sir alex ferguson my autobiography

Enjoy Prime FREE for 30 days

Here's what Amazon Prime has to offer:

Buy new: $39.28 $39.28 FREE delivery Tuesday, April 30 Ships from: Amazon Sold by: Neco Exim

Buy used: $14.97.

Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet or computer – no Kindle device required .

Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.

Using your mobile phone camera, scan the code below and download the Kindle app.

Image Unavailable

• To view this video, download Flash Player

Follow the author

Alex Ferguson: My Autobiography Hardcover – Nov. 26 2013

There is a newer edition of this item:.

Purchase options and add-ons

Sir Alex announced his retirement as manager of Manchester United after 27 years in the role. He has gone out in a blaze of glory, with United winning the Premier League for the 13th time, and he is widely considered to be the greatest manager in the history of British football. Over the last quarter of a century there have been seismic changes at Manchester United. The only constant element has been the quality of the manager's league-winning squad and United's run of success, which included winning the Champions League for a second time in 2008. Sir Alex created a purposeful, but welcoming, and much envied culture at the club which has lasted the test of time. Sir Alex saw Manchester United change from a conventional football club to what is now a major business enterprise, and he never failed to move with the times. It was directly due to his vision, energy and ability that he was able to build teams both on and off the pitch. He was a man-manager of phenomenal skill, and increasingly he had to deal with global stars. His relationship with Cristiano Ronaldo, for instance, was excellent and David Beckham has described Sir Alex as a father figure. Over the past four years, Sir Alex has been reflecting on and jotting down the highlights of his extraordinary career and in his new book he will reveal his amazing story as it unfolded, from his very early days in the tough shipyard areas of Govan.

• Print length 402 pages
• Language English
• Publisher Hodder & Stoughton
• Publication date Nov. 26 2013
• Dimensions 15.24 x 3.81 x 22.86 cm
• ISBN-10 9780340919392
• ISBN-13 978-0340919392
• See all details

Frequently bought together

What other items do customers buy after viewing this item?

Product description

About the author, product details.

• ASIN ‏ : ‎ 0340919396
• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Hodder & Stoughton (Nov. 26 2013)
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 402 pages
• ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 9780340919392
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0340919392
• Item weight ‏ : ‎ 756 g
• Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 15.24 x 3.81 x 22.86 cm
• #159 in Soccer Sport Biographies
• #264 in Soccer Biographies

About the author

Alex ferguson.

Discover more of the author’s books, see similar authors, read author blogs and more

Customer reviews

Reviews with images.

• Sort reviews by Top reviews Most recent Top reviews

Top reviews from Canada

There was a problem filtering reviews right now. please try again later..

Top reviews from other countries

• Amazon and Our Planet
• Investor Relations
• Press Releases
• Amazon Science
• Sell on Amazon
• Supply to Amazon
• Become an Affiliate
• Protect & Build Your Brand
• Sell on Amazon Handmade
• Advertise Your Products
• Independently Publish with Us
• Host an Amazon Hub
• Amazon.ca Rewards Mastercard
• Shop with Points
• Reload Your Balance
• Amazon Currency Converter
• Amazon Cash
• Shipping Rates & Policies
• Amazon Prime
• Returns Are Easy
• Manage your Content and Devices
• Recalls and Product Safety Alerts
• Customer Service
• Conditions of Use
• Privacy Notice
• Interest-Based Ads
• Amazon.com.ca ULC | 40 King Street W 47th Floor, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M5H 3Y2 |1-877-586-3230

Sign up and read for free!

By signing up, you will get a free 7-day Trial to enjoy everything that 12min has to offer.

New Year, New You, New Heights. 🥂🍾 Kick Off 2024 with 70% OFF!

Operation Rescue is underway: 70% OFF on 12Min Premium!

My Autobiography - critical summary review

This microbook is a summary/original review based on the book:   Alex Ferguson: My Autobiography

Available for:  Read online, read in our mobile apps for iPhone/Android and send in PDF/EPUB/MOBI to Amazon Kindle .

ISBN:   1473611083

Publisher:   Melville House

Critical summary review

Widely considered one of the greatest managers of all time, Sir Alex Ferguson holds the distinction of being the longest-tenured manager in the history of one of the most popular football clubs in the world, Manchester United. During his 26 years with the club (1986-2013), Ferguson won an unprecedented 38 trophies, including 13 Premier League titles, 5 FA Cups, and 2 UEFA Champions League titles. This, coupled with the 12 trophies he had won as manager of St. Mirren and Aberdeen previously, makes him the most successful coach in the history of the beautiful game.

