Tottenham Hotspur, with Blackburn defender [[Henning Berg]] the other significant purchase that summer.<ref>{{cite news |title=Sheringham handed Cantona's crown |first=Peter |last=Ball |page=52 |newspaper=The Times |location=London |date=28 June 1997}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Berg signs up to improve United's case for defence |first=David |last=Maddock |page=44 |newspaper=The Times |location=London |date=12 August 1997}}</ref> In the close season, United appointed Keane as their new captain. Ferguson described him as "the best all-round player in the game" after the team's [[1997 FA Charity Shield]] win and believed Keane had "all the right ingredients" to succeed from Cantona.<ref>{{cite news |title=Captain Keane takes over the helm |first=Russell |last=Kempson |page=23 |newspaper=The Times |location=London |date=4 August 1997}}</ref>

Defeat by Leeds United in September 1997 was the team's first league loss in seven months; Keane during the match injured himself and was subsequently ruled out for the rest of the season with ligament damage.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football-united-fail-leeds-intelligence-test-1241841.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220506/https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football-united-fail-leeds-intelligence-test-1241841.html |archive-date=6 May 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=United fail Leeds' intelligence test|work=The Independent |location=London |last=Shaw|first=Phil|date=29 September 1997 |access-date=29 July 2009}}{{cbignore}}</ref> Goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel was placed as captain in his absence. By November, United opened up a four-point lead in the league, which prompted talk of whether any team could catch them.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football-all-red-and-all-conquering-1293041.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220506/https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football-all-red-and-all-conquering-1293041.html |archive-date=6 May 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=All red and all conquering |newspaper=The Independent on Sunday |last=Ridley |first=Ian |location=London |date=9 November 1997 |access-date=28 May 2012}}{{cbignore}}</ref> After Arsenal's defeat of United in the same month, Ferguson acknowledged a one-horse race was "not good for the game" and admitted his opponents "...&nbsp;deserved to win on their second-half performance".<ref>{{cite news |title=Platt stalls United's march |first=David |last=Lacey |page=19 |newspaper=The Guardian |location=London |date=10 November 1997 }}</ref> The fallibilities of Liverpool, Chelsea and Blackburn as league challengers allowed United during the winter to extend their lead by 11 points, albeit with Arsenal having games-in-hand.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football-now-united-can-focus-on-europe-1147805.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220506/https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football-now-united-can-focus-on-europe-1147805.html |archive-date=6 May 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=Now United can focus on Europe |work=The Independent |location=London |last=Moore |first=Glenn|date=2 March 1998 |access-date=29 July 2009 }}{{cbignore}}</ref> This was enough for Manchester bookmaker [[Betfred|Fred Done]] to pay out on punters who backed the champions retaining their title.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football-ferguson-set-to-call-on-uniteds-artisan-aspect-1148111.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220506/https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football-ferguson-set-to-call-on-uniteds-artisan-aspect-1148111.html |archive-date=6 May 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=Ferguson set to call on United's artisan aspect |work=The Independent |location=London |last=Moore |first=Glenn |date=3 March 1998 |access-date=3 August 2009}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

Arsenal collected maximum points, sealing the title with a win against Everton on 3 May 1998.<ref>{{Cite web |title=1997-1998 Manchester United Stats, Premier League |url=https://fbref.com/en/squads/19538871/1997-1998/Manchester-United-Stats |access-date=2024-10-19 |website=FBref.com |language=en}}</ref> Ferguson congratulated his opponent [[Arsène Wenger]], who in his first full season at the club, later completed the double: "I think it's good for my young players to lose on this occasion. I wholeheartedly acknowledge what Arsenal achieved between Christmas and the end of the season."<ref>{{cite news |title=Wenger leading English game towards exit from insularity |first=Rob |last=Hughes |page=31 |newspaper=The Times |location=London |date=18 May 1998}}</ref> United straight after paid £10.75&nbsp;million for [[PSV Eindhoven|PSV]] defender [[Jaap Stam]], a new club record fee.<ref>{{cite news |title=Stam's arrival relieves the gloom for United |first=David |last=Maddock |page=41 |newspaper=The Times |location=London |date=6 May 1998}}</ref> Ferguson wanted to strengthen the squad's attacking options and identified Aston Villa's [[Dwight Yorke]] as his main target.<ref>{{cite news |title=Yorke on the brink of move to Old Trafford |page=44 |newspaper=The Times |location=London |date=24 July 1998}}</ref> Attempts to sign Yorke were rebuffed at first, before Ferguson persuaded Edwards to increase United's initial offer of £10&nbsp;million.<ref name="yorke">{{cite news |title=United smash record for Yorke |first1=Stephen |last1=Wood |first2=Russell |last2=Kempson |page=48 |newspaper=The Times |location=London |date=21 August 1998}}</ref> A £12.6&nbsp;million deal was reached a week into the league campaign; Yorke signed minutes before the deadline to submit United's squad for the Champions League.<ref name="yorke"/>

====1998–99: Treble success====
United opened the [[1998–99 Manchester United F.C. season|1998–99 season]] with a 3–0 loss to Arsenal in the [[1998 FA Charity Shield]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Wenger's all-stars write an epitaph to United |first=David |last=Lacey |page=21 |newspaper=The Guardian |location=London |date=10 August 1998}}</ref> The beating did not concern Ferguson, though he described his team's defeat by Arsenal in September 1998 as "a lot less tolerable". In December 1998, Kidd left his role as assistant to become the manager of Blackburn Rovers. Ferguson instructed [[Eric Harrison]] and [[Les Kershaw]] to find suitable replacements, "in terms of coaching ability and work ethic." Both recommended [[Steve McClaren]], the assistant to [[Jim Smith (footballer, born 1940)|Jim Smith]] at [[Derby County F.C.|Derby County]]. McClaren was Ferguson's initial choice and appointed him in February 1999. His first game as assistant was [[Nottingham Forest F.C. 1–8 Manchester United F.C.|United's 8–1 victory over Nottingham Forest]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Atkinson left eightsome reeling after United rout |first=Colin |last=Stewart |page=31 |newspaper=The Scotsman |location=Edinburgh |date=8 February 1999}}</ref>

Ferguson felt United's bid to regain the Premier League began indifferently because of their commitments to other competitions. He was willing to "pay for the progress" made in the Champions League; the team finished second in their Champions League "group of death", behind Bayern Munich and ahead of Barcelona. United's win against Liverpool in the FA Cup fourth round was a portent for the remainder of the season. A goal down after three minutes, the team equalised in the 86th minute and scored the winning goal through Solskjær in stoppage time.<ref>{{cite news |title=United pull off Cup smash-and-grab |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sport/football/261973.stm |work=BBC News |date=24 January 1999 |access-date=4 January 2014}}</ref> On reflection, Ferguson said it was "a demonstration of the morale that was to be every bit as vital as rich skill in the five months that lay ahead of United".<ref name="mdf">{{cite news |title='The celebrations begun by that goal will never stop |first=Oliver |last=Holt |pages=36–37 |newspaper=The Times |location=London |date=7 August 1999}}</ref>

[[File:PalmaresManU.jpg|thumb|upright|Under Ferguson, United acclaimed a treble of trophies in the 1998–99 season.]]
In the final weeks of the league season, Arsenal emerged as a creditable challenger to United. Both clubs were also paired together in the semi-final of the FA Cup, decided by a replay as the original game finished goalless.<ref name=":9" /> Keane was sent off in the second half and United conceded a penalty late into the match with the score 1–1. [[Dennis Bergkamp]]'s effort was saved by Peter Schmeichel.<ref name="semi">{{cite news |title=Giggs wonder goal is final thrill |first=Oliver |last=Holt |page=52 |newspaper=The Times |location=London |date=15 April 1999}}</ref> Ferguson hoped his team "could at least take it to a penalty shoot-out", but instead the match was settled in extra time: Giggs ran the length of the pitch and evaded several Arsenal players to score the winning goal.<ref name="mdf"/> United went on to beat Newcastle United in the [[1999 FA Cup Final|FA Cup final]] and completed the double – a week earlier the team had regained the [[1998–99 FA Premier League|Premiership]] title.<ref name="mdf"/>

United's progression in the Champions League was promising compared to previous seasons. The team eliminated Inter Milan at the quarter-final stage and faced [[Juventus FC|Juventus]] in the last four of the competition.<ref name=":9" /> A late goal scored by Giggs in the first leg earned the team a 1–1 draw, but in spite of conceding an away goal, Ferguson was adamant of United's chances of reaching the final: "...&nbsp;something tells me we are going to win. The nature of our club is that we torture ourselves so much that the only way to get relief is by winning over there."<ref>{{cite news |title=Giggs throws United a lifeline |first=Oliver |last=Holt |page=52 |newspaper=The Times |location=London |date=8 April 1999}}</ref> At the [[Stadio delle Alpi]], striker [[Filippo Inzaghi]] scored twice to put Juventus 3–1 up on aggregate.<ref name="juv">{{cite news |title=Heroic United have final word |first=Oliver |last=Holt |page=56 |newspaper=The Times |location=London |date=22 April 1999}}</ref> Keane headed in a Beckham cross to halve the deficit just before half-time, but was later shown a yellow card for a foul on [[Edgar Davids]], which prevented him from playing in the final.<ref name="juv"/> Yorke equalised, before Cole added a third to win the match outright.<ref name="juv"/> Keane's performance merited praise from Ferguson:
{{blockquote|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 die of exhaustion than lose, he inspired all around him. I felt it was an honour to be associated with such a player.<ref name="mdf"/>}}

Days after the FA Cup final, United travelled to Barcelona, the setting for the [[1999 UEFA Champions League Final|UEFA Champions League final]]. Ferguson contemplated his team selection against Bayern Munich; suspensions to Scholes and Keane ruled both players out of the match.<ref name="mdf"/> Beckham was positioned in centre midfield, while Giggs moved to the right wing and Blomqvist started on the left – changes the manager felt would prevent the opposition from playing narrow.<ref name="mdf"/> United conceded in the first six minutes of the final, from a [[Mario Basler]]'s free kick. Sheringham, who came on for Blomqvist, equalised from a corner in the first minute of additional time. McClaren told Ferguson to get the team organised for extra time, to which he replied, "Steve, this game isn't finished."<ref name="mdf"/> Three minutes into added time, Solskjær scored the winner, which for United completed an unprecedented [[Treble (association football)|treble]]. Ferguson, interviewed moments after, said, "I can't believe it. Football, bloody hell. But they never gave in and that's what won it."<ref name=":11" /> He and Schmeichel, the stand-in captain, jointly lifted the cup during the trophy presentation.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Meehan |first=Abbie |date=2024-10-03 |title='I'm a Man Utd Treble winner – but Sir Alex Ferguson almost sacked me' |url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/peter-schmeichel-man-united-ferguson-33812465 |access-date=2024-10-20 |website=The Mirror |language=en}}</ref>

A crowd of over 500,000 people<ref name=":10" /> turned out on the streets of Manchester to greet the players, who paraded through the city in an open-top bus.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1999/05/28/sports/plus-soccer-manchester-united-half-million-fans-greet-winning-club.html |newspaper=The New York Times |title=Manchester United; Half-Million Fans Greet Winning Club |date=28 May 1999 |access-date=5 January 2014}}</ref> As European champions, United were invited to play in the [[Intercontinental Cup (football)|Intercontinental Cup]]. The club also entered the inaugural [[FIFA Club World Cup|Club World Championship]], which was held in Brazil. This brought about a potential [[fixture congestion]] so United accepted the FA's recommendation of withdrawing from the FA Cup, the first holders to do so.<ref>{{cite news |title=United pull out of FA Cup |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sport/football/fa_carling_premiership/381662.stm |work=BBC News |date=30 August 1999 |access-date=8 August 2013}}</ref> In later years, Ferguson elaborated on the club's decision: "We did it to help England's World Cup bid. That was the political situation. I regretted it because we got nothing but stick and terrible criticism for not being in the FA Cup when really, it wasn't our fault."<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/manchester-united/6713077/Sir-Alex-Ferguson-Manchester-Uniteds-1999-FA-Cup-withdrawal-was-a-mistake.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220110/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/manchester-united/6713077/Sir-Alex-Ferguson-Manchester-Uniteds-1999-FA-Cup-withdrawal-was-a-mistake.html |archive-date=10 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|newspaper=The Daily Telegraph |title=Sir Alex Ferguson: Manchester United's 1999 FA Cup withdrawal was a mistake |date=3 December 2009 |access-date=16 May 2011 |location=London}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

====1999–2002: Title hat-trick, retirement plan====
Schmeichel's decision to leave United after eight seasons prompted Ferguson to bring in replacements: [[Mark Bosnich]] from Aston Villa and Italian [[Massimo Taibi]]. The latter featured in four matches, the last of which a 5–0 defeat at Chelsea in October 1999; he was not selected again by Ferguson. United ended the [[1999–2000 Manchester United F.C. season|1999–2000]] league season as champions, with just three defeats and a record points margin of 18.<ref>{{cite news |title=United fall short of elusive century |first=Phil |last=Shaw |page=A2 |newspaper=The Independent |location=London |date=15 May 2000}}</ref> In December 1999, the club beat [[Sociedade Esportiva Palmeiras|Palmeiras]] in [[Tokyo]] to win the Intercontinental Cup,<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sport/football/543368.stm |title=Man Utd crowned world champions |date=30 November 1999 |access-date=10 April 2014 |publisher=BBC}}</ref> but a month later exited at the group stage of the [[2000 FIFA Club World Championship|inaugural Club World Championship]],<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/special_report/1999/12/99/world_club_championship/manchester_united/595844.stm |title=Man Utd's world title bid demolished |date=8 January 2000 |access-date=10 April 2014 |publisher=BBC |archive-date=4 March 2003 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030304084426/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/special_report/1999/12/99/world_club_championship/manchester_united/595844.stm |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/special_report/1999/12/99/world_club_championship/599462.stm |title=Fortune fails to save Man Utd  |date=11 January 2000 |access-date=10 April 2014 |publisher=BBC}}</ref> although Ferguson stated the tournament was "fantastic".<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/special_report/1999/12/99/world_club_championship/manchester_united/595934.stm |title=No regrets for Ferguson |access-date=10 April 2014 |publisher=BBC |archive-date=6 March 2003 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030306041422/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/special_report/1999/12/99/world_club_championship/manchester_united/595934.stm |url-status=dead }}</ref> United failed to retain the Champions League, as they lost in the quarter-final stage to eventual winners Real Madrid.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2000/apr/19/championsleague.sport |title=Man Utd 2 Real Madrid 3  |date=19 April 2000 |access-date=10 April 2014 |work=The Guardian}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sport/football/champions_league/719839.stm |title=Man Utd wrecked by Real  |date=19 April 2000 |access-date=10 April 2014 |publisher=BBC}}</ref> Ferguson sought to strengthen his squad and signed [[Fabien Barthez]] from Monaco for £7.8&nbsp;million.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/euro2000/teams/france/771367.stm |work=BBC Sport |title=Man Utd confirm Barthez signing |date=31 May 2000 |access-date=9 May 2013}}</ref> He also monitored the progress of [[Ruud van Nistelrooy]], "a striker of the highest calibre".<ref name="van">{{cite news |title=How a phone call killed Van Nistelrooy deal |first=Alex |last=Ferguson |page=30 |newspaper=The Times |location=London |date=25 July 2000}}</ref> He met the player and his agent in Manchester to discuss formalities and was informed of Van Nistelrooy's troubled right knee.<ref name="van"/> Ferguson was not agitated by this; he recalled from experience a similar niggle that did not stop his playing career.<ref name="van"/> Van Nistelrooy, however, failed his medical, but Ferguson reassured him that "we might yet find a way out of the nightmare".<ref name="van"/> The deal was resurrected in April 2001 for a British record transfer fee of £19&nbsp;million.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/m/man_utd/1292248.stm |work=BBC Sport |title=Man Utd clinch Van Nistelrooy deal |date=23 April 2001 |access-date=9 May 2013}}</ref>

