The Retired Knight: A Tribute To Sir Alex Ferguson

A true king of the football pitch, Sir Alex Ferguson

Whenever I looked at the Football Manager 2013 Hall of Fame I saw his name topping the chart. Heck, most FM 13 players couldn’t surpass his achievements in a whole year of playing, and the computer game is a whole lot easier than the real thing. He came to bring the club to higher grounds. He saw his team grow and dominate. He conquered the football scene.

Similar to historic knights waging war on the battlefield, Sir Alex Ferguson showed the same tenacious wit, the same unshakable leadership, and the same competitive spirit out there on the football pitch—not as a player, but as the one who shaped the players. Although he may not be the one playing on the actual field, his unorthodox managerial style has moulded today’s most successful English Premier League team, Manchester United. Whilst carefully picking out the team’s roster of players, Ferguson has also made a commanding presence in shaping today’s greatest players including the legendary David Beckham or even Cristiano Ronaldo.

Now that the 71-year old Scottish manager has finally decided to step away from the pitch, we reminisce the days when the Old Trafford club was his playing field. With a whole lot of silverware in his credentials, Manchester’s new manager David Moyes will have some very big shoes to fill, that is if he will ever manage to do that.

Ferguson’s managerial style

Undeniably, Ferguson is the face of Manchester United. He turned a team into championship contenders, and did so in a consistent fashion. Unlike most of the league’s football managers, the celebrated Man U manager had put emphasis on the young guys. He had a keen eye for talent and made sure that these players develop in their early careers.

You see, he will forever be remembered in shaping the likes of the Neville brothers, Giggs, Butt, Scholes, and even Beckham. Not only that, he basically filled the club’s trophy cabinet during his reign. In his legacy as the manager of Manchester United, Ferguson won 13 Premier League trophies, 10 Community Shields, 5 F.A. Cups, 4 League Cups, 2 Champions League trophies, 1 European Cup Winners Cup, a European Super Cup, an Intercontinental Cup, and a World Club Cup.

Ferguson will surely be missed not only by the club’s fans and devotees, but also by the world of football in general.

Will Ferguson have a say in Manchester United’s future moves?

Even with Ferguson’s departure from the team, a number of the team’s fans and even players believe the he will still be among the key power brokers in Man United’s decisions. Just recently, the team’s forward Wayne Rooney has expressed his intent to leave the club since he thinks Ferguson still has a say in the transactions. It’s not uncommon for retired managers and even players to linger on the pitch. Some turn to sports analysts or become part of the developmental crew after their careers. A number of players have even turned to poker pros. Perhaps we might even find him playing in the annual Manchester United partypoker Challenge, given Ferguson’s incredible tactical wit. Whether he chooses to play poker with his long time Manchester buddies, or decide to help Moyes in his transition, his influence is still a boon for the club and the world of football.