Published soon after his retirement in 2013, My Autobiography might not be the first book of its kind – in 2000, Ferguson co-authored another memoir, titled Managing My Life with Hugh McIlvanney – but it is certainly (as of yet) the most complete. We tried to pack its most interesting bits into several brief and, we believe, intriguing sections. So, get ready to learn everything you need to know about Sir Alex Ferguson and his times – from his humble beginnings in Scotland through his most successful years as a Manchester United manager all the way to his last campaign and his final bow.

Per aspera ad astra… or, better yet, dulcius ex asperis

Despite being born in a working-class family in the relatively unimportant district of Govan – a part of the city of Glasgow – Sir Alex Ferguson grew to become arguably the most famous manager in football history. “Alex Ferguson has done really well in his life despite coming from Govan,” claimed a newspaper article written in the later stages of his career. In the opinion of Ferguson himself, the preposition of the sentence is wrong. “It’s precisely because I started out in the shipbuilding district of Glasgow that I achieved what I did in football,” he writes, smirking away the backhanded compliment. His working-class background, he goes on, wasn’t a barrier to success, but a motivation and part of the reason he excelled – just as it was for many of his players. Per aspera ad astra, or “through hardships to the stars,” believed the ancient Romans. The motto of the Ferguson clan in Scotland, Alex informs us, is the related and, arguably, even more inspirational dulcius ex asperis – or, “sweeter after difficulties.” For a reason, it seems. 

Football career as a player

Even though primarily known as a manager, Alex Ferguson was quite a good football player as well. He debuted as an amateur striker at the age of 16 for the Scottish second-division football club Queen’s Park – while still working in a Glasgow shipyard. His professional football career began seven years later when he signed with first-division Dunfermline Athletic. During the following season (1965-66), Ferguson tied for the league lead in scoring by tallying 31 goals, and a season later, for a then-record £65,000 fee, he was transferred to his hometown club Glasgow Rangers. Ferguson played for two other clubs (Falkirk and Ayr United) before retiring in 1974 at the age of 32. During his playing career, he scored a respectable 218 goals in 415 games and won two Scottish Division Two titles. But that, of course, is not why his autobiography sold millions of copies.

Pre-Manchester United coaching career

In June 1974, barely retired from his playing days, Ferguson got an offer to become part-time manager of East Stirlingshire. In the four brief months that he held that job, he quickly earned a reputation as being both a disciplinarian and an extremely talented coach, so he was invited to coach St. Mirren in October. He remained there until 1978, a period during which he transformed the club from a lower-half Second Division side to a First Division champion in 1977 – despite concurrently running two pubs as well! Even so, he was sacked by the club, partly because Ferguson had breached his contract by talking to Aberdeen to become their next manager. 

That happened in June 1978, and during the next eight years with Aberdeen, Ferguson managed to win three Scottish Premier Division titles, four Scottish Cups and, most amazingly, the European Cup Winners’ Cup in 1983. And he achieved this last feat by impressively knocking out Bayern Munich in the quarterfinals and beating Real Madrid 2-1 after extra time in the final! Unsurprisingly, this attracted the attention of several English clubs and, after much speculation and a few offers, on November 6, 1986, Ferguson was appointed manager at Old Trafford. The rest is well-known history. 

The FA Cup win that saved Ferguson’s Manchester United career

Probably only die-hard Manchester United know that Fergie did not get off to a great start with his new club. In fact, it was everything but: despite several big-money signings, Ferguson’s Manchester United was quite inconsistent, finishing 11th, 2nd, 11th and 13th place during his first few seasons as a manager. After a disappointing early-season run of 6 defeats and 2 draws in eight games and a humiliating 5-1 away defeat to fierce rivals Manchester City, most Manchester United supporters wanted Ferguson out during the 1989-90 season. 

Slogans such as "Three years of excuses and it's still crap... ta-ra Fergie" could be seen hung around Old Trafford, and offensive songs were chanted almost routinely at the stadium. They say that Ferguson was even supposed to be sacked after the third round of the FA Cup – since everyone expected the longtime-winless Manchester United to lose to the in-form Nottingham Forest and bow out of the competition. Surprisingly, they won the game and went on to win the cup as well. It was Ferguson’s first major trophy as a Manchester United manager. He would go on to win 37 more in the following 22 years. 