In the [[2000–01 Manchester United F.C. season|2000–01 season]], United retained the league title for a third season, becoming only the fourth side in history to do so. The achievement was overshadowed by reports of a rift between the club's board and Ferguson.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2001/may/21/match.sport9 |title=After the United fallout, Ferguson faces up to job and a half |newspaper=The Guardian |location=London |first=Daniel |last=Taylor |date=21 May 2001 |access-date=9 May 2013}}</ref> He told the club's television channel [[MUTV (Manchester United F.C.)|MUTV]] that he was prepared to sever all ties with the club, once his contract ended the following year: "The decision has been taken. I'm going to leave the club. I'm disappointed with what has happened because I was hoping something would be sorted out. It hasn't happened as I thought it would and that's all there is to it."<ref>{{cite news |title=Ferguson cuts Manchester United links |first=Oliver |last=Kay |page=1 |newspaper=The Times |location=London |date=19 May 2001}}</ref> Both parties eventually reached a compromise which pleased Ferguson: "I am delighted we've settled this. When you have been at the club as long as I have it gets in your blood."<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2001/may/21/match.sport9 |title=Ferguson is reunited with Old Trafford board |newspaper=The Herald |location=Glasgow |first=Ken |last=Gaunt |date=14 July 2001|access-date=9 May 2013}}</ref> Age was one of the factors in Ferguson's decision to retire: reaching 60 acted as a "psychological barrier ... It changed my sense of my own fitness, my health."<ref>{{Cite web |title=SIR ALEX FERGUSON LEGACY |url=https://www.hilmanbasri.com/sir-alex-ferguson |access-date=2024-10-20 |website=hilmanbasri-dot-com |language=en}}</ref>

In May 2001, McClaren left to become Middlesbrough manager,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/manchester-united/3007226/McClaren-moves-into-the-Riverside.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220110/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/manchester-united/3007226/McClaren-moves-into-the-Riverside.html |archive-date=10 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=McClaren moves into the Riverside |date=12 July 2001 |access-date=10 April 2014 |work=The Telegraph}}{{cbignore}}</ref> with [[Jimmy Ryan (footballer, born 1945)|Jimmy Ryan]] being named assistant to Ferguson for the duration of the campaign.<ref>{{cite news |title=Cantona returns to nurture club's youth |first=Oliver |last=Kay |page=25 |newspaper=The Times |location=London |date=28 May 2001}}</ref> United once more broke their transfer record with the purchase of [[Juan Sebastián Verón]] from [[S.S. Lazio|Lazio]] for a reported £28.1&nbsp;million.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/manchester-united/3008844/United-complete-28.1m-Veron-deal.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220110/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/manchester-united/3008844/United-complete-28.1m-Veron-deal.html |archive-date=10 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=Ferguson is reunited with Old Trafford board |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph |location=London |date=12 July 2001 |access-date=9 May 2013}}{{cbignore}}</ref> In August 2001, Stam was transferred to Lazio for £16&nbsp;million.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/manchester-united/3011533/Ferguson-writes-off-Stam-for-16.4m.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220110/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/manchester-united/3011533/Ferguson-writes-off-Stam-for-16.4m.html |archive-date=10 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=Ferguson writes off Stam for £16.4m |date=26 August 2001 |access-date=10 April 2014 |work=The Telegraph}}{{cbignore}}</ref> The player reportedly moved because of claims in his autobiography ''Head to Head''; Stam implied that Ferguson illegally contacted him about a move to Manchester United, before informing PSV.<ref name="stam">{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/m/man_utd/1510077.stm |work=BBC Sport |title=Stam's United dream dies |date=26 August 2001 |access-date=9 May 2013}}</ref> Ferguson said he sold the player because the club needed to cut back on its "massive wage bill".<ref name="blanc">{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/m/man_utd/1521489.stm |work=BBC Sport |title=Stam move 'down to cash' |date=2 September 2001 |access-date=9 May 2013}}</ref> He replaced the defender with [[Laurent Blanc]], a long sought-after target.<ref name="blanc"/> In an interview with [[Alastair Campbell]] eight years after, Ferguson described his biggest mistake at the club was "letting go of Jaap Stam. No question".<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/manchester-united/5014843/Manchester-United-manager-Sir-Alex-Ferguson-doesnt-rate-Rafa-Benitez.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220110/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/manchester-united/5014843/Manchester-United-manager-Sir-Alex-Ferguson-doesnt-rate-Rafa-Benitez.html |archive-date=10 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph |title=Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson doesn't rate Rafa Benitez |first=Steve |last=Wilson |date=19 March 2009 |access-date=9 May 2013 |location=London}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

The club endured a poor first half to the season and languished in ninth position after a home defeat by West Ham in December 2001.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2001/dec/10/match.sport1 |newspaper=The Guardian |title=United undone by Ferguson's failing |first=Richard |last=Williams |date=10 December 2001 |access-date=9 May 2013 |location=London}}</ref> On the night of Christmas Day, Ferguson shelved his retirement plan.{{citation needed|date=March 2019}} His family convinced him to remain in charge of United and Ferguson informed Watkins of his u-turn the following day.{{citation needed|date=March 2019}}

Once Ferguson publicised his decision to remain in February 2002,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/2430032/Fergusons-U-turn-delights-United.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220110/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/2430032/Fergusons-U-turn-delights-United.html |archive-date=10 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=Ferguson's U-turn delights United |first=Henry |last=Winter |work=The Daily Telegraph |date=5 February 2002 |access-date=1 March 2019}}{{cbignore}}</ref> United's form improved. The team won 13 out of 15 matches, though finished third in the league behind Arsenal and Liverpool. United were unsuccessful in Europe, losing their Champions League semi-final on away goals to [[Bayer 04 Leverkusen|Bayer Leverkusen]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/champions_league/1957473.stm |title=Draw puts Man Utd out |date=30 April 2002 |access-date=10 April 2014 |publisher=BBC}}</ref> Early exits from the League Cup and FA Cup meant they ended the season trophyless. Ferguson himself said that the decision to announce his retirement had resulted in a negative effect on the players and on his ability to impose discipline.<ref>{{cite news|title=Sir Alex Ferguson: 'The notion of a retirement age is anathema to me'|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2013/may/08/alex-ferguson-retirement-rumours|newspaper=The Guardian|location=London|access-date=8 May 2013|date=7 May 2013}}</ref>

====2002–2006: Rebuilding and transition====
In June 2002, Ferguson appointed [[Carlos Queiroz]] as his new assistant.<ref>{{cite news |title=United import help for Ferguson in quest to regain title |first=Oliver |last=Kay |page=56 |newspaper=The Times |location=London |date=7 June 2002}}</ref> The recommendation came from [[Andy Roxburgh]], at a time when United began scouting for southern-hemisphere footballers and wanted a multilingual coach. Ferguson was so impressed with Queiroz after their first meeting, he offered him the job "right away". In July 2002, United paid £29.3 million for Leeds United defender [[Rio Ferdinand]]. The club broke the British transfer record once more, though this did not concern Ferguson: "We have the right to try and improve ourselves and there's nothing wrong with that."<ref>{{cite news |title=Man Utd seal Rio deal |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/2143600.stm |work=BBC Sport |date=22 July 2002 |access-date=6 January 2014}}</ref>

[[File:C ronaldo cropped.png|thumb|upright|United signed [[Cristiano Ronaldo]] in August 2003.]]
The [[2002–03 Manchester United F.C. season|2002–03 season]] began rather poorly for United; the club made their worst start to a league campaign in 13 years.<ref>{{cite news |first=Howard |last=Nurse |title=Ferguson's best yet |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/m/man_utd/2984545.stm |work=BBC Sport |date=4 May 2003 |access-date=6 January 2014}}</ref> In a column for ''[[The Daily Telegraph]]'', Hansen said Ferguson "will recognise this difficult start to the season for what it is: the greatest challenge of his career".<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/manchester-united/3034550/Ferguson-faces-greatest-challenge-of-his-career.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220110/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/manchester-united/3034550/Ferguson-faces-greatest-challenge-of-his-career.html |archive-date=10 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=Ferguson faces greatest challenge of his career |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph |location=London |date=16 September 2002 |access-date=6 January 2014 |first=Alan |last=Hansen}}{{cbignore}}</ref> Ferguson's response was typically bullish:
{{blockquote|I don't get paid to panic. We have had plenty of stuttering starts. My greatest challenge is not what's happening at the moment. My greatest challenge was knocking Liverpool right off their fucking perch. And you can print that.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2002/sep/28/newsstory.sport |title=Ferguson takes the poison and insists United will prosper |newspaper=The Guardian |location=London |date=28 September 2002 |access-date=6 January 2014 |first=Michael |last=Walker}}</ref>}}

Several players were sent away for surgery in this period, a "minor gamble" Ferguson took in the hope they would return energised.<ref name=":12" /> Defeats, such as the one to Manchester City at Maine Road in November 2002, forced United to change their playing style. The team "moved the ball forward more and quicker rather than concentrating on possession ratios," and the coaching staff tried accommodating [[Diego Forlán]] with Ruud van Nistelrooy, before settling with Paul Scholes. United's league form improved as the season went on despite defeat by Liverpool in the [[2003 Football League Cup Final]] and they overhauled Arsenal to win the Premier League for an eighth time in May 2003.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/2992107.stm |title=Ten weeks that turned the title |work=BBC Sport |date=4 May 2003 |access-date=6 January 2014 |last=Fletcher |first=Paul}}</ref> The team were eliminated in the Champions League quarter-final to Real Madrid over two legs; Ferguson described the second match, a 4–3 win at Old Trafford as "epic".{{citation needed|date=March 2019}}

After a season at United, Queiroz left to manage Real Madrid in June 2003.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/3018788.stm |title=Queiroz joins Real |work=BBC Sport |date=25 June 2003 |access-date=6 January 2014}}</ref> Ferguson anticipated his deputy would return – "Three months later, he was wanting to quit Madrid," and for that reason did not appoint a replacement. In the summer, David Beckham also moved to Real Madrid, while Juan Sebastián Verón joined Chelsea.<ref name=":14" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-10-20 |title=Argentina legend admits regret over joining Chelsea from Manchester United in 2023 |url=https://onefootball.com/en/news/argentina-legend-admits-regret-over-joining-chelsea-from-manchester-united-in-2023-38685910 |access-date=2024-10-21 |website=OneFootball |language=en}}</ref> United in the meantime rebuilt their team: [[Tim Howard]] replaced Barthez in goal and [[José Kléberson|Kléberson]], [[Eric Djemba-Djemba]] and [[Cristiano Ronaldo]] came in to bolster the squad.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Evans |first=Casey |date=2022-10-21 |title=Tim Howard recalls fashion faux pax when signing for Manchester United |url=https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/tim-howard-ferguson-manchester-united-25327064 |access-date=2024-10-21 |website=Manchester Evening News |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=2003-08-12 |title=Kleberson signs for Man Utd |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/m/man_utd/3142903.stm |access-date=2024-10-21 |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Bradfield |first=Max |date=2024 |title='I Signed for Man Utd the Same Summer as Cristiano Ronaldo - Then I Went Bankrupt' |url=https://www.givemesport.com/manchester-utd-summer-sign-cristiano-ronaldo-bankrupt-eric-djemba-djemba/}}</ref> [[Ronaldinho]] might have also joined "had he not said yes, then no, to our offer".<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-01-05 |title=Ronaldinho was '48 hours from joining Man United' but call changed his mind |url=https://talksport.com/football/917545/ronaldinho-man-utd-transfer/ |access-date=2024-10-21 |website=talkSPORT |language=en-gb }}</ref>

In December 2003, Rio Ferdinand was banned from playing football for eight months after he failed to present himself at a drugs test.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/3333091.stm |title=Ferdinand banned for eight months |work=BBC Sport |date=19 December 2003 |access-date=6 January 2014}}</ref> Ferguson in his autobiography ten years later blamed the drug testers, who "...didn't do their job. They didn't go looking for Rio". The absence of Ferdinand hampered United's defence of the Premier League in the [[2003–04 Manchester United F.C. season|2003–04 season]]; the team finished third behind Arsenal's "[[The Invincibles (football)|Invincibles]]" and Chelsea. In Europe, they experienced defeat at the hands of eventual winners [[FC Porto|Porto]]. Ferguson felt it was possible "not because of the performance of the players but because of the referee", who disallowed a legitimate Scholes goal that would have been enough to progress. United ended the campaign as FA Cup winners, beating [[Millwall F.C.|Millwall]] 3–0 in the [[2004 FA Cup Final|2004 final]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2004/may/24/match.manchesterunited |title=United triumph by taking the job seriously |first=Kevin |last=McCarra |newspaper=The Guardian |location=London |date=24 May 2004 |access-date=24 May 2004}}</ref>

At the beginning of the [[2004–05 Manchester United F.C. season|2004–05 season]], teenage striker [[Wayne Rooney]] (the world's most expensive teenager at more than £20&nbsp;million) and Argentine defender [[Gabriel Heinze]] joined United while Cristiano Ronaldo continued where he had left off the previous season by putting in more match-winning performances.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Rice |first=Simon |date=2017 |title=Wayne Rooney: What they said when he signed for Manchester United in 2004 |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/news/what-they-said-when-rooney-signed-for-manchester-united-10-years-ago-9700594.html}}</ref> But the lack of a striker after Ruud van Nistelrooy spent most of the season injured saw the club finish third for the third time in four seasons. In the [[2004–05 FA Cup]], they lost on [[Penalty shoot-out (association football)|penalties]] to Arsenal in the final. A second-round exit from the Champions League at the hands of Milan and a semi-final exit from the League Cup at the hands of eventual winners Chelsea (who also clinched the Premier League title) meant that 2004–05 was a rare instance of a trophyless season for United. During the season, Ferguson managed his 1,000th game in charge of United in a 2–1 home win against [[Olympique Lyonnais|Lyon]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2004/nov/23/newsstory.sport16 |title=Man Utd 2 – 1 Lyon |date=23 November 2004 |access-date=22 March 2014 |work=The Guardian}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/europe/4032819.stm |title=Man Utd 2–1 Lyon |date=23 November 2004 |access-date=22 March 2014 |publisher=BBC}}</ref>

Ferguson's preparations for the [[2005–06 Manchester United F.C. season|2005–06 season]] were disrupted by a high-profile dispute with major shareholder [[John Magnier]], over the ownership of the racehorse [[Rock of Gibraltar (horse)|Rock of Gibraltar]]. When Magnier and business partner [[J. P. McManus]] agreed to sell their shares to American business tycoon [[Malcolm Glazer]], it cleared the way for Glazer to acquire full control of the club. This sparked violent protests from United fans,<ref>{{cite news|title=Fans rage at Glazer takeover move|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/m/man_utd/4541093.stm|access-date=8 May 2013|publisher=BBC|date=13 May 2005}}</ref> and disrupted Ferguson's plans to strengthen the team in the transfer market. In spite of this, United looked to solve their goalkeeping and midfield problems. For this, they signed the [[Netherlands national football team|Dutch]] goalkeeper [[Edwin van der Sar]] from [[Fulham F.C.|Fulham]] and [[South Korea national football team|Korean]] star [[Park Ji-sung]] from PSV.

The season was one of transition. On 18 November, Roy Keane officially left the club, his contract ended by mutual consent. United failed to qualify for the knock-out phase of the UEFA Champions League. In the January transfer window, Serbian defender [[Nemanja Vidić]] and French full-back [[Patrice Evra]] were signed, and the side finished in second place in the league, behind runaway winners Chelsea. Winning the League Cup was a consolation prize for lack of success elsewhere. Ruud van Nistelrooy's future at Old Trafford was in doubt after not starting in the League Cup final, and he departed at the end of the season.<ref>{{cite news |last=McNulty |first=Phil |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/m/man_utd/5223740.stm |title=Ferguson's Ruud dilemma |date=28 July 2006 |access-date=10 April 2014 |publisher=BBC}}</ref>

Before the start of the new season, Ferguson received much criticism, particular in the guise of an article in ''The Guardian'' titled "Shredding his legacy at every turn".<ref>{{cite news |last=Smyth |first=Rob |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2006/jul/31/sport.comment |title=Shredding his legacy at every turn |date=31 July 2006 |access-date=8 August 2014 |work=The Guardian}}</ref>

====Second Champions League trophy====
[[File:Alex Ferguson 02.jpg|thumb|upright|Ferguson in 2006]]
[[Image:Ferguson and Queiroz.jpg|thumb|upright|Ferguson in 2008, standing beside assistant manager [[Carlos Queiroz]]]]

In 2006, [[Michael Carrick]] was signed to take Roy Keane's place in the team for a fee that eventually rose to £18&nbsp;million.<ref name="Taylor">{{cite news |last=Taylor |first=Daniel |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2006/sep/11/match.sport3 |title=Giggs and sloppy Spurs get United believing again |date=11 September 2006 |access-date=10 April 2014 |newspaper=The Guardian |location=London}}</ref> United started the season well, and for the first time ever won their first four Premier League games, United's best start since 1985.<ref name="Taylor"/><ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/5308192.stm |title=Man Utd 1–0 Tottenham |date=9 September 2006 |access-date=10 April 2014 |work=BBC Sport}}</ref> They set the early pace in the [[2006–07 FA Premier League|Premier League]] and never relinquished top spot from the tenth match of the 38-game season.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-10-18 |title=Manchester United - Fixtures & Results 2006/2007 |url=https://www.worldfootball.net/teams/manchester-united/2007/3/#google_vignette |access-date=2024-10-21 |website=worldfootball.net |language=en}}</ref> The January 2006 signings had a huge impact on United's performances – Patrice Evra and Nemanja Vidić came in to form a solid back line along with Rio Ferdinand and skipper Gary Neville.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Scholes |first=Paul |date=2015 |title=Paul Scholes column: At first, Nemanja Vidic and Patrice Evra looked out of their depth... now they are Manchester United legends |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/news/paul-scholes-column-at-first-nemanja-vidic-and-patrice-evra-looked-out-of-their-depth-now-they-are-manchester-united-legends-9966602.html}}</ref> The signing of Carrick brought stability and further creativity in the United midfield, forming an effective partnership with Paul Scholes. Park Ji-sung and Ryan Giggs both underlined their value to the first team squad by adding significant pace and incisiveness in attack with Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo.{{citation needed|date=March 2019}}

Ferguson celebrated the 20th anniversary of his appointment as manager of Manchester United on 6 November 2006. Tributes also came from Ferguson's players, both past and present,<ref name="Robbins">{{cite web |title=Saviour Robins: Fergie just cannot let go |publisher=ESPN Soccernet, 4 November 2006 |url=http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=389632&cc=5739 |access-date=11 January 2007 |archive-date=27 November 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111127114910/http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=389632&cc=5739 |url-status=dead }}</ref> as well as his old foe, Arsène Wenger.<ref name="Wenger">{{cite web|title=Wenger: Managers should emulate Ferguson|publisher=ESPN Soccernet, 4 November 2006|url=http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=389800&cc=4716|access-date=11 January 2007|archive-date=4 June 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110604030949/http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=389800&cc=4716|url-status=dead}}</ref> The party was spoiled the following day when United endured a single-goal defeat at the hands of [[Southend United F.C.|Southend United]] in the fourth round of the League Cup.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/league_cup/6116346.stm |title=Southend 1–0 Man Utd |date=7 November 2006 |access-date=25 June 2014 }}</ref> On 1 December it was announced that Manchester United had signed 35-year-old [[Henrik Larsson]] on loan,<ref name="Larsson">{{cite news |title=Man Utd capture Larsson on loan |work=BBC Sport |date=1 December 2006 |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/m/man_utd/6198464.stm |access-date=11 January 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070125083140/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/m/man_utd/6198464.stm | archive-date= 25 January 2007|url-status=live}}</ref> a player that Ferguson had admired for many years, and attempted to capture previously. On 23 December 2006, Cristiano Ronaldo scored the club's 2,000th goal under Ferguson in a match against Aston Villa.<ref>{{cite web |last=James |first=Stuart |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2006/dec/24/match.sport5 |title=Cristiano's stockings full of gifts for United |date=24 December 2006 |access-date=25 June 2006 |work=The Guardian}}</ref>

Manchester United subsequently won their ninth Premier League title but were denied a unique fourth double by Chelsea's [[Didier Drogba]] scoring a late goal in the [[2007 FA Cup Final|FA Cup final]] at [[Wembley Stadium]].<ref>{{cite web |last=McKenzie |first=Andrew |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/fa_cup/6649815.stm |title=FA Cup final – Chelsea 1–0 Man Utd |date=19 May 2007 |access-date=25 June 2006 |publisher=BBC}}</ref> In the Champions League, the club reached the semi-finals, recording a 7–1 home win over [[A.S. Roma|Roma]] in the quarter-final second leg,<ref>{{cite news |last=McCarra |first=Kevin |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2007/apr/11/match.sport |title=Seven wonders of sublime United dazzle and destroy helpless Roma |date=11 April 2007 |access-date=10 April 2014 |newspaper=The Guardian |location=London}}</ref> but lost at the [[San Siro]] to Milan 3–0 in the second leg of the semi-final after being 3–2 up from the first leg.<ref>{{cite news |last=Cheese |first=Caroline |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/europe/6603095.stm |title=AC Milan 3–0 Man Utd (Agg: 5–3) |date=2 May 2007 |access-date=10 April 2014 |publisher=BBC}}</ref>

For the [[2007–08 Manchester United F.C. season|2007–08 season]], Ferguson made notable signings to reinforce United's first team. Long-term target [[Owen Hargreaves]] joined from Bayern Munich, young Portuguese winger [[Nani (footballer)|Nani]] and Brazilian playmaker [[Anderson (footballer, born 1988)|Anderson]] joined soon after, while the last summer signing was West Ham and [[Argentina national football team|Argentina]] striker [[Carlos Tevez]] after a complex and protracted transfer saga.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/m/man_utd/6707995.stm |title=Hargreaves completes Man Utd move |date=1 July 2007 |access-date=10 April 2014 |work=BBC Sport}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/m/man_utd/6261666.stm |title=Nani & Anderson seal Man Utd move |date=2 July 2007 |access-date=10 April 2014 |work=BBC Sport}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/m/man_utd/6935741.stm |title=Tevez completes Man Utd transfer |date=10 August 2007 |access-date=10 April 2014 |work=BBC Sport}}</ref>

Despite getting some retribution on Chelsea by beating them in the [[2007 FA Community Shield|Community Shield]], United suffered their worst start to a league season under Ferguson, drawing their [[2007–08 Premier League|first two league games]] before suffering a 1–0 defeat by local rivals Manchester City.<ref>{{cite news |last=Bevan |first=Chris |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/6941879.stm |title=Man City 1–0 Man Utd |date=19 August 2007 |access-date=25 June 2014 |work=BBC Sport}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Taylor |first=Daniel |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2007/aug/20/match.manchestercity |title=Geovanni's lucky strike punishes prodigal United |date=20 August 2007 |access-date=25 June 2014 |work=The Guardian}}</ref> United, however, recovered and began a tight race with Arsenal for the title. After a good run of form, Ferguson claimed that throughout his time at Manchester United, this was the best squad he had managed to assemble thus far.<ref name="BestSquad">{{cite news |last=Whittell |first=Ian |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/2325550/Ferguson-This-is-the-best-squad-Ive-ever-had.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220110/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/2325550/Ferguson-This-is-the-best-squad-Ive-ever-had.html |archive-date=10 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=This is the best squad I've ever had |date=12 November 2007 |access-date=10 April 2014 |work=BBC Sport}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

On 16 February 2008, United beat Arsenal 4–0 in an [[2007–08 FA Cup#Fifth round proper|FA Cup fifth round]] match at Old Trafford,<ref>{{cite news  |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/fa_cup/7224064.stm |title=Man Utd 4–0 Arsenal |date=16 February 2008 |access-date=25 June 2014 |work=BBC Sport}}</ref> but were knocked out by eventual winners [[Portsmouth F.C.|Portsmouth]] in the quarter-final on 8 March, losing 1–0 at home.<ref>{{cite news |last=McNulty |first=Phil |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/fa_cup/7272806.stm |title=Man Utd 0–1 Portsmouth |date=8 March 2008 |access-date=25 June 2014 |publisher=BBC}}</ref> United having had a penalty claim turned down, Ferguson alleged after the game that [[Keith Hackett]], general manager of the [[Professional Game Match Officials Board]], was "not doing his job properly".<ref>{{cite news |last=Bandini |first=Nicky |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2008/mar/09/newsstory.sport7 |title=FA will review Ferguson's criticisms of Atkinson and Hackett |date=9 March 2008 |access-date=25 June 2014 |work=The Guardian}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/7285393.stm |title=Ferguson furious after Cup exit |date=8 March 2008 |access-date=25 June 2014 |work=BBC Sport}}</ref> Ferguson was subsequently charged by [[The Football Association|The FA]] with improper conduct, which he decided to contest. This was the second charge Ferguson faced in the season, following his complaints against the referee after United lost 1–0 at [[Bolton Wanderers F.C.|Bolton Wanderers]]&nbsp;– a charge he decided not to contest.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2007 |title=Ferguson admits FA charge |url=https://www.skysports.com/football/news/2958716/ferguson-admits-fa-charge}}</ref>

On 11 May 2008, Ferguson led Manchester United to a tenth Premier League title, exactly 25 years to the day after he led Aberdeen to European glory against Real Madrid in the Cup Winners' Cup. Nearest rivals Chelsea&nbsp;– level on points going into the final round of matches, but with an inferior goal difference&nbsp;– could only draw 1–1 at home to Bolton, finishing two points adrift of the champions. United's title win was sealed with a 2–0 win over [[Wigan Athletic F.C.|Wigan Athletic]], managed by former United captain Steve Bruce.<ref>{{cite news |last=McCarra |first=Kevin |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2008/may/11/premierleague.wiganathletic |title=Ronaldo makes Wigan suffer as champions mix business with pleasure |date=12 May 2008 |access-date=25 June 2014 |work=The Guardian}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=McNulty |first=Phil |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/7381807.stm |title=Wigan 0–2 Man Utd |date=11 May 2008 |access-date=25 June 2014 |publisher=BBC}}</ref>

On 21 May 2008, Ferguson won his second European Cup with Manchester United as they beat Chelsea [[2008 UEFA Champions League Final|6–5 on penalties]] in the [[Luzhniki Stadium]] in [[Moscow]], following a 1–1 draw after extra time in the first ever all-English UEFA Champions League Final.<ref>{{cite news |last=Winter |first=Henry |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/columnists/henrywinter/2301150/Champions-League-final-Manchester-United-join-Europes-greats-after-Moscow-win.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220110/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/columnists/henrywinter/2301150/Champions-League-final-Manchester-United-join-Europes-greats-after-Moscow-win.html |archive-date=10 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=Manchester United join Europe's greats after Moscow win |date=22 May 2008 |access-date=25 June 2014 |work=The Telegraph}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=McNulty |first=Phil |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/europe/7406252.stm |title=Man Utd earn dramatic Euro glory |date=22 May 2008 |access-date=25 June 2014 |publisher=BBC}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Schwirtz |first=Michael |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/22/sports/soccer/22soccer.html |title=Manchester United Wins Champions League Final |date=22 May 2008 |access-date=25 June 2014 |work=The New York Times}}</ref> A penalty miss from Cristiano Ronaldo meant that [[John Terry]]'s spot-kick would have given the trophy to Chelsea if successfully converted, but Terry missed his penalty and in the end it was Edwin van der Sar's blocking of a [[Nicolas Anelka]] penalty which gave the trophy to Manchester United for the second time under Ferguson and for the third time overall.<ref>{{cite news |last=Smith |first=Alan |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/2301208/Champions-League-final-Tears-for-John-Terry-and-Chelsea-after-cruel-ending.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220110/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/2301208/Champions-League-final-Tears-for-John-Terry-and-Chelsea-after-cruel-ending.html |archive-date=10 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=Tears for John Terry and Chelsea after cruel ending |date=22 May 2008 |access-date=25 June 2014 |work=The Telegraph}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

====World champions and further league titles ====
[[File:17.10.2010 Gira Europa (5093568820).jpg|thumb|left|Ferguson with [[Sebastian Piñera]] in 2010]]
Although the team had a slow start to the [[2008–09 Manchester United F.C. season|2008–09 season]],<ref>{{cite news |last1=Stevenson |first1=Jonathan |last2=Cheese |first2=Caroline |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/8044543.stm |title=How the Premier League was won |publisher=BBC |date=16 May 2009 |access-date=10 April 2014}}</ref> United won the Premier League with a game to spare,<ref>{{cite news |last=Wilson |first=Paul |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2009/may/16/premier-league-manchester-united-arsenal1 |title=United retain Premier League crown after goalless finale at Old Trafford |newspaper=The Guardian |location=London |date=16 May 2009 |access-date=10 April 2014}}</ref> making Ferguson the first manager in the history of English football to win the top division three times consecutively, on two separate occasions. Ferguson had now won 11 league titles at Manchester United, and the 2008–09 season title success put them level with Liverpool as league champions on a record 18 occasions in total.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/m/man_utd/8053713.stm |title=Ferguson hungry for four in a row |publisher=BBC |date=16 May 2009 |access-date=10 April 2014}}</ref> They also won the League Cup on penalties after a goalless draw in the [[2009 Football League Cup Final|final]] against Tottenham, after becoming the first British club to win the [[FIFA Club World Cup]] in [[2008 FIFA Club World Cup Final|December 2008]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Wallace |first=Sam |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/fa-league-cups/united-march-on-as-spurs-fail-test-of-nerve-1635166.html |title=United march on as Spurs fail test of nerve |newspaper=The Independent |location=London |date=2 March 2009 |access-date=10 April 2014}}</ref>

They contested the [[2009 UEFA Champions League Final|Champions League final]] against Barcelona on 27 May 2009 but lost 2–0, thus failed to defend the trophy.<ref>{{cite news |last=McCarra |first=Kevin |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2009/may/27/manchester-united-barcelona-champions-league-final |title=Manchester United fold without a fight as Barcelona claim Champions League |newspaper=The Guardian |location=London |date=27 May 2009 |access-date=10 April 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Winter |first=Henry |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/manchester-united/5394857/Manchester-United-0-Barcelona-2-Champions-League-final-2009-match-report.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220110/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/manchester-united/5394857/Manchester-United-0-Barcelona-2-Champions-League-final-2009-match-report.html |archive-date=10 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=Manchester United 0 Barcelona 2 |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph |location=London |date=27 May 2009 |access-date=10 April 2014}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