The retirement U-turn

Ferguson won half of his trophies at Manchester United in the 21st century. However, after winning the UEFA Champions League title in 1999, he seriously pondered retirement. He was sure he had reached the pinnacle of his career and he was not getting any younger. But then, on Christmas Day 2001, Sir Alex’s family decided that they would not allow him to retire. “You’re not retiring,” said Ferguson’s wife Cathy to him, waking him up from a post-meal nap. “One, your health is good. Two, I’m not having you in the house. And three, you’re too young anyway.” “As I weighed this announcement,” Ferguson remembers, “I felt no urge to resist.” The discussion ended with him shelving his plans for retirement and remaining at the club’s helm for yet another eleven years.  

Jaap Stam, the biggest mistake

Fergie quickly grew to regret his decision to tell his players that he was not going to be with them the following year. There wasn’t the same performance on the pitch anymore: the 2001–02 season was “a fallow year” for the team. Some changes had to be made, so Manchester United spent heavily on Ruud van Nistelrooy, Juan Sebastián Verón, and got Laurent Blanc on a free. The last one came in place of Jaap Stam, who was transferred out to Lazio for £16.5 million. 

Many football fans believed at the time that Stam was let go because he had revealed in his autobiography, “Head to Head,” that Manchester United approached him directly without PSV’s permission. Ferguson dispels the myth: Stam’s memoirs had nothing to do with his transfer. He just feared that the player was too old (30) to recover properly from a recent Achilles injury and that the price tag was more than right. “But it was a mistake on my part,” he writes regretfully. 

A bit more on the subject of transfers

In addition to the error of transferring out Jaap Stam, throughout the book, Ferguson lists a few other transfer errors, mostly in the opposite direction – the chief among them the signings of Eric Djemba-Djemba, José Kléberson, William Prunier and Ralph Milne. He also mentions a few players on whom he missed out by the breadth of a hair: Paulo Di Canio and Ronaldinho are the names that stand out in this regard. 

Finally, there are some players who Ferguson lost, but then gained others of similar merit as a result: after missing out on, for example, Manchester United landed Paul Ince, and after failing to persuade Alan Shearer to join him, Sir Alex did sign “the bargain of the century,” Eric Cantona.

David Beckham, the greatest regret

Still on the topic of regrets, none seems to hurt Ferguson more than David Beckham’s career which, he believes, should have been even more stellar – for he had never seen anyone with his stamina, dedication, talent and desire to prove people wrong. Not even Cristiano. Ferguson thought of Beckham as a son, and it is precisely because of this that their notorious falling out in February 2003 – during which Sir Alex kicked a boot at Beckham in the dressing room, causing him a minor injury – couldn’t be mended by anything but a transfer to Real Madrid. Ferguson did his best to prevent Beckham from falling prey to his celebrity status, but he implicitly admits to have failed in his attempt. “There was no footballing reason for him to go to America,” writes Ferguson, commenting on Beckham’s decision to join LA Galaxy after Real. “In LA, he probably thought Hollywood was his next step in life.” 

Rooney and Özil, an unlikely connection

One day after the title-winning victory against Aston Villa during Ferguson’s last season as manager of Manchester United, Wayne Rooney, Manchester United’s record goalscorer, asked to leave the club. According to Ferguson, Rooney wasn’t happy with being left out for some games and subbed in others – decisions Sir Alex ascribes to Rooney’s age at the time. It wasn’t the first time, though. Three years before, on August 14th, 2010, feeling the club wasn’t ambitious enough, Rooney informed Ferguson that he would not be signing a new contract at United. He even scolded his manager for not pursuing Mesut Özil, who had joined Real Madrid from Werder Bremen during the transfer window. “None of your business,” said Ferguson as one would only expect from him. Rooney eventually stayed – and won a couple more trophies with United.

The other coaches: Mourinho, Wenger, Benítez

Throughout his career, Ferguson saw many coaching rivals come and go, possibly none of them as enduring as Arsenal’s Arsène Wenger, as “special” as Chelsea’s José Mourinho, and as antagonistic as Liverpool’s Rafael Benítez. In the autobiography, Ferguson reveals his feelings about all of them, ranging from warmth and admiration for the Portuguese (with whom he developed a tradition of sharing wine after their games), understanding and even compassion for Wenger (who supposedly never recovered after losing the Pizzagate game), and hostility and incomprehension for Benítez, who, according to Ferguson, had made the mistake of making the Manchester-Liverpool rivalry “personal.”