In [[2009–10 Manchester United F.C. season|2009–10 season]], Ferguson added another League Cup to his honours list as United defeated Aston Villa 2–1 in the [[2010 Football League Cup Final|final]] on 28 February 2010, United's first ever successful knockout cup defence.<ref>{{cite news |last=McNulty |first=Phil |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/league_cup/8531179.stm |title=Aston Villa 1–2 Man Utd |publisher=BBC |date=28 February 2010 |access-date=10 April 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Rooney the hero as United overcome Villa |url=http://soccernet.espn.go.com/report?id=287675&cc=5739 |work=ESPNsoccernet |date=28 February 2010 |access-date=2 April 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100303090528/http://soccernet.espn.go.com/report?id=287675&cc=5739 |archive-date=3 March 2010 }}</ref> However, his dreams of a third European Cup were ended a few weeks later when United were edged out of the competition in the quarter-finals by Bayern Munich on away goals. And their hopes of a record 19th league title were ended on the last day of the season when Chelsea beat them to the Premier League title by one point, crushing Wigan Athletic 8–0 and rendering United's 4–0 win over [[Stoke City F.C.|Stoke City]] meaningless.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/8664533.stm |title=Man Utd 4-0 Stoke |work=BBC Sport |date=9 May 2010 |access-date=1 March 2019}}</ref>

He ended the [[2010–11 Manchester United F.C. season|following season]] by winning his 12th and Manchester United's 19th league title and thus overtaking Liverpool's record of 18. Manchester United faced Barcelona again on 28 May 2011 in the [[2011 UEFA Champions League Final|2011 Champions League final]], their third in four years, but United lost 3–1. Analyst Alan Hansen stated that he believed Ferguson was "the key component" in United's success that season, so key in fact that "[he] would have claimed the crown with any of the other top sides had he been in charge of them".<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/13894579.stm |title=Sir Alex Ferguson must rebuild Manchester United despite 19th title |last=Hansen |first=Alan |date=23 June 2011 |work=BBC Sport |access-date=27 June 2011}}</ref> With Edwin van der Sar, Gary Neville and Paul Scholes all retiring in 2011,<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/13600395.stm |title=Man Utd midfielder Paul Scholes retires aged 36 |date=31 May 2011 |work=BBC Sport |access-date=27 June 2011 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110715034057/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/13600395.stm| archive-date= 15 July 2011 | url-status= live}}</ref> Ferguson spent big by signing defender [[Phil Jones (footballer, born 1992)|Phil Jones]] from Blackburn and winger [[Ashley Young]] from Aston Villa for around £17&nbsp;million each,<ref>{{cite news |title=Manchester United secure deal for Blackburn's Phil Jones|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/13754461.stm |work=BBC Sport |date=13 June 2011 |access-date=27 June 2011| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110624033617/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/13754461.stm| archive-date= 24 June 2011 | url-status= live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Ashley Young joins Man Utd from Aston Villa|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/13882802.stm |work=BBC Sport |date=23 June 2011 |access-date=27 June 2011 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110624111646/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/13882802.stm|archive-date=24 June 2011|url-status=live}}</ref> and goalkeeper [[David de Gea]] from [[Atlético Madrid]] for around £19&nbsp;million.<ref>{{cite news |title=Manchester United confirm signing of David de Gea |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/13933241.stm |work=BBC Sport |date=29 June 2011 |access-date=18 July 2011 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110728210707/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/13933241.stm |archive-date= 28 July 2011|url-status=live}}</ref>

The [[2011–12 Manchester United F.C. season|following season]] United managed to beat rivals Manchester City in the [[2011 FA Community Shield]] and eliminated them in the [[2011–12 FA Cup#Third round proper|FA Cup third round]], but ended the season below City, who won their first [[2011–12 Premier League|Premier League]] title on goal difference. This bitter and slim defeat prompted Ferguson to sign star-striker [[Robin van Persie]], who was the [[Premier League Golden Boot]] title-holder, from another arch-rival Arsenal on 17 August 2012.

The [[2012–13 Manchester United F.C. season|2012–13 season]] saw Ferguson guide United to become league champions for the [[2012–13 Premier League|20th]] time, claiming the title with a 3–0 home win over Aston Villa on 22 April 2013 with four matches to spare; Van Persie scored all the goals with a first half hat-trick en route to retain the Golden Boot.<ref>{{cite news |first=Chris |last=Bevan |title=Manchester United 3-0 Aston Villa |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/22149292 |work=BBC Sport |date=22 April 2013 |access-date=15 February 2019 }}</ref> His final game in charge, his 1,500th in total, saw United play out a 5–5 draw with West Bromwich Albion. The result meant United finished the season 11 points ahead of runners-up Manchester City.<ref>{{cite news |first=Neil |last=Johnston |title=West Brom 5-5 Manchester United |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/22499117 |work=BBC Sport |date=19 May 2013 |access-date=15 February 2019 }}</ref> Earlier in the season, on 2 September 2012, Ferguson managed his 1,000th league game with United playing against [[Southampton F.C.|Southampton]]. United won the game 3–2 thanks to another hat-trick from Van Persie. Two weeks later, he won his 100th game in the Champions League with a 1–0 win over [[Galatasaray S.K. (football)|Galatasaray]] at Old Trafford.<ref name=":15" />

====Retirement====
On 8 May 2013, Ferguson announced that he had decided to retire as manager at the end of the football season, but would remain at the club as a director and club ambassador.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/22447018|title=Sir Alex Ferguson to retire as Manchester United manager|work=BBC Sport |date=8 May 2013|access-date=8 May 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11667/8698530/Sir-Alex-Ferguson-to-retire-this-summer-Manchester-United-confirm|title=Sir Alex Ferguson to retire this summer, Manchester United confirm|publisher=Sky Sports|date=8 May 2013|access-date=8 May 2013}}</ref> ''The Guardian'' announced it was the "end of an era",<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2013/may/08/alex-ferguson-manchester-united|work=The Guardian|title=End of an era as Alex Ferguson calls time at Manchester United|first=Barney|last=Ronay|date=8 May 2013|access-date=8 May 2013}}</ref> while [[UEFA]] president [[Michel Platini]] referred to Ferguson as "a true visionary".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://sports.yahoo.com/news/platini-ferguson-true-visionary-120600808--sow.html|publisher=Yahoo!|title=Platini: Ferguson a true visionary|first=Stefan|last=Coerts|access-date=8 May 2013|archive-date=7 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160807040157/http://sports.yahoo.com/news/platini-ferguson-true-visionary-120600808--sow.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> Former Manchester United players Paul Ince and Bryan Robson agreed that Ferguson would be "a hard act to follow".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/sportvideo/footballvideo/10044569/Sir-Alex-Ferguson-resigns-Football-greats-pay-tribute.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130509021624/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/sportvideo/footballvideo/10044569/Sir-Alex-Ferguson-resigns-Football-greats-pay-tribute.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=9 May 2013|work=[[The Daily Telegraph]]|access-date=8 May 2013|date=8 May 2013|title=Sir Alex Ferguson resigns: Football greats pay tribute}}</ref> Manchester United co-chairman [[Joel Glazer]] said, "His determination to succeed and dedication to the club have been truly remarkable."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.foxnews.com/sports/sir-alex-ferguson-to-retire|work = Fox Sports|access-date=8 May 2013|date=8 May 2013 |title=Sir Alex Ferguson to retire}}</ref> Ferguson revealed that he had in fact decided that he was going to retire back in December 2012 and that it had been very difficult not to reveal his plans.<ref>{{cite news |title=Man United boss Sir Alex Ferguson's Old Trafford farewell |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/22485088 |url-status=dead |work=BBC Sport |date=12 May 2013 |access-date=13 May 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130614010735/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/22485088 |archive-date=14 June 2013 |df=dmy-all}}</ref> Ferguson's decision to retire saw United shares fall 5% on the [[New York Stock Exchange]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Sir Alex Ferguson retires: Man Utd shares fall in New York |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-22455508 |work=BBC News |date=8 May 2013 |access-date=8 May 2013}}</ref>

On 9 May 2013, Manchester United announced Everton manager [[David Moyes]] would replace Ferguson as the club manager from 1 July, having signed a six-year contract.<ref>{{cite news |title=David Moyes: Manchester United appoint Everton boss |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/22453802 |work=BBC Sport |date=9 May 2013 |access-date=9 May 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Manchester United confirm appointment of David Moyes on a six-year contract |url=http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11671/8701469/Manchester-United-confirm-appointment-of-David-Moyes-on-a-six-year-contract |work=Sky Sports |publisher=BSkyB |date=9 May 2013 |access-date=9 May 2013}}</ref> In Ferguson's final match in charge, Manchester United drew 5–5 at West Bromwich Albion, a hat-trick from [[Romelu Lukaku]], later a United player, denying Ferguson a final victory.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/22499117 |title=West Brom 5–5 Manchester United |work=BBC Sport |date=19 May 2013 |access-date=27 January 2018}}</ref>

Ferguson released his second autobiography in October 2013 called ''[[Alex Ferguson: My Autobiography|My Autobiography]]''.<ref>{{cite news|url = https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/manchester-united/Sir_Alex_Ferguson/10396040/Alex-Ferguson-My-Autobiography-is-a-football-book-not-just-a-news-tornado.html|title= My Autobiography is a football book, not just a news tornado|date=22 October 2013|work=The Daily Telegraph|access-date=22 October 2013|last1= Hayward|first1= Paul}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/manchester-united/Sir_Alex_Ferguson/10396086/Alex-Ferguson-book-launch-transcript-from-the-press-conference.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220110/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/manchester-united/Sir_Alex_Ferguson/10396086/Alex-Ferguson-book-launch-transcript-from-the-press-conference.html |archive-date=10 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=Alex Ferguson book launch: transcript from the press conference |date=22 October 2013 |work=The Daily Telegraph |access-date=23 October 2013|last1=Sport |first1=Telegraph }}{{cbignore}}</ref> In January 2014, Ferguson was appointed as the UEFA Coaching Ambassador,<ref>{{cite web |last=Ziegler |first=Martyn |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/news-and-comment/former-manchester-united-manager-sir-alex-ferguson-becomes-uefa-coaching-ambassador--and-quickly-calls-on-managers-to-stop-players-diving-9083119.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140129011033/http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/news-and-comment/former-manchester-united-manager-sir-alex-ferguson-becomes-uefa-coaching-ambassador--and-quickly-calls-on-managers-to-stop-players-diving-9083119.html |archive-date=2014-01-29 |url-access=limited |url-status=live |title=Former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson becomes Uefa coaching ambassador |date=24 January 2014 |access-date=16 August 2014 |work=The Independent}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2014/jan/24/alex-ferguson-appointed-uefa-coaching-ambassador |title=Sir Alex Ferguson appointed as Uefa's coaching ambassador |date=24 January 2014 |access-date=16 August 2014 |work=The Guardian}}</ref> and said it was "an honour and a privilege" to be given the role.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11667/9131073/sir-alex-ferguson-takes-up-position-as-uefas-coaching-ambassador |title=Sir Alex Ferguson takes up position as UEFA's coaching ambassador |date=24 January 2014 |access-date=16 August 2014 |work=Sky Sports}}</ref> In April 2014, it was announced that Ferguson would be taking up a "long-term teaching position" at [[Harvard University]], where he would be lecturing on a new course titled "The Business of Entertainment, Media and Sports".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2014/apr/04/sir-alex-ferguson-harvard-teaching-position |title=Sir Alex Ferguson to take up 'long-term teaching position' at Harvard |work=The Guardian |date=4 April 2014 |access-date=4 April 2014}}</ref> This came six months after he revealed his blueprint for success was included in the ''[[Harvard Business Review]]'' in a series of interviews with [[Anita Elberse]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2013/sep/10/alex-ferguson-manchester-united-blueprint |title=Manchester United legend Sir Alex Ferguson gives blueprint for success |work=The Guardian |date=10 September 2013 |access-date=4 April 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Ogden |first=Mark |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/manchester-united/10299345/Sir-Alex-Ferguson-reveals-his-blueprint-for-managing-Manchester-United.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220110/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/manchester-united/10299345/Sir-Alex-Ferguson-reveals-his-blueprint-for-managing-Manchester-United.html |archive-date=10 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=Sir Alex Ferguson reveals his blueprint for managing Manchester United |work=The Telegraph |date=10 September 2013 |access-date=4 April 2014}}{{cbignore}}</ref> His book, ''Leading: Learning from Life and My Years at Manchester United'', was published in collaboration with billionaire [[venture capitalist]], author and former journalist [[Michael Moritz]] in August 2015.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Ferguson|first1=Alex|title=Leading: Learning from Life and My Years at Manchester United|date=August 2015}}</ref>

==Controversies==

===Gordon Strachan===
[[Gordon Strachan]] was a key player for Ferguson at Aberdeen, but their relationship broke down when Strachan signed an agreement with German club [[1. FC Köln|FC Köln]] without telling Ferguson.<ref name="Fergie v Strachan"/> Ferguson said that he believed although "there was a cunning streak in Strachan, I had never imagined that he could pull such a stroke on me".<ref name="Fergie v Strachan"/> Strachan did not sign for Köln, but instead moved to Manchester United in the summer of 1984.<ref name="Fergie v Strachan"/> Strachan liked the move because he felt that Ron Atkinson treated him as an adult, unlike Ferguson.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/c/celtic/5228964.stm |title=Strachan keen to end Fergie rift |work=BBC Sport |date=30 July 2006 |access-date=18 October 2015}}</ref> Strachan was still with the club when Ferguson was appointed manager in November 1986.<ref name="Fergie v Strachan"/> Ferguson thought that Strachan did not play for United with the same confidence he had in Scotland and subsequently sold him to Leeds United in 1989.<ref name="Fergie v Strachan"/> Strachan enjoyed significant success with Leeds as a veteran player, helping them win the [[1991–92 in English football|1991–92]] English league championship in a title race with Ferguson's United.<ref name="Fergie v Strachan"/>

Their relationship continued to be frosty as Strachan moved into management himself.<ref name="Fergie v Strachan"/> In his 1999 autobiography, Ferguson stated that Strachan "could not be trusted an inch – I would not want to expose my back to him in a hurry".<ref name="Fergie v Strachan">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/europe/5335578.stm|title=Fergie v Strachan|work=BBC Sport |date=12 September 2006|access-date=18 October 2015|first=Simon|last=Austin}}</ref> Strachan's reaction to the attack, in his own autobiography, ''My Life in Football'', was one of being "surprised and disappointed", although he suspected that Ferguson had helped to relegate Strachan's [[Coventry City F.C.|Coventry City]] in 2001 by fielding a weakened Manchester United team in a match against Derby County.<ref name="Fergie v Strachan"/> By 2006 they appeared to have "declared something of a truce",<ref name="Fergie v Strachan"/> ahead of Champions League matches between United and Strachan's Celtic.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.skysports.com/football/news/11667/2389068/strachan-no-fergie-feud |title=Strachan: No Fergie feud |first=Simon |last=Fudge |access-date=18 October 2015 |work=Sky Sports |publisher=BSkyB}}</ref>

===David Beckham===
In February 2003, Ferguson was involved in a dressing room argument with Manchester United player [[David Beckham]].<ref name="factfilemmedia" /> Ferguson allegedly kicked a football boot in frustration, which hit Beckham in the face and caused a minor injury.<ref name = "boot">{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2003/sep/01/newsstory.sport3 |title=Beckham went for boss in boot brawl |work=The Guardian |first=Dominic |last=Fifield |date=1 September 2003 |access-date=1 March 2019}}</ref> Ferguson apologised to Beckham, who was transferred to [[Real Madrid]] later that year.<ref name = "boot"/>