The psychology of “Fergie time”

One of the most iconic images of Ferguson is him pointing to his watch at the beginning of injury time – something he would do regularly, especially in games of importance. “I pointed to my watch to strike fear into opponents, who knew we often scored in the last minute,” says Ferguson in his autobiography. So, in a way, he used reverse psychology on his opponents. And it worked!

The last game

“If I needed a result to epitomize what Manchester United were about,” writes Ferguson at the beginning of his autobiography, “it came to me in game No. 1,500: my last. West Bromwich Albion 5, Manchester United 5. Crazy. Wonderful. Entertaining. Outrageous.” Even though Ferguson was a bit annoyed that his players threw away a 5-2 lead, after the game, he could say nothing more to them than a poignant: “Thanks boys. Bloody great send-off you’ve given me!” 

Final Notes

Described by The Guardian as “a piece of oral history,” Ferguson’s Autobiography is fascinating, intriguing and inspirational – and that holds true even if you are not a football fan. 

If you are, then it’s nothing short of a must-read, regardless of what you think and how you feel about Manchester United.

He is Sir Alex Ferguson for a reason.

Alex Ferguson’s story is evidence that, in his words, “origins should never be a barrier to success. A modest start in life can be a help more than a hindrance.” Never forget that.

Who wrote the book?

Sir Alex Ferguson was a professional football player before becoming the most successful manager in football history. During his 26 years as a manager of Manchester United, he wo... (Read more)

Start learning more with 12min

Total downloads

on Apple Store and Google Play

of 12min users improve their reading habits

A small investment for an amazing opportunity

Grow exponentially with the access to powerful insights from over 2,500 nonfiction microbooks.

Start enjoying 12min's extensive library

Don't worry, we'll send you a reminder that your free trial expires soon

Free Trial ends here

Get 7-day unlimited access. With 12min, start learning today and invest in yourself for just USD $4.14 per month. Cancel before the trial ends and you won't be charged.

More books on Sports and Biographies & Memoirs

Angela Saini

Unfu*k Yourself

John Bishop

Hallie Rubenhold

The 4-Hour Body

Tim Ferriss

The Four Steps to the Epiphany

Steve Blank

Tools of Titans

The UltraMind Solution

Very Good Lives

J.K. Rowling

The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership

John C. Maxwell

Think and Grow Rich

Napoleon Hill

More than 70,000 5-star reviews

12min in the media

Você está a poucos segundos de revolucionar seu conhecimento! Baixe nosso app agora, é grátis!

What if you could read 3 books per day?

Now you can! Start a free trial and gain access to the knowledge of the biggest non-fiction bestsellers.

Review: Alex Ferguson: My Autobiography by Sir Alex Ferguson

• ← Older Posts
• Newer Posts →

I always welcome comments...

Analysis: The Outsider by Albert Camus

Analysis: Money by Martin Amis

Search this blog.

Academia.edu no longer supports Internet Explorer.

To browse Academia.edu and the wider internet faster and more securely, please take a few seconds to  upgrade your browser .

Enter the email address you signed up with and we'll email you a reset link.

• We're Hiring!
• Help Center

Alex Ferguson: My Autobiography

Related Papers

Kevin Tallec Marston

This paper (written in 2003) was one of the first studies to critically look at the governance relationships in European football. We analysed the way a sport governing body responds to the pressures of a lobby group through the example of UEFA and G-14 and proposed a recommendation for the better cooperate and governance of European football. Based on stakeholder analysis – national associations, national leagues, the whole spectrum of clubs, G-14 and UEFA - we identified the divergent perspectives in areas such as competition, revenue sharing or representation and compared different cases of stakeholder management across several sports. At the time in 2003, G-14 and UEFA had tried to promote their own interests, but in the end alienating their counterparts and failing to conclude a satisfactory compromise. We argued that the situation would likely to recur over and over within the current framework of European football since clubs which were (and largely still are) the fundamental cells of European football, did not have any executive power within UEFA’s decision-taking scheme although they generated most of UEFA’s income every year. Based on this paradox, we elaborated a new model of organisation for European football with a particular focus on the way professional football – at club and national level – is managed within UEFA. The model we presented here was not only the fruit of our analysis of European football’s current difficulties but also an emanation of our understanding of the methods of conflict resolution that were applied in other sports such as cycling that showed to be quite successful. The success of such a model depends on a proactive attitude from the governing bodies and positive feedback from the other stakeholders. Thus, no matter how successful the new organisational model could be, all stakeholders need first to perceive the utility of implementing such a reform and agree on the steps to be taken toward its implementation.