===Champions League draw fixing===
On 5 April 2003, Ferguson claimed that the Champions League draw was fixed in favour of Spanish and Italian teams.<ref name="factfilemmedia">{{cite news |url=http://menmedia.co.uk/manchestereveningnews/sport/football/manchester_united/s/227505_sir_alex_ferguson_factfile |title=Sir Alex Ferguson factfile |newspaper=Manchester Evening News |date=6 November 2006 |access-date=14 December 2009 |archive-date=18 October 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111018185859/http://menmedia.co.uk/manchestereveningnews/sport/football/manchester_united/s/227505_sir_alex_ferguson_factfile |url-status=dead }}</ref> UEFA charged Ferguson for bringing the game into disrepute with his comments.<ref name = "uefa fine"/> Ferguson apologised for his remarks and wrote a letter to UEFA in explanation, but he was fined 10,000 Swiss francs (£4,600) by the governing body.<ref name = "uefa fine">{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/m/man_utd/2989659.stm |title=Ferguson fined over outburst |website=BBC Sport |publisher=BBC |date=1 May 2003 |access-date=7 February 2020}}</ref>

===Rock of Gibraltar===
In 2003, Ferguson launched legal action against the then major Manchester United shareholder [[John Magnier]] over stud rights for race horse [[Rock of Gibraltar (horse)|Rock of Gibraltar]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.racingandsports.com.au/breeding/rsNewsArt.asp?NID=30626|title=Sir Alex Ferguson takes His case to Court|publisher=Racing and Sports|date=20 November 2003|access-date=14 December 2009|archive-date=23 August 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130823073417/http://www.racingandsports.com.au/breeding/rsNewsArt.asp?NID=30626|url-status=dead}}</ref> Magnier counter-sued Ferguson<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/magniers-legal-action-damages-hopes-of-a-deal-568624.html|title=Magnier's legal action damages hopes of a deal|work=The Independent|location=UK|date=3 February 2004|access-date=14 December 2009|first=Nick|last=Harris| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100122120947/http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/magniers-legal-action-damages-hopes-of-a-deal-568624.html| archive-date= 22 January 2010 | url-status= dead}}</ref> by filing a "Motion to Comply" requiring Ferguson to substantiate his claim for half of Rock of Gibraltar's stud fees. The legal issues were further compounded by Magnier being a significant shareholder in the football club managed by Ferguson at the time.<ref name = "rock settled">{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/2374308/Ferguson-agrees-2.5m-Rock-deal.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220110/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/2374308/Ferguson-agrees-2.5m-Rock-deal.html |archive-date=10 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=Ferguson agrees £2.5m Rock deal |first=Sam |last=Wallace |date=6 March 2004 |access-date=1 March 2019 |work=The Daily Telegraph }}{{cbignore}}</ref> Magnier requested that "99 Questions" be answered over Ferguson's transfer dealings, including those of Jaap Stam, Juan Sebastián Verón, Tim Howard, [[David Bellion]], Cristiano Ronaldo and Kléberson.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2004/feb/01/newsstory.sport5|title=United won't answer the 99 questions|work=The Guardian|location=UK|date=1 February 2004|access-date=14 December 2009|first=Denis|last=Campbell| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100123011107/http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2004/feb/01/newsstory.sport5| archive-date= 23 January 2010 | url-status= live}}</ref> The case was eventually settled out of Court.<ref name = "rock settled"/>

===BBC===
Ferguson refused to give interviews to the [[BBC]] after a documentary called ''Fergie and Son'' was shown on [[BBC Three]] on 27 May 2004.<ref>{{cite web |title=BBC THREE investigation raises new questions for Manchester United |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2004/05_may/25/fergie_son.shtml |publisher=BBC Press office |date=25 May 2004 |access-date=8 December 2013}}</ref> According to an article in ''[[The Independent]]'', the documentary had "portrayed his agent son, Jason, as somebody who exploited his father's influence and position to his own ends in the transfer market". The same newspaper article made it clear that Jason was never found guilty of any wrongdoing, and it quoted Alex Ferguson as saying: {{blockquote|They [the BBC] did a story about my son that was whole lot of nonsense. It all {{sic}} made-up stuff and 'brown paper bags' and all that kind of carry-on. It was a horrible attack on my son's honour and he should never have been accused of that.<ref>{{cite news |last=Harris |first=Nick|title=Ferguson will never talk to The BBC again |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/news-and-comment/ferguson-will-never-talk-to-the-bbc-again-401487.html |work=The Independent |location=UK |date=6 September 2007 |access-date=14 December 2009}}</ref>}} Subsequent interviews on BBC programmes such as ''[[Match of the Day]]'' were done by his assistants, latterly [[Mike Phelan]].<ref name="BBC resolution"/>

Under new Premier League rules intended for the 2010–11 season, Ferguson was required to end his BBC boycott.<ref>{{cite news |first=Duncan |last=White |title=Sir Alex Ferguson will be forced to speak to the BBC under new Premier League rules |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/leagues/premierleague/manutd/6570541/Sir-Alex-Ferguson-will-be-forced-to-speak-to-the-BBC-under-new-Premier-League-rules.html |work=The Daily Telegraph |location=London |date=14 November 2009 |access-date=14 December 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091118012613/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/leagues/premierleague/manutd/6570541/Sir-Alex-Ferguson-will-be-forced-to-speak-to-the-BBC-under-new-Premier-League-rules.html |archive-date=18 November 2009 |url-status=dead}}</ref> However, he refused to end his boycott and Manchester United said they would pay the resulting fines.<ref>{{cite web |first=Andrew |last=Laughlin |title=BBC to give up Ferguson boycott battle|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/broadcasting/news/a277262/bbc-to-give-up-ferguson-boycott-battle.html |work=Digital Spy |date=16 September 2010 |access-date=12 July 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110611154903/http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/broadcasting/news/a277262/bbc-to-give-up-ferguson-boycott-battle.html |archive-date=11 June 2011 |url-status=live}}</ref> No fines were ever issued, as the BBC hoped to resolve the dispute.<ref name="BBC resolution">{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2011/aug/25/alex-ferguson-ends-bbc-boycott |title=Alex Ferguson ends BBC boycott after personal visit from Mark Thompson |first=Daniel |last=Taylor |work=The Guardian |date=25 August 2011 |access-date=1 March 2019}}</ref> On 25 August 2011, Ferguson met with BBC director general [[Mark Thompson (television executive)|Mark Thompson]] and BBC North director [[Peter Salmon (producer)|Peter Salmon]], after which Ferguson agreed to end his seven-year boycott.<ref name="BBC resolution"/>

===Referees===
[[File:Mark Clattenburg and Sir Alex Ferguson.png|thumb|right|Ferguson with [[Mark Clattenburg]] in 2016]]
Ferguson has received numerous punishments for abusing and publicly criticising match officials when he has perceived them to be at fault:
* 20 October 2003 – Two-match touchline ban and fined £10,000 after using abusive and/or insulting words towards fourth official [[Jeff Winter]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/football/manchester_united/s/227/227505_sir_alex_ferguson_factfile.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120903172921/http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/football/manchester_united/s/227/227505_sir_alex_ferguson_factfile.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=3 September 2012 |title=Sir Alex Ferguson Factfile |work=Manchester Evening News |date=6 November 2006 |access-date=14 December 2009}}</ref>
* 14 December 2007 – Two-match touchline ban and fined £5,000 after using abusive and/or insulting words towards [[Mark Clattenburg]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/m/man_utd/7113777.stm|title=Ferguson banned for two matches|publisher=BBC|date=14 December 2007|access-date=14 December 2009}}</ref>
* 18 November 2008 – Two-match touchline ban and fined £10,000 after confronting [[Mike Dean (referee)|Mike Dean]] after a game.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/manchester_united/article5183446.ece|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110604160524/http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/manchester_united/article5183446.ece|url-status=dead|archive-date=4 June 2011|title=Sir Alex Ferguson banned and fined £10,000|work=The Times|location=UK|date=19 November 2008|access-date=14 December 2009|first=James|last=Ducker}}</ref>
* 12 November 2009 – Four-match touchline ban (two suspended) and fined £20,000 for comments made about the fitness of [[Alan Wiley]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2009/nov/12/sir-alex-ferguson-banned|title=Sir Alex Ferguson banned for two games and fined after Alan Wiley jibe |work=The Guardian|location=UK|date=12 November 2009|access-date=14 December 2009| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20091115093410/http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2009/nov/12/sir-alex-ferguson-banned |archive-date=15 November 2009 |url-status=live}}</ref>
* 16 March 2011 – Five-match touchline ban (three plus the two suspended for the above offence) and fined £30,000 for comments made questioning the performance and fairness of [[Martin Atkinson]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thefa.com/TheFA/Disciplinary/NewsAndFeatures/2011/Ferguson-suspended|title=Ferguson suspended and fined|publisher=The Football Association|date=16 March 2011|access-date=16 March 2011|location=London}}</ref>

===='Fergie Time'====
It has also been suggested that Ferguson's intimidation of referees resulted in so-called "Fergie Time": that is, unusually generous [[Association football#Duration and tie-breaking methods|injury time]] being added in matches where Manchester United were behind. The phrase is at least as old as 1998,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-guardian-fergie3/135173835/ |title=Air raid puts United to flight|work=Guardian|location=UK|date=9 March 1998|access-date=11 December 2023|first=Jeremy|last=Alexander}}</ref> but the concept first appeared on 10 April 1993 when [[Steve Bruce]] scored a 97th-minute goal (seventh minute of injury time added on by the referee) against [[Sheffield Wednesday]] to win the game for United: they went top of the league with this win and remained there until the season ended.<ref name="Fergie Time"/> The term got wider coverage when United came from behind to win the [[1999 UEFA Champions League final]] with two goals in injury time.<ref>[https://www.newspapers.com/article/liverpool-echo-fergie1/135173806/ Time to reflect on Fergie glory], Liverpool Echo, 5 June 1999</ref><ref>[https://www.newspapers.com/article/manchester-evening-news-fergie-time/135173789/ Blue's timely gratitude], Manchester Evening News, 12 June 1999</ref><ref>[https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-birmingham-post-fergie2/135173812/ Good, but not that Good !], Birmingham Post, 29 May, 1999</ref>

The concept cropped up in the media (and by opponents) whenever games seemed to be having more injury time than expected.<ref name="Fergie Time"/> A statistical analysis by ''[[The Times]]'' suggests that this concept might be valid, though the article points out that other footballing criteria may explain the correlation between extra added time and United being behind.<ref>{{cite news |last=Gray |first=Sadie |title=It's a fact! Fergie time does exist in the Premier League |url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/fink_tank/article6887985.ece?print=yes&randnum=1151003209000 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110604221013/http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/fink_tank/article6887985.ece?print=yes&randnum=1151003209000 |url-status=dead |archive-date=4 June 2011 |work=The Times |location=UK |date=24 October 2009 |access-date=21 February 2010}}</ref> Analysis by [[Opta Sports]] of Premier League matches played between 2010 and 2012 found on average that 79 seconds more time was played in matches where Manchester United were losing.<ref name="fergie time"/> This was a greater figure than for other top clubs, although most of these clubs seem to benefit from a "Fergie Time" effect, particularly in their home matches.<ref name="fergie time">{{cite news |first=Charlotte |last=Pritchard |title=Fergie time: Does it really exist? |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-20464371 |work=BBC News |date=23 November 2012 |access-date=23 November 2012}}</ref>

==Legacy==
Many of Ferguson's former players have gone on to become football managers themselves, including [[Tony Fitzpatrick (footballer)|Tony Fitzpatrick]], [[Alex McLeish]], [[Gordon Strachan]], [[Mark McGhee]], [[Willie Miller]], [[Neale Cooper]], [[Bryan Gunn]], [[Eric Black]], [[Billy Stark]], [[Bryan Robson]], [[Steve Bruce]], [[Mark Hughes]], [[Roy Keane]], [[Paul Ince]], [[Chris Casper]], [[Mark Robins]], [[Darren Ferguson]], [[Ole Gunnar Solskjær]], [[Henning Berg]], [[Andrei Kanchelskis]], [[Michael Appleton]], [[Ryan Giggs]], [[David Healy (footballer)|David Healy]], [[Gabriel Heinze]], [[Paul Scholes]], [[Gary Neville]], [[Jaap Stam]], [[Michael Carrick]], [[Wayne Rooney]] and [[Phil Neville]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/34986870 |title=Gary Neville can succeed at Valencia – Sir Alex Ferguson |work=BBC Sport |date=2 December 2015 |access-date=2 December 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11667/11077865/the-31-managers-who-played-at-manchester-united-under-sir-alex-ferguson |title=The 31 managers who played at Manchester United under Sir Alex Ferguson |work=Sky Sports |date=12 October 2017 |access-date=27 September 2021}}</ref> Three of these have subsequently managed Manchester United: Giggs (interim player-manager in 2014), Solskjær (2018 to 2021), and Carrick (interim manager in 2021).

The phrase "squeaky-bum time", coined by Ferguson in reference to the tense final stages of a league competition, was included in the ''[[Collins English Dictionary]]'' and the ''[[Oxford English Dictionary]]''.<ref>{{cite news |title='Asbo' and 'chav' make dictionary |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/4074760.stm |work=BBC News |date=8 June 2005 |access-date=8 April 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first=Rob |last=Smyth |title=Sir Alex Ferguson learns from mistakes to master mind games with smile |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2012/mar/23/sir-alex-ferguson-mind-games |work=The Guardian |date=23 March 2012}}</ref>

A [[bronze statue]] of Ferguson, designed by Scottish sculptor [[Philip Jackson (sculptor)|Philip Jackson]], was unveiled outside Old Trafford on 23 November 2012.<ref>{{cite news |title=Sir Alex statue date confirmed |url=http://www.manutd.com/en/News-And-Features/Club-News/2012/Nov/sir-alex-ferguson-statue-unveiling-date-confirmed.aspx |publisher=Manchester United F.C. |date=6 November 2012 |access-date=6 November 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Sir Alex Ferguson pride as Manchester United unveil statue |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/20468104 |work=BBC Sport |date=23 November 2012 |access-date=23 November 2012}}</ref> On 14 October 2013, Ferguson attended a ceremony where a road near Old Trafford was renamed from Water's Reach to Sir Alex Ferguson Way.<ref>{{cite news |title=Sir Alex Ferguson has Trafford road named in his honour |url=https://www.theguardian.com/global/2013/oct/14/alex-ferguson-road-named-manchester-united |work=The Guardian |date=14 October 2013 |access-date=9 January 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title='Sir Alex Ferguson Way': Former Manchester United manager attends street renaming ceremony |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/news-and-comment/sir-alex-ferguson-way-former-manchester-united-manager-attends-street-renaming-ceremony-8879633.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131015044615/http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/news-and-comment/sir-alex-ferguson-way-former-manchester-united-manager-attends-street-renaming-ceremony-8879633.html |archive-date=2013-10-15 |url-access=limited |url-status=live |work=The Independent |date=14 October 2013 |access-date=9 January 2014}}</ref> In July 2021, Aberdeen commissioned sculptor [[Andy Edwards (sculptor)|Andy Edwards]] to sculpt a bronze statue of Ferguson.<ref>{{cite news |title=Sir Alex Ferguson statue: Aberdeen to honour former manager's 'immense' tenure with Andy Edwards sculpture |url=https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11789/12367104/sir-alex-ferguson-statue-aberdeen-to-honour-former-managers-immense-tenure-with-andy-edwards-sculpture |work=Sky Sports |date=29 July 2021 |access-date=27 September 2021}}</ref> This was unveiled at Aberdeen's Pittodrie stadium on 25 February 2022,<ref>{{cite news |date=25 February 2022 |title=Sir Alex Ferguson statue unveiled at Aberdeen's Pittodrie Stadium |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-north-east-orkney-shetland-60510189 |access-date=27 February 2022}}</ref> and on the following day Ferguson was presented with a maquette of the statue.<ref>{{Cite tweet |author=Aberdeen FC |author-link=Aberdeen F.C. |user=AberdeenFC |number=1497587096176971780 |date=26 February 2022 |title=❤️ An incredible reception for Sir Alex Ferguson from Pittodrie. COYR! #StandFree |access-date=30 June 2022 }}</ref>