SHANSHAN ZHOU

•   We're Hiring!
•   Help Center
• Find new research papers in:
• Health Sciences
• Earth Sciences
• Cognitive Science
• Mathematics
• Computer Science
• Academia ©2024

Items related to Alex Ferguson: My Autobiography

Alex ferguson: my autobiography - hardcover, ferguson, sir alex.

• 3.93 16,449 ratings by Goodreads

This specific ISBN edition is currently not available.

• About this title
• About this edition

Sir Alex announced his retirement as manager of Manchester United after 27 years in the role. He has gone out in a blaze of glory, with United winning the Premier League for the 13th time, and he is widely considered to be the greatest manager in the history of British football.

Over the last quarter of a century there have been seismic changes at Manchester United. The only constant element has been the quality of the manager's league-winning squad and United's run of success, which included winning the Champions League for a second time in 2008. Sir Alex created a purposeful, but welcoming, and much envied culture at the club which has lasted the test of time.

Sir Alex saw Manchester United change from a conventional football club to what is now a major business enterprise, and he never failed to move with the times. It was directly due to his vision, energy and ability that he was able to build teams both on and off the pitch. He was a man-manager of phenomenal skill, and increasingly he had to deal with global stars. His relationship with Cristiano Ronaldo, for instance, was excellent and David Beckham has described Sir Alex as a father figure.

Over the past four years, Sir Alex has been reflecting on and jotting down the highlights of his extraordinary career and in his new book he will reveal his amazing story as it unfolded, from his very early days in the tough shipyard areas of Govan.

"synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.

"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.

• Publisher Hodder & Stoughton
• Publication date 2013
• ISBN 10  0340919396
• ISBN 13  9780340919392
• Binding Hardcover
• Number of pages 416

Convert currency

Shipping: US$ 4.00 Within U.S.A.

Add to Basket

Other Popular Editions of the Same Title

Featured edition.

ISBN 10:  034091940X ISBN 13:  9780340919408 Publisher: Hodder, 2014 Softcover

Hodder..., 2014 Hardcover

Hodder..., 2014 Softcover

W F Ho..., 2014 Softcover

Hodder... Softcover

Top Search Results from the AbeBooks Marketplace

Alex ferguson: my autobiography.

Book Description Hardcover. Condition: new. New. Fast Shipping and good customer service. Seller Inventory # Holz_New_0340919396

More information about this seller | Contact seller

Book Description Condition: new. Seller Inventory # newMercantile_0340919396

Book Description Condition: New. Buy with confidence! Book is in new, never-used condition. Seller Inventory # bk0340919396xvz189zvxnew

Book Description Condition: New. New! This book is in the same immaculate condition as when it was published. Seller Inventory # 353-0340919396-new

Book Description Hardcover. Condition: new. New Copy. Customer Service Guaranteed. Seller Inventory # think0340919396

Book Description Condition: new. Seller Inventory # FrontCover0340919396

Alex Ferguson: My Autobiography: The autobiography of the legendary Manchester United manager

Book Description Hardcover. Condition: New. Dust Jacket Condition: As New. Seller Inventory # ABE-1711925371296

Book Description Condition: new. 2013, Hard Cover. Book is in NEW condition. Satisfaction Guaranteed! Fast Customer Service!!. Seller Inventory # PSN0340919396

Book Description Hardcover. Condition: new. Buy for Great customer experience. Seller Inventory # GoldenDragon0340919396

Book Description Hardcover. Condition: New. Seller Inventory # Abebooks95485

There are more copies of this book

• International edition
• Australia edition
• Europe edition

How Sir Alex Ferguson became a fairy godfather for young managers

The 82-year-old’s impact on football goes far beyond his own success with the advice he gives to up-and-coming managers

A t around this time in 2006, soon after Chelsea beat Manchester United at Stamford Bridge to secure a second successive league title, Sir Alex Ferguson’s phone rang. It was some bloke called Aidy Boothroyd, at the time just some gobby, upstart young coach who had somehow landed his Watford team in the Championship playoffs. “I phoned him up, asked for some advice and he gave me some pearls,” Boothroyd said later. “He lent me a couple of books and he’s always been at the end of the phone if I ever need any help. I think he does that for everybody.”