A documentary about Ferguson's career titled ''[[Sir Alex Ferguson: Never Give In]]'' was released in UK cinemas on 27 May 2021 and was made available on [[Amazon Prime Video]] in the UK and Ireland on 29 May. It includes interviews from Ferguson himself, his family, doctors and former players who he managed throughout his career.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/video/2021/apr/22/sir-alex-ferguson-never-give-in-manchester-united-documentary-video|title='I'm a Govan boy': clip from new Sir Alex Ferguson documentary – video|date=22 April 2021|website=theguardian.com}}</ref>

<gallery mode="packed" heights="250" caption="Statues of Sir Alex Ferguson">
File:Statue of Sir Alex Ferguson at Pittodrie.jpg|alt=statue of football manager in suit with hand held aloft in celebration|Statue of Sir Alex Ferguson at [[Pittodrie Stadium]] by Andy Edwards, unveiled 25 February 2022
File:A statue of Sir Alex Ferguson at Old Trafford.jpg|alt=statue of man in long coat|Sir Alex Ferguson statue installed at Old Trafford on 23 November 2012
</gallery>

==Personal life==
Ferguson lives in [[Wilmslow]], Cheshire, and was married to Cathy Holding from 1966 until her death in October 2023.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Media |first=P. A. |date=2023-10-06 |title=Cathy Ferguson, wife of former Manchester United manager Sir Alex, dies aged 84 |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2023/oct/06/cathy-ferguson-wife-of-former-manchester-united-manager-sir-alex-dies-aged-84 |access-date=2023-10-06 |issn=0261-3077}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first=Mike |last=Keegan |url=http://menmedia.co.uk/manchestereveningnews/news/s/1418424_home-defeat-for-sir-alex-ferguson-as-wife-bans-football-from-their-house |title=Home defeat for Sir Alex Ferguson as wife bans football from their house |newspaper=Manchester Evening News |date=20 April 2011 |access-date=12 July 2011 |archive-date=24 April 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120424165002/http://menmedia.co.uk/manchestereveningnews/news/s/1418424_home-defeat-for-sir-alex-ferguson-as-wife-bans-football-from-their-house |url-status=dead }}</ref> They had three sons together: Mark (born 1968); and twins [[Darren Ferguson|Darren]],<ref>{{cite web |title=Lady Cathy Ferguson, the wife of former Man Utd manager Sir Alex Ferguson, dies |url=https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11667/12978325/lady-cathy-the-wife-of-former-man-utd-manager-sir-alex-ferguson-dies |website=Sky Sports |access-date=6 October 2023 |language=en}}</ref> who was also a professional footballer and currently the manager of [[Peterborough United F.C.|Peterborough United]]; and Jason (born 1972), who runs an events management company.{{citation needed|date=March 2019}} Jason directed the 2021 documentary ''[[Sir Alex Ferguson: Never Give In]]'' about his father.

In 1998, Ferguson was named in a list of the biggest private financial donors to the [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour Party]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/161057.stm |title=UK Politics &#124; 'Luvvies' for Labour |work=BBC News |date=30 August 1998|access-date=30 October 2009}}</ref> He is a self-described [[socialist]].<ref>{{cite news |title=The socialist international |url=https://www.economist.com/news/britain/21577383-sir-alex-ferguson-embraced-world-and-conquered-it-his-left-wing-fans-should-take-note |date=11 May 2013 |access-date=9 May 2013 |newspaper=The Economist}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Ferguson provides food for thought |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/2314718/Ferguson-provides-food-for-thought.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220110/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/2314718/Ferguson-provides-food-for-thought.html |archive-date=10 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |first=Mark |last=Ogden |date=6 June 2007 |access-date=9 May 2013 |work=The Daily Telegraph |location=London}}{{cbignore}}</ref> In January 2011 [[Graham Stringer]], a Labour MP in [[Manchester]] and Manchester United supporter, called for Ferguson to be made a [[life peer]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Good lord! Could United boss Alex Ferguson be made a top toff? |url=http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/good-lord-could-united-boss-852651 |date=27 January 2011 |access-date=9 May 2013 |newspaper=Manchester Evening News |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203084401/http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/good-lord-could-united-boss-852651 |archive-date=3 December 2013 }}</ref> Stringer and fellow Manchester Labour MP [[Paul Goggins]] repeated this call after Ferguson announced his retirement in May 2013.<ref>{{cite news |title=MPs call for Sir Alex Ferguson to be made a Lord |url=http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/mps-call-sir-alex-ferguson-3566748 |date=9 May 2013 |access-date=9 May 2013 |newspaper=Manchester Evening News}}</ref>

In 2009, Ferguson received an honorary doctorate in business administration from the [[Manchester Metropolitan University]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mmu.ac.uk/news/news-items/1097/ |title=Sir Alex Ferguson honoured & Events &#124; Manchester Metropolitan University |publisher=Mmu.ac.uk |date=14 July 2009 |access-date=4 October 2013 |archive-date=7 November 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161107000102/http://www.mmu.ac.uk/news/news-items/1097/ |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sci-eng.mmu.ac.uk/news_and_events/news/news_view.asp?news_id=175 |title=News |publisher=Sci-eng.mmu.ac.uk |access-date=4 October 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131004232747/http://www.sci-eng.mmu.ac.uk/news_and_events/news/news_view.asp?news_id=175 |archive-date=4 October 2013 }}</ref>

As well as having an ambassadorial role at Manchester United and other public speaking and charity engagements in retirement, he is a long-term patron of his childhood team Harmony Row, including a successful campaign for the club to have new facilities (they are now based at [[Braehead]]).<ref name=upbringing/><ref name=blackash/><ref>{{cite news|title=Fergie visits Harmony Row|url=https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/local-sport/fergie-visits-harmony-row-2627492|date=23 September 2008 |access-date=29 August 2019|work=Daily Record}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Sir Alex Ferguson: "Inspiration is just as important as education"|url=https://www.bigissue.com/interviews/sir-alex-ferguson-inspiration-just-important-education/|date=24 November 2014 |access-date=29 August 2019|work=The Big Issue}}</ref><ref>[https://www.harmonyrow.club/history Our vision and history] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190829005648/https://www.harmonyrow.club/history |date=29 August 2019 }}, Harmony Row Club</ref>

In the [[2014 Scottish independence referendum]], Ferguson supported Scotland remaining in the United Kingdom.<ref name = "referendum"/> He criticised the [[Scottish Government]] and [[First Minister of Scotland|First Minister]] [[Alex Salmond]] for denying the vote to Scots living in the UK but outside Scotland.<ref name = "referendum"/> He also objected to the self-imposed rule by the [[Yes Scotland]] campaign against accepting donations from people living outside Scotland of more than £500, which they urged the [[Better Together (campaign)|No campaign]] to also adopt.<ref name = "referendum">{{cite news |url=http://www.scotsman.com/news/alex-salmond-silencing-scots-says-sir-alex-ferguson-1-2694386 |title=Alex Salmond 'silencing' Scots, says Sir Alex Ferguson |work=The Scotsman |publisher=Johnston Publishing |first=Eddie |last=Barnes |date=16 December 2012 |access-date=26 August 2013}}</ref>

Ferguson underwent an emergency surgery on 5 May 2018, after having a [[brain haemorrhage]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/44019175|title=Sir Alex Ferguson: Former Manchester United boss has emergency surgery |date=5 May 2018|work=BBC Sport|access-date=5 May 2018}}</ref> He made a recovery from the surgery and attended his first match at Old Trafford since then on 22 September 2018.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11667/11505036/sir-alex-ferguson-returns-to-old-trafford-following-recovery-from-brain-surgery |title=Sir Alex Ferguson returns to Old Trafford following-recovery from brain surgery |date=22 September 2018 |access-date=24 September 2018 |work=Sky Sports}}</ref>

In 1991, Ferguson became a [[wine]] collector after being shown a display of bottles from [[Château d'Yquem]] and [[Château Pétrus]] while in [[Montpellier]], France.<ref>{{cite web |last=Mercer |first=Chris |url=https://www.decanter.com/interviews/decanter-interview-sir-alex-ferguson-12467/ |title=Decanter Interview: Sir Alex Ferguson on wine |date=5 June 2014 |access-date=17 December 2020 |work=[[Decanter (magazine)|Decanter]]}}</ref> In 2014, he put part of his vast collection up for auction with [[Christie's]], with their head of wine David Elswood describing his taste as "exceptional",<ref>{{cite web |last=Rawlinson |first=Kevin |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2014/may/24/alex-ferguson-wine-collection-auction |title=Sir Alex Ferguson begins selling wine collection to make space for new finds |date=24 May 2014 |access-date=17 December 2020 |work=The Guardian}}</ref> valued at up to £3 million.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-27048415 |title=Sir Alex Ferguson wine collection auction could make £3m |date=16 April 2014 |access-date=17 December 2020 |work=BBC News}}</ref> After the first of three auctions, Ferguson had sold 229 lots for £2.2 million.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/news/sir-alex-ferguson-sells-part-his-wine-collection-ps2-2m-first-three-hong-kong-auctions-9430853.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210425002545/https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/news/sir-alex-ferguson-sells-part-his-wine-collection-ps2-2m-first-three-hong-kong-auctions-9430853.html |archive-date=2021-04-25 |url-access=limited |url-status=live |title=Sir Alex Ferguson sells part of his wine collection for £2.2m in the first of three Hong Kong auctions |date=24 May 2014 |access-date=17 December 2020 |work=[[The Independent]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-27558222 |title=Sir Alex Ferguson's wine collection sells for £2.2m |date=24 May 2014 |access-date=17 December 2020 |work=BBC News}}</ref>

After retiring from managing Manchester United in 2013, Ferguson continued to serve as an ambassador and director for the club. In October 2024, it was announced that at the end of the season he will leave his official role as club ambassador.<ref name=":0" />

==Honours==
===Player===
'''St Johnstone'''
*[[Scottish Football League Division Two|Scottish Division Two]]: [[1962–63 Scottish Division Two|1962–63]]

'''Falkirk'''
*Scottish Division Two: [[1969–70 Scottish Division Two|1969–70]]

'''Individual'''
*[[Scottish Football League Division One|Scottish Division One]] top scorer: [[1965–66 Scottish Division One|1965–66]]<ref name="top goalscorer" />
*[[Dunfermline Athletic F.C.|Dunfermline Athletic]] Hall of Fame: [[2006–07 Dunfermline Athletic F.C. season|2006–07]]<ref>{{ cite news | url = https://www.dunfermlinepress.com/news/16193599.fergie-time-sir-alex-makes-east-end-return/ | newspaper = Dunfermline Press | date = 30 April 2018 | access-date = 1 June 2022 | title = It's Fergie time as Sir Alex makes East End return }}</ref>
*[[Queen's Park F.C.|Queen's Park]] Lifetime Membership Award: October 2012<ref>{{ cite news | url = https://spfl.co.uk/news/sir-alex-ferguson-given-unique-honour-by-queens-park | publisher = [[SPFL]] | date = 4 October 2012 | access-date = 1 June 2022| title = SIR ALEX FERGUSON GIVEN UNIQUE HONOUR BY QUEEN'S PARK }}</ref>

===Manager===
{{BLP sources section|date=March 2019}}
Ferguson was made an Inaugural Inductee of the [[English Football Hall of Fame]] in 2002 in recognition of his impact on the English game as a manager.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Marshall |first=Adam |date=2023 |title=Sir Alex Ferguson inducted into Premier League Hall of Fame |url=https://www.manutd.com/en/news/detail/sir-alex-ferguson-inducted-into-premier-league-hall-of-fame}}</ref> In 2003, Ferguson became an inaugural recipient of the FA Coaching Diploma, awarded to all coaches who had at least ten years' experience of being a manager or head coach.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/6189330.stm |title=What is a Uefa Pro Licence? |first=Alistair |last=Magowan |work=BBC Sport |date=23 June 2008 |access-date=29 May 2011}}</ref> He is the Vice-President of the [[National Football Museum]], based in [[Manchester]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nationalfootballmuseum.com/pages/misc/NFM%20trustees.htm |title=National Football Museum; Honorary Presidents & Trustees |work=National Football Museum |access-date=12 July 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110606004154/http://www.nationalfootballmuseum.com/pages/misc/NFM%20trustees.htm |archive-date=6 June 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref> and a member of the Executive Committee of the [[League Managers Association]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.leaguemanagers.com/_global/downloads/lmabrochure.pdf |title=League Managers Association 2011–12 |work=League Managers Association |access-date=12 July 2011 |year=2011 |page=12 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120126020912/http://www.leaguemanagers.com/_global/downloads/lmabrochure.pdf |archive-date=26 January 2012}}</ref> On 5 November 2011, the Old Trafford North Stand was officially renamed the Sir Alex Ferguson Stand in honour of his 25 years as manager of Manchester United.<ref>{{cite news |title=Man Utd rename Old Trafford stand in Ferguson's honour |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/15607907.stm |work=BBC News |date=5 November 2011|access-date=5 November 2011}}</ref>

In addition to being the only manager to win the top league honours, and the 'Double', north and south of the England–Scotland border (winning the Premier League with Manchester United, and the Scottish Premier Division with Aberdeen), he is also the last manager to win the [[List of Scottish football champions|Scottish league championship]] with a non [[Old Firm]] team, achieving this in the [[1984–85 in Scottish football|1984–85]] season with [[Aberdeen F.C.|Aberdeen]].<ref name=":16" />

Ferguson is the [[List of UEFA club competition winning managers|second-most decorated manager]] in European football competitions with seven honours, behind only [[Carlo Ancelotti]]. Ferguson won the top division title in England a record 13 times. He is also the first manager in the history of the English league to win three consecutive league titles, which he did twice.<ref name=":16" /> Ferguson won 10 Manager of the Year awards, 27 Manager of the Month awards, and managed the most games in the UEFA Champions League (190).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nationalfootballmuseum.com/halloffame/sir-alex-ferguson |title=Sir Alex Ferguson |publisher=National Football Museum |access-date=16 October 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/news/2013/5/sir-alex-ferguson-retires-manchester-united-managers-record-breaking-legacy-48556/ |title=Sir Alex Ferguson retires: Manchester United manager's record-breaking legacy |first=Kevin |last=Lynch |work=Guinness World Records |date=8 May 2013 |access-date=8 October 2015}}</ref> In 2017, Ferguson was named among the 10 most influential coaches since the foundation of [[UEFA]] in 1954.<ref>{{cite news|date=13 January 2017|title=Coaching greats in profile|url=http://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/newsid=2435568.html|website=UEFA.com: The official website for European football|access-date=17 January 2017}}</ref>

'''St Mirren'''
*[[Scottish Football League First Division|Scottish First Division]]: [[1976–77 Scottish First Division|1976–77]]

'''Aberdeen'''
*[[Scottish Football League Premier Division|Scottish Premier Division]]: [[1979–80 Scottish Premier Division|1979–80]], [[1983–84 Scottish Premier Division|1983–84]], [[1984–85 Scottish Premier Division|1984–85]]
*[[Scottish Cup]]: [[1981–82 Scottish Cup|1981–82]], [[1982–83 Scottish Cup|1982–83]], [[1983–84 Scottish Cup|1983–84]], [[1985–86 Scottish Cup|1985–86]]
*[[Scottish League Cup]]: [[1985–86 Scottish League Cup|1985–86]]
*[[Drybrough Cup]]: 1980
*[[UEFA Cup Winners' Cup|European Cup Winners' Cup]]: [[1982–83 European Cup Winners' Cup|1982–83]]
*[[UEFA Super Cup|European Super Cup]]: [[1983 European Super Cup|1983]]

'''Manchester United'''
*[[Premier League]]: [[1992–93 FA Premier League|1992–93]], [[1993–94 FA Premier League|1993–94]], [[1995–96 FA Premier League|1995–96]], [[1996–97 FA Premier League|1996–97]], [[1998–99 FA Premier League|1998–99]], [[1999–2000 FA Premier League|1999–2000]], [[2000–01 FA Premier League|2000–01]], [[2002–03 FA Premier League|2002–03]], [[2006–07 FA Premier League|2006–07]], [[2007–08 Premier League|2007–08]], [[2008–09 Premier League|2008–09]], [[2010–11 Premier League|2010–11]], [[2012–13 Premier League|2012–13]]<ref name=PremProfile>{{cite web |url=https://www.premierleague.com/managers/344/Alex-Ferguson/overview |title=Manager profile: Alex Ferguson |publisher=Premier League |access-date=14 September 2018}}</ref>
*[[FA Cup]]: [[1989–90 FA Cup|1989–90]], [[1993–94 FA Cup|1993–94]], [[1995–96 FA Cup|1995–96]], [[1998–99 FA Cup|1998–99]], [[2003–04 FA Cup|2003–04]]<ref name=ManUtdHonours>{{cite web |url=http://www.manutd.com/en/Players-And-Staff/Managers/Alex-Ferguson.aspx?section=Trophies |title=Trophies: Sir Alex Ferguson |publisher=Manchester United F.C. |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130825160002/http://www.manutd.com/en/Players-And-Staff/Managers/Alex-Ferguson.aspx?section=Trophies |archive-date=25 August 2013 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
*[[EFL Cup|Football League Cup]]: [[1991–92 Football League Cup|1991–92]], [[2005–06 Football League Cup|2005–06]], [[2008–09 Football League Cup|2008–09]], [[2009–10 Football League Cup|2009–10]]<ref name=ManUtdHonours/>
*[[FA Community Shield|FA Charity/Community Shield]]: [[1990 FA Charity Shield|1990]] (shared), [[1993 FA Charity Shield|1993]], [[1994 FA Charity Shield|1994]], [[1996 FA Charity Shield|1996]], [[1997 FA Charity Shield|1997]], [[2003 FA Community Shield|2003]], [[2007 FA Community Shield|2007]], [[2008 FA Community Shield|2008]], [[2010 FA Community Shield|2010]], [[2011 FA Community Shield|2011]]<ref name=ManUtdHonours/>
*[[UEFA Champions League]]: [[1998–99 UEFA Champions League|1998–99]], [[2007–08 UEFA Champions League|2007–08]];<ref name=ManUtdHonours/> runner-up: [[2008–09 UEFA Champions League|2008–09]],<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/europe/8060878.stm |title=Barcelona 2–0 Man Utd |first=Phil |last=McNulty |website=BBC Sport |date=27 May 2009 |access-date=31 May 2021}}</ref> [[2010–11 UEFA Champions League|2010–11]]<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/13576522 |title=Barcelona 3–1 Man Utd |first=Phil |last=McNulty |website=BBC Sport |date=28 May 2011 |access-date=31 May 2021}}</ref>
*European Cup Winners' Cup: [[1990–91 European Cup Winners' Cup|1990–91]]<ref name=ManUtdHonours/>
*European Super Cup: [[1991 European Super Cup|1991]]<ref name=ManUtdHonours/>
*[[Intercontinental Cup (football)|Intercontinental Cup]]: [[1999 Intercontinental Cup|1999]]<ref name=ManUtdHonours/>
*[[FIFA Club World Cup]]: [[2008 FIFA Club World Cup|2008]]<ref name=ManUtdHonours/>

'''Individual'''
<!--LEAGUE AND FEDERATION-SANCTIONED AWARDS ONLY. No fan or magazine-voted awards. Listed in chronological order from last time won.-->
*LMA Manager of the Decade: 1990s
*[[League Managers Association Awards#LMA Manager of the Year|LMA Manager of the Year]]: [[1992–93 FA Premier League|1992–93]], [[1998–99 FA Premier League|1998–99]], [[2007–08 Premier League|2007–08]], [[2010–11 Premier League|2010–11]], [[2012–13 Premier League|2012–13]]
*[[League Managers Association Awards#Special Merit Award|LMA Special Merit Award]]: 2009, 2011
*[[Premier League Manager of the Season]]: [[1993–94 FA Premier League#Player and managerial awards|1993–94]], [[1995–96 FA Premier League#Player and managerial awards|1995–96]], [[1996–97 FA Premier League#Player and managerial awards|1996–97]], [[1998–99 FA Premier League|1998–99]], [[1999–2000 FA Premier League|1999–2000]], [[2002–03 FA Premier League#Annual awards|2002–03]], [[2006–07 FA Premier League#Annual awards|2006–07]], [[2007–08 Premier League#Annual awards|2007–08]], [[2008–09 Premier League#Annual awards|2008–09]], [[2010–11 Premier League#Annual awards|2010–11]], [[2012–13 Premier League#Annual awards|2012–13]]<ref name=PremProfile/>
*[[Premier League Manager of the Month]]: [[1993–94 FA Premier League#Managers of the Month|August 1993]], [[1994–95 FA Premier League#Monthly awards|October 1994]], [[1995–96 FA Premier League#Monthly awards|February 1996]], March 1996, [[1996–97 FA Premier League#Monthly awards|February 1997]], [[1997–98 FA Premier League#Monthly awards|October 1997]], [[1998–99 FA Premier League#Monthly awards|January 1999]], April 1999, [[1999–2000 FA Premier League#Monthly awards|August 1999]], March 2000, April 2000, [[2000–01 FA Premier League#Monthly awards|February 2001]], [[2002–03 FA Premier League#Monthly awards|April 2003]], [[2003–04 FA Premier League#Monthly awards|December 2003]], [[2004–05 FA Premier League#Monthly awards|February 2005]], [[2005–06 FA Premier League#Monthly awards|March 2006]], [[2006–07 FA Premier League#Monthly awards|August 2006]], October 2006, February 2007, [[2007–08 Premier League#Monthly awards|January 2008]], March 2008, [[2008–09 Premier League#Monthly awards|January 2009]], April 2009, [[2009–10 Premier League#Monthly awards|September 2009]], [[2010–11 Premier League#Monthly awards|January 2011]], [[2011–12 Premier League#Monthly awards|August 2011]], [[2012–13 Premier League#Monthly awards|October 2012]]<ref name=PremProfile/>
*[[UEFA Club Football Awards#Coach(es) of the Year|UEFA Manager of the Year]]: [[1998–99 UEFA Champions League|1998–99]]
*[[UEFA Team of the Year]]: [[UEFA Team of the Year#Team of the Year 2007|2007]], [[UEFA Team of the Year#Team of the Year 2008|2008]]
*[[Onze d'Or#Coach of the Year|Onze d'Or Coach of the Year]]: 1999, 2007, 2008
*[[World Soccer Magazine#Men's World Manager of the Year|World Soccer Magazine World Manager of the Year]]: 1993, 1999, 2007, 2008
*[[IFFHS World's Best Club Coach]]: 1999, 2008
*[[International Federation of Football History & Statistics|IFFHS World's Best Coach of the 21st Century]]: 2012
*IFFHS All Time World's Best Coach 1996–2020<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.iffhs.com/posts/974 |title=IFFHS ALL TIME RANKING OF THE WORLD'S BEST COACH (1996-2020) |website=IFFHS |date=25 February 2021}}</ref>
*[[Laureus World Sports Award for Team of the Year]]: 2000
*[[BBC Sports Personality of the Year Coach Award]]: 1999
*[[BBC Sports Personality Team of the Year Award]]: 1999
*[[BBC Sports Personality of the Year Lifetime Achievement Award]]: 2001
*[[World Soccer (magazine)|World Soccer Greatest Manager of All Time]]: 2013
*[[ESPN]] Greatest Manager of All Time: 2013<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.in/football/news/story/_/id/1517451/alex-ferguson|title=Greatest Managers, No. 1: Alex Ferguson|date=9 August 2013|website=ESPN|access-date=21 August 2020|archive-date=3 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210203184240/https://www.espn.in/football/news/story/_/id/1517451/alex-ferguson|url-status=dead}}</ref>
*[[France Football]] 2nd Greatest Manager of All Time: 2019<ref>{{cite web|url=https://onefootball.com/en/news/france-football-ranks-the-50-greatest-managers-of-all-time-24780937|title=📸 France Football ranks the 50 greatest managers of all-time|website=OneFootball|date=5 January 2024 }}</ref>
*''[[Sports Illustrated]]'' Greatest Manager of All Time: 2019<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.si.com/soccer/2019/08/20/50-greatest-football-managers-all-time|title= The 50 Greatest Football Managers of All Time|publisher= Sports Illustrated |date=20 August 2019}}</ref>
* [[Globe Soccer Awards#2020|Globe Soccer Awards]] Coach of the Century 2001–2020 (2nd among the runners-up)<ref>{{cite web |title=Man City boss Pep Guardiola named Coach of the Century |url=https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/guardiola-coach-century-man-city-19526691 |work=Manchester Evening News |date=27 December 2020 |access-date=8 April 2022}}</ref>
*[[2013 BBC Sports Personality of the Year Award|BBC Sports Personality Diamond Award]]: 2013
*[[English Football Hall of Fame#2002 Inaugural Inductees|English Football Hall of Fame (Manager)]]: 2002
*[[Scottish Football Hall of Fame]]: 2004
*[[English Football Hall of Fame#2008 Special Awards – European Hall of Fame|European Hall of Fame (Manager)]]: 2008
*[[FIFA Presidential Award]]: 2011
*[[Premier League 10 Seasons Awards]] ([[1992–93 FA Premier League|1992–93]] – [[2001–02 FA Premier League|2001–02]])
**Manager of the Decade
**Most Coaching Appearances (392 games)
*[[Premier League 20 Seasons Awards]] ([[1992–93 FA Premier League|1992–93]] – [[2011–12 Premier League|2011–12]])
**Best Manager
*[[FWA Tribute Award]]: 1996
*[[PFA Merit Award]]: [[PFA Merit Award#2000s|2007]]
*Premier League Merit Award: 2012–13
*[[Mussabini Medal]]: 1999
*[[Scottish Football Association|SFA]] Special Merit Award: 1985<ref>{{ cite news | newspaper = [[The Guardian]] | url = https://amp.theguardian.com/football/2020/dec/27/jim-mclean-obituary  | title = Dundee United's Jim McLean | date = 27 December 2020 | access-date = 11 May 2022 }}</ref> 
* VCGB Scottish Sports Personality of the Year: 1983<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/BL/0000445/19830427/446/0016?browse=False | title = Varsity Club award for Aberdeen boss | newspaper = [[Evening Express (Scotland)|Evening Express]] | access-date = 11 May 2022 | date = 27 April 1983 | via = [[British Newspaper Archive]] | url-access=subscription }}</ref>
* Scottish Football Personality of the Year: [[1979–80 in Scottish football|1979–80]], [[1982–83 in Scottish football|1982–83]]<ref>{{ cite news | url = https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000578/19800530/379/0027 | title = Ferguson's Award | newspaper = [[The Press and Journal (Scotland)|Press & Journal]] | access-date = 11 May 2022 | date = 30 May 1980 | via = British Newspaper Archive | url-access=subscription }}<br>{{ cite news | url = https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000445/19830526/478/0020 | title = Fergie soccer Scot of the year | newspaper = Evening Express | access-date = 11 May 2022 | date = 26 May 1983 | via = British Newspaper Archive | url-access=subscription }}</ref>
* [[Premier League Hall of Fame]]: 2023<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.premierleague.com/news/3123408 |title=Ferguson and Wenger inducted into Premier League Hall of Fame |date=29 March 2023 |publisher=Premier League |access-date=29 March 2023}}</ref>

===Orders and special awards===
*[[Order of the British Empire|Officer of the Order of the British Empire]] (OBE): [[1985 New Year Honours|1985 New Years Honours List]]<ref name="OBE" />
*[[Order of the British Empire|Commander of the Order of the British Empire]] (CBE): [[1995 New Year Honours|1995 New Years Honours List]]<ref name="CBE">{{London Gazette|issue=53893|page=9 |supp=y|date=30 December 1994}}</ref>
*[[Knight Bachelor]] (Kt.): [[1999 Birthday Honours|1999 Queen's Birthday Honours List]]<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=55513 |date=12 June 1999 |page=2 |supp=y}}</ref>
*[[Freedom of the City of Aberdeen]]: 1999
*Freedom of the [[Glasgow|City of Glasgow]]: 1999
*Freedom of the [[Manchester|City of Manchester]]: 2000
*Freedom of the [[Trafford|Borough of Trafford]]: 2013<ref>{{cite news |title=Sir Alex Ferguson to get freedom of Trafford and road name honour |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-manchester-24030048 |work=BBC News |date=10 September 2013 |access-date=8 April 2022}}</ref>

===Honorary degrees===
[[File:Alex Ferguson receiving honorary degree 1996.jpg|thumb|right|upright=.9|Ferguson receiving an honorary degree from [[Salford University]] in 1996]]
Ferguson has received at least eight [[honorary degree]]s.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.topuniversities.com/blog/sir-alex-fergusons-eight-degrees|title=Sir Alex Ferguson's Eight Degrees|date=8 May 2013|website=Top Universities}}</ref> These Include:

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Date !! University !! Degree
|-
| 1996 || [[University of Salford]] || [[Master of Arts]] (MA)<ref>{{Cite web |date=13 October 2016 |website=[[University of Salford]] |url=http://www.salford.ac.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0005/1060871/Honorary-Graduates-as-at-20161013.pdf |title=Honorary Graduates |page=7 |access-date=27 January 2019 |archive-date=27 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190127152650/http://www.salford.ac.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0005/1060871/Honorary-Graduates-as-at-20161013.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref>
|-
| December 1997 || [[Robert Gordon University]] || [[Doctor of Laws]] (LL.D)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www3.rgu.ac.uk/news-and-events/graduation/honorary-graduates|title=Honorary Graduates – News & Events – Robert Gordon University (RGU) Aberdeen Scotland|website=rgu.ac.uk|access-date=27 January 2019|archive-date=27 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190127153041/https://www3.rgu.ac.uk/news-and-events/graduation/honorary-graduates|url-status=dead}}</ref>
|-
| 2001 || [[Glasgow Caledonian University]] || Doctorate
|-
| 2002 || [[University of St Andrews]] || Doctorate
|-
| 2009 || [[Manchester Metropolitan University]] || [[Doctor of Business Administration]] (DBA)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www2.mmu.ac.uk/about-us/honorary-graduates/2011-1970/|title=Honorary Graduates 2011 – 1970, Manchester Metropolitan University|first=Manchester Metropolitan|last=University|website=Manchester Metropolitan University}}</ref>
|-
| 29 June 2011 || [[University of Stirling]] || [[Doctor of the University]] (D.Univ)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.stir.ac.uk/events/graduation/honorary-graduates/archive/2008---2017/|title=2008 – 2017 – About|website=University of Stirling|access-date=27 January 2019|archive-date=21 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190421080641/https://www.stir.ac.uk/events/graduation/honorary-graduates/archive/2008---2017/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
|-
| 12 October 2011 || [[University of Manchester]] || Doctorate<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.manchester.ac.uk/discover/news/article/?id=7532|title=Sir Alex receives University's highest honour on Foundation Day|website=The University of Manchester|access-date=27 January 2019|archive-date=4 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210204094408/https://www.manchester.ac.uk/discover/news/article/?id=7532|url-status=dead}}</ref>
|-
| 2014 || [[Ulster University]] || [[Doctor of Science]] (D.Sc)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ulster.ac.uk/about/governance/secretariat/honorary-graduates|title=Honorary graduates|website=ulster.ac.uk|date=8 July 2022 }}</ref>
|}