I remember being surprised by this at the time. Ferguson was 64, had already retired once, had won eight English league titles, was at the time the subject of savage and, it soon transpired, wildly misplaced criticism due to his side’s poor performance (they still finished second), and was just gearing up to win the league again in each of the next three years and five of the next seven. He had, in short, plenty on his plate already without being pestered for tips by fanboys. And yet there he was, lending books to Aidy Boothroyd. “He will always pick up the phone or phone you back if he can’t get to you the first time,” Boothroyd said the following year. “I’ve never known him not to call back.”

Eighteen years and 25 managerial appointments later Watford recently named Tom Cleverley their interim head coach, having initially put him in charge of their under-18s last summer. Nearly two decades had passed since Boothroyd first emerged, an entire generation, but a young manager’s source of helpful advice is the same. “I had a nice call off Sir Alex Ferguson,” Cleverley said after his first appointment. “He must’ve read somewhere that I had taken the job and we spoke on the phone for 10 or 15 minutes, which was nice. He gave me a couple of technical coaching points, a couple of psychological things and then we had a general chit-chat. I’ve not spoken to him for probably five or six years, so it was a really nice catchup and an unexpected one.”

“People say mine was a poor upbringing. I don’t know what they mean,” Ferguson once said of his childhood. “It was tough, but it wasn’t bloody poor. We maybe didn’t have a TV. We didn’t have a car. We didn’t even have a phone. But I thought I had everything, and I did: I had a football.” He might not have had a phone when he grew up, but it feels like he has rarely been off the thing since.

At the start of this season Kenny Cooper, a former Manchester United youth team forward who went on to play mainly in his native US, described a phone call he had received as he started a second career in coaching. “I reached out to Sir Alex seeking career guidance and I got a call back, maybe a day later, and I was blown away that he would take the time to do that,” Cooper said. “That acknowledgement and encouragement he gave me was so meaningful. Away from soccer, that was him understanding what that could do for me.”

In March, soon after John O’Shea (like Cleverley, a graduate of United’s youth system) was named interim manager of the Republic of Ireland , his phone buzzed with a call from an unrecognised number. “The only one who still calls me on no caller ID is Sir Alex,” O’Shea said. “Anytime I’ve gone into a club or got involved with something, he’s always got in touch.”

As Boothroyd’s experience suggests, it is not just people with connections to Manchester United who Ferguson tries to help. Ten years ago, soon after he first won promotion with Burnley, Sean Dyche was a regular correspondent. “More or less whenever I’ve needed it he has answered the call. He has always got time for you,” Dyche said. “He was like that when he was active as well. He has experienced virtually everything in football and I ask him advice and pick his brains.”

In the single year 2019, managers who spoke in public of receiving Ferguson’s assistance included Chris Wilder: “Sir Alex used to phone me as a young manager. He’d take the time out to help me out along the way. He used to do it to quite a few young British managers”; John Askey, then at Port Vale: “He has been very helpful with little bits of advice. He is very supportive, not only with myself but he helps a lot of managers”; and Steve Bruce: “He has been terrific, and not just for me. For any other manager, if there is ever a time you need a bit of advice, he is always there to help you”.

after newsletter promotion

It is impossible to know how many calls Ferguson has now fielded, how many careers he has tried to assist. For a while – perhaps still – he was a man constantly in search of fresh ways of helping out. “One of my hobbies now is to watch press conferences. For a manager … it’s an important part of your job,” he said in 2015, two years after his retirement. “I like watching the press conferences on Sky on a Thursday and Friday. I enjoy that. Several times I’ve phoned a few of the managers and given them a bit of advice. I phoned Nigel Pearson – I thought there was some elements where I could help him there. The same with Alan Pardew. And sometimes managers give me a call, ask me a bit of advice. So I’m not isolated from the game.”

In short, Ferguson has become a kind of managerial fairy godfather, always at the shoulder of those in need, ready to sprinkle some magic and keep them from being turned prematurely into pumpkins. He is 82 now, hopefully with years of wand-waving in him yet, and somehow still rising in my estimations. His achievements in management are a matter of record, but it is one thing to earn greatness, and another to know how to wield it.