==Career statistics==
===As a player===
{| class=wikitable style="text-align:center"
|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
|-
!rowspan=2|Club
!rowspan=2|Season
!colspan=2|League
!colspan=2|[[Scottish Cup|Cup]]
!colspan=2|[[Scottish League Cup|League Cup]]
!colspan=2| [[UEFA#Club|Europe]]
!colspan=2|Total
|-
!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals
|-
|rowspan=4|[[Queen's Park F.C.|Queen's Park]]<ref name=QPFC/><ref name="NeilBrown">{{cite news|title=Alex Ferguson|url=http://www.neilbrown.newcastlefans.com/player/alexferguson.html|access-date=19 January 2018|work=Post War English & Scottish Football League A - Z Player's Transfer Database}}</ref>
|-
|[[1958–59 Scottish Second Division|1958–59]]
|8||4|| || || || ||colspan=2|—||8||4
|-
|[[1959–60 Scottish Second Division|1959–60]]
|23||11|| || || || ||colspan=2|—||23||11
|-
!Total
!31!!15!! !! !! !! !!colspan=2|—!!31!!15
|-
|rowspan=5|[[St Johnstone F.C.|St Johnstone]]<ref name="NeilBrown" />
|[[1960–61 Scottish First Division|1960–61]]
| || || || || || ||colspan=2|—|| ||
|-
|[[1961–62 Scottish First Division|1961–62]]
| || || || || || ||colspan=2|—|| ||
|-
|[[1962–63 Scottish Second Division|1962–63]]
| || || || || || ||colspan=2|—|| ||
|-
|[[1963–64 Scottish First Division|1963–64]]
| || || || || || ||colspan=2|—|| ||
|-
!Total
!37 !! 19 !! !! !! !! !!colspan=2|—!! !!
|-
|rowspan=4|[[Dunfermline Athletic F.C.|Dunfermline Athletic]]<ref name="NeilBrown" />
|[[1964–65 Scottish First Division|1964–65]]
| || || || || || || || || ||
|-
|[[1965–66 Scottish First Division|1965–66]]
| || || || || || || || || ||
|-
|[[1966–67 Scottish First Division|1966–67]]
| || || || || || || || || ||
|-
!Total
!89 !! 66 !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !!
|-
|rowspan=3|[[Rangers F.C.|Rangers]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fitbastats.com/rangers/player.php?playerid=1484|title=Rangers Player Alex Ferguson Details|website=fitbastats.com}}</ref>
|[[1967–68 Scottish First Division|1967–68]]
|29||19||5||0||6||2||6||3||46||24
|-
|[[1968–69 Scottish First Division|1968–69]]
|12||6||1||0||4||2||3||3||20||11
|-
!Total
!41 !! 25 !! 6 !! 0 !! 10 !! 4 !! 9 !! 6 !! 66 !! 35
|-
|rowspan=5|[[Falkirk F.C.|Falkirk]]
|[[1969–70 Scottish Second Division|1969–70]]<ref>''Rothmans Football Yearbook 1970–71'', pp. 724, 740–741. Queen Anne Press, London.</ref>
|21||15||3||3|| || ||colspan=2|—|| ||
|-
| [[1970–71 Scottish First Division|1970–71]]<ref>''Rothmans Football Yearbook 1971–72'', pp. 563, 537. Queen Anne Press, London.</ref>
|28||13||0||0||||||colspan=2|—|| ||
|-
| [[1971–72 Scottish First Division|1971–72]]<ref>''Rothmans Football Yearbook 1972–73'', pp. 648–649, 683–684, 688. Queen Anne Press, London.</ref>
|28||9||2||1||9||4||colspan=2|—||39||14
|-
|[[1972–73 Scottish First Division|1972–73]]<ref>''Rothmans Football Yearbook 1973–74'', pp. 572–573, 626–628. Queen Anne Press, London.</ref>
|18||0||2||1||0||0||colspan=2|—||20||1
|-
!Total
!95!!37!!7!!5!! !! !!colspan=2|—!! !!
|-
|rowspan=2|[[Ayr United F.C.|Ayr United]]
|[[1973–74 Scottish First Division|1973–74]]<ref>''Rothmans Football Yearbook 1974–75'', pp. 570–571, 642–644. Queen Anne Press, London.</ref>
|24||9||4||1||0||0||colspan=2|—||28||10
|-
!Total
!24!!9!!4!!1!!0!!0!!colspan=2|—!!28!!10
|-
!colspan=2|Career total
!317!!171!! !! !! !! !!6!!0!! !!
|}

===As a manager===
[[File:Old Trafford Technical Area Alex Ferguson Sam Allardyce.jpg|thumb|right|Ferguson managing Manchester United in 2009]]
{| class=wikitable style="text-align: center"
|+ Managerial record by team and tenure
|-
!rowspan=2|Team
!rowspan=2|From
!rowspan=2|To
!colspan=5|Record
!rowspan=2|{{abbr|Ref|Reference}}
|-
!{{abbr|P|Matches played}}!!{{abbr|W|Matches won}}!!{{abbr|D|Matches drawn}}!!{{abbr|L|Matches lost}}!!{{abbr|Win %|Win percentage}}
|-
|align=left|[[East Stirlingshire F.C.|East Stirlingshire]]
|align=left|June 1974
|align=left|October 1974
{{WDL|17|9|2|6|decimals=1}}
|<ref name="Boss greets landmark game">{{cite web |first1=Steve |last1=Bartram |first2=Adam |last2=Bostock |title=Boss greets landmark game |url=http://www.manutd.com/en/News-And-Features/Football-News/2010/Oct/Boss-greets-landmark-game.aspx |publisher=Manchester United F.C. |date=20 October 2010 |access-date=30 March 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121114184442/http://www.manutd.com/en/News-And-Features/Football-News/2010/Oct/Boss-greets-landmark-game.aspx|archive-date=14 November 2012}}</ref>
|-
|align=left|[[St Mirren F.C.|St Mirren]]
|align=left|October 1974
|align=left|May 1978
{{WDL|169|74|41|54|decimals=1}}
|<ref name="Boss greets landmark game"/>
|-
|align=left|[[Aberdeen F.C.|Aberdeen]]
|align=left|June 1978
|align=left|6 November 1986
{{WDL|459|272|105|82|decimals=1}}
|<ref name="Boss greets landmark game"/><ref>{{cite news |first=Benji |last=Inwood |title=Timeline: Sir Alex Ferguson's 25 years at Manchester United |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2011/nov/04/sir-alex-ferguson-25-years-manchester-united |newspaper=The Guardian |location=London |date=4 November 2011 |access-date=30 March 2017}}</ref>
|-
|align=left|[[Scotland men's national football team|Scotland]]
|align=left|1 October 1985
|align=left|30 June 1986
{{WDL|10|3|4|3|decimals=1}}
|<ref>{{cite web |title=History archives: Managers: Alex Ferguson |url=http://www.scottishfa.co.uk/football_manager_profile.cfm?page=3087&managerID=11 |publisher=Scottish Football Association |access-date=30 March 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170330083910/http://www.scottishfa.co.uk/football_manager_profile.cfm?page=3087&managerID=11 |archive-date=30 March 2017 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
|-
|align=left|[[Manchester United F.C.|Manchester United]]
|align=left|6 November 1986
|align=left|19 May 2013
{{WDL|1500|895|338|267|decimals=1}}
|<ref>{{cite web |title=Managers: Alex Ferguson |url=https://www.soccerbase.com/managers/manager.sd?manager_id=48 |work=Soccerbase |publisher=Centurycomm |access-date=30 March 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Sir Alex Ferguson Profile & MUFC Managerial Record|url=https://www.mufcinfo.com/manupag/managers/mangers_pages/ferguson_alex.html|access-date=9 December 2022 |website=www.mufcinfo.com}}</ref>
|-
!colspan=3|Total
{{WDLtot|2155|1253|490|412|decimals=1}}
!—
|}

==Published works==
* {{cite book | last1 = Ferguson | first1 = Alex | last2 = Meek | first2 = David | title = Alex Ferguson: 6 Years at United | publisher = Mainstream | year = 1992 | isbn = 978-1851584444 }}
* {{cite book | last1 = Ferguson | first1 = Alex | last2 = Fitton | first2 = Peter | title = Just Champion!| publisher = [[Manchester United Football Club]] | year = 1993 | isbn = 978-0952050919}}
* {{cite book | last1 = Ferguson | first1 = Alex | last2 = Ball | first2 = Peter | title = A Year in the Life: The Manager's Diary | publisher = [[Manchester United Football Club]] | year = 1995 | isbn = 978-1852275211}}
* {{cite book | last1 = Ferguson | first1 = Alex | last2 = Meek | first2 = David | title = A Will to Win: The Manager's Diary | publisher = Andre Deutsch | year = 1997 | isbn = 978-0233993683}}
* {{cite book | last = Ferguson | first = Alex | title = The Unique Treble | publisher = [[Hodder & Stoughton]] | year = 2000 | isbn = 978-0340792612}}
* {{cite book | first= Alex | last = Ferguson | title = Managing My Life: The Autobiography | publisher=Coronet Books |year = 2000 | isbn = 0-340-72856-6 }}
* {{cite book | first= Alex | last = Ferguson | title = My Autobiography | publisher=Hodder & Stoughton |year = 2013 | isbn = 978-0-340-91939-2|quote=The motto of the Ferguson clan in Scotland is: 'Dulcius ex asperis' or, 'Sweeter after difficulties'. That optimism served me well through 39 years of football management.}}
* {{cite book | last1 = Ferguson | first1 = Alex | last2 = Moritz | first2 = Michael | title = Leading: Lessons in leadership from the legendary Manchester United manager
 | publisher = Hachette UK | year = 2015 | isbn = 978-1473621169}}

==See also==
* [[List of English football championship winning managers]]
* [[List of longest managerial reigns in association football]]

==Notes==
{{reflist|25em}}

==References==
{{refbegin}}
* {{cite book |last=Barclay |first=Patrick |author-link=Patrick Barclay |title=Football – Bloody Hell!: The Biography of Alex Ferguson |publisher=Vintage |year=2010 |isbn=978-0-224-08305-8}}
* {{cite book |last=Crick |first=Michael |author-link=Michael Crick |title=The Boss: The Many Sides of Alex Ferguson |url=https://archive.org/details/bossmanysidesofa0000cric |url-access=registration |publisher=Pocket Books |year=2003 |isbn=0-7434-2991-5}}
* {{cite book |last=Ferguson |first=Alex |title=Managing My Life: The Autobiography |publisher=Coronet Books |year=2000 |isbn=0-340-72856-6}}
* {{cite book |last=Ferguson |first=Alex |title=My Autobiography |publisher=[[Hodder & Stoughton]] |year=2013 |isbn=978-0-340-91939-2}}
{{refend}}

==External links==
{{sisterlinks|commons=category:Alex Ferguson|b=no|v=no|voy=no|s=no|wikt=no|mw=no|species=no|m=no|d=Q44980}}
* [http://www.mufcinfo.com/manupag/managers/mangers_pages/ferguson_alex.html Sir Alex Ferguson's Manchester United Managerial Record] at mufcinfo.com
* {{soccerbase (manager)|id=48|name=Alex Ferguson}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20071115234412/http://www.nationalfootballmuseum.com/pages/fame/Inductees/alexferguson.htm English Football Hall of Fame profile] (archived 15 November 2007)
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20170302191134/http://www.stretfordend.co.uk/managers/ferguson.html Sir Alex Ferguson's managerial stats according to the official Manchester United statistics website] (archived 2 March 2017)
* [http://scottishfootballhalloffame.co.uk/sir-alex-ferguson-1941/ Scottish Football Hall of Fame profile] ({{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170904164954/http://scottishfootballhalloffame.co.uk/sir-alex-ferguson-1941/ |date=4 September 2017 }})
* [http://www.afcheritage.org/Team/Manager/index.cfm?manager_id=11 Aberdeen Manager profile at ''AFC Heritage Trust'']
* {{UEFA coach|43187}}

{{Scotland squad 1986 FIFA World Cup}}
{{Navboxes
|title = Awards
|bg = Gold
|fg = navy
|list1=
{{Scottish First Division top scorers}}
{{Intercontinental Cup winning managers}}
{{FIFA Club World Cup winning managers}}
{{European Cup / Champions League winning managers}}
{{UEFA Cup Winners' Cup winning managers}}
{{UEFA Super Cup winning managers}}
{{English Football First Tier League Championship winning managers}}
{{FA Cup winning managers}}
{{EFL Cup winning managers}}
{{Scottish Football First Tier League Championship winning managers}}
{{Scottish Cup winning managers}}
{{Scottish League Cup winning managers}}
{{Onze Mondial European Coach of the Year}}
{{IFFHS World's Best Club Coach}}
{{League Managers Association Manager of the Year}}
{{Premier League Manager of the Year}}
{{2007 UEFA Team of the Year}}
{{2008 UEFA Team of the Year}}
{{BBC Sports Personality of the Year Lifetime Achievement Award}}
{{FWA Tribute Award}}
{{English Football Hall of Fame}}
{{Premier League Hall of Fame}}
{{Scottish Football Hall of Fame}}
{{Aberdeen F.C. Hall of Fame}}
{{Dunfermline Athletic F.C. Hall of Fame}}
}}
{{Navboxes
| title = Managerial positions
| list1 = 
{{East Stirlingshire F.C. managers}}
{{St Mirren F.C. managers}}
{{Aberdeen F.C. managers}}
{{Scotland national football team managers}}
{{Manchester United F.C. managers}}
}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ferguson, Alex}}
[[Category:Alex Ferguson| ]]
[[Category:1941 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:20th-century Scottish autobiographers]]
[[Category:21st-century Scottish autobiographers]]
[[Category:20th-century Scottish writers]]
[[Category:21st-century Scottish writers]]
[[Category:1986 FIFA World Cup managers]]
[[Category:Aberdeen F.C. managers]]
[[Category:Association football people awarded knighthoods]]
[[Category:Ayr United F.C. players]]
[[Category:BBC Sports Personality Lifetime Achievement Award recipients]]
[[Category:Commanders of the Order of the British Empire]]
[[Category:Drumchapel Amateur F.C. players]]
[[Category:Dunfermline Athletic F.C. players]]
[[Category:East Stirlingshire F.C. managers]]
[[Category:English Football Hall of Fame inductees]]
[[Category:English Football League managers]]
[[Category:Falkirk F.C. players]]
[[Category:Footballers from Glasgow]]
[[Category:Knights Bachelor]]
[[Category:Labour Party (UK) donors]]
[[Category:Manchester United F.C. managers]]
[[Category:Men's association football forwards]]
[[Category:People educated at Govan High School]]
[[Category:People from Govan]]
[[Category:Premier League Hall of Fame inductees]]
[[Category:Premier League managers]]
[[Category:Queen's Park F.C. players]]
[[Category:Scottish men's footballers]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from Wilmslow]]
[[Category:St Johnstone F.C. players]]
[[Category:Rangers F.C. players]]
[[Category:St Mirren F.C. managers]]
[[Category:Scotland men's amateur international footballers]]
[[Category:Scotland men's international footballers]]
[[Category:Scottish Football League representative players]]
[[Category:Scottish football managers]]
[[Category:Scotland national football team managers]]
[[Category:Scottish Football Hall of Fame inductees]]
[[Category:Scottish Football League managers]]
[[Category:Scottish Football League players]]
[[Category:Scottish league football top scorers]]
[[Category:Scottish racehorse owners and breeders]]
[[Category:Scottish socialists]]
[[Category:UEFA Champions League–winning managers]]