• Alex Ferguson
• Manchester United

Most viewed

• Kindle Store
• Kindle eBooks
• Business & Money

Promotions apply when you purchase

These promotions will be applied to this item:

Some promotions may be combined; others are not eligible to be combined with other offers. For details, please see the Terms & Conditions associated with these promotions.

Audiobook Price: $13.98 $13.98

Save: $8.49 $8.49 (61%)

Buy for others

Buying and sending ebooks to others.

• Select quantity
• Buy and send eBooks
• Recipients can read on any device

These ebooks can only be redeemed by recipients in the US. Redemption links and eBooks cannot be resold.

Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required .

Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.

Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.

Image Unavailable

• To view this video download Flash Player

Follow the author

ALEX FERGUSON: My Autobiography: The autobiography of the legendary Manchester United manager Kindle Edition

*The Million Copy Bestseller* Sir Alex Ferguson's reflects on his remarkable managerial career where he embraced unprecedented European success for Aberdeen and 26 triumphant seasons with Manchester United. What readers are saying about Alex Ferguson's My Autobiography 'The greatest manager of a generation.' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'No matter the team you support, this is a must read.' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'Incredible' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'I couldn't put it down' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ __________ For over two decades Sir Alex Ferguson dominated the Premier League, overseeing a sustained and unparalleled period of success with Manchester United. He was a visionary, able to move with the times and build title-winning teams both on and off the pitch. He was a man-manager of phenomenal skill, and increasingly he had to deal with global stars. His relationship with Cristiano Ronaldo, for instance, was excellent and David Beckham has described Sir Alex as a father figure. In his bestselling autobiography, Sir Alex reflects on the highlights of his extraordinary career and reveals his remarkable story, from his very early days in the tough shipyard areas of Govan to winning the Champions league in Moscow in 2008. Revised and updated, this edition offers reflections on events at Manchester United since his retirement and offers fresh insights and details on his final years as United's manager. __________ ' Fascinating ' Evening Standard ' His book is really a piece of oral history, and his life is a conduit to a time when a working-class man of talent could, not by the magical alchemy of elite education or the stardust of celebrity, but by a lifetime of hard work and hard thinking, rise to the very top and, flaws aside, remain true to the best of the world he came from .' Guardian

• Print length 417 pages
• Language English
• Sticky notes On Kindle Scribe
• Publisher Hodder & Stoughton
• Publication date October 24, 2013
• File size 11401 KB
• Page Flip Enabled
• Word Wise Enabled
• Enhanced typesetting Enabled
• See all details

Customers who bought this item also bought

Editorial Reviews

About the author, product details.

• ASIN ‏ : ‎ B00HCO7RMQ
• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Hodder & Stoughton; Revised ed. edition (October 24, 2013)
• Publication date ‏ : ‎ October 24, 2013
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• File size ‏ : ‎ 11401 KB
• Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
• Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
• Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
• X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
• Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
• Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
• Print length ‏ : ‎ 417 pages
• #72 in Soccer (Kindle Store)
• #94 in Soccer Coaching (Books)
• #108 in Football (Kindle Store)

About the author

Alex ferguson.

Discover more of the author’s books, see similar authors, read author blogs and more

Customer reviews

Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them.

To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. It also analyzed reviews to verify trustworthiness.

Reviews with images

• Sort reviews by Top reviews Most recent Top reviews

Top reviews from the United States

There was a problem filtering reviews right now. please try again later..

Top reviews from other countries

• Amazon Newsletter
• About Amazon
• Accessibility
• Sustainability
• Press Center
• Investor Relations
• Amazon Devices
• Amazon Science
• Sell on Amazon
• Sell apps on Amazon
• Supply to Amazon
• Protect & Build Your Brand
• Become an Affiliate
• Become a Delivery Driver
• Start a Package Delivery Business
• Advertise Your Products
• Self-Publish with Us
• Become an Amazon Hub Partner
• › See More Ways to Make Money
• Amazon Visa
• Amazon Store Card
• Amazon Secured Card
• Amazon Business Card
• Shop with Points
• Credit Card Marketplace
• Reload Your Balance
• Amazon Currency Converter
• Your Account
• Your Orders
• Shipping Rates & Policies
• Amazon Prime
• Returns & Replacements
• Manage Your Content and Devices
• Recalls and Product Safety Alerts
• Conditions of Use
• Privacy Notice
• Consumer Health Data Privacy Disclosure
• Your Ads Privacy Choices