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

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I was pleased to see that this book wasn't Managing My Life part II and for the most part only focused on the last 10 years of Sir Alex's career seeing as most of his life previous to that was covered in his first book. I enjoyed reading his thoughts about some of the main events in his Manchester United career over the past ten-twelve years or so and the inside stories he had on such influential people at the club such as Roy Keane and Cristiano Ronaldo. He was certainly full of it, calling me “Boss” and “Big Man” when we had our post-match drink after the first leg. But it would help if his greetings were accompanied by a decent glass of wine. What he gave me was paint-stripper.” (Ferguson’s first impressions of Jose Mourinho) Well, football is a hard game; there’s no denying it. It’s a game that can bring out the worst in you, at times.”

The first thing that popped into my head while reading this was "I wonder how many managers we've had in Alex's 26 years in charge at United?" Ferguson is the longest serving manager of Manchester United, overtaking Sir Matt Busby's record on 19 December 2010, eventually completing more than 26-and-a-half years as the club's manager. He has won many awards and holds many records including winning Manager of the Year most times in British football history. In 2008, he became the third British manager to win the European Cup on more than one occasion. He was knighted in 1999 for his services to the game and also holds the Freedom of the City of Aberdeen. It is fair to start this review by saying I am a huge Manchester United fan so for me this book has a special feel. The book shows a unique sense of humour to Sir Alex Ferguson which was never very evident in his time on TV during interviews and matches. Over the past four years, Alex Ferguson has been reflecting on and jotting down the highlights of his extraordinary career, and here he reveals his amazing story as it unfolded, from his very early days in the tough shipyard areas of Govan. Sir Alex announced his retirement as manager of Manchester United after 27 years in the role. Saya pencinta sepak bola namun bukan penggemar MU. Saya bisa menilai tulisan Sir Alex secara objektif sebab meskipun ditulis secara melompat-lompat, buku ini berisi pengalaman menarik tentang sisi lain MU yang tidak banyak diungkap ke publik. Saya sendiri jadi menaruh kagum pada pribadi Sir Alex yang kharismatik. Beliau seorang manajer yang tegas, piawai membangun tim baik di dalam dan luar lapangan serta memiliki insting yang kuat dalam mengelola klub hingga bisa membawa MU menjadi raksasa Eropa.

Sometimes you look in a field and you see a cow and you think it’s a better cow than the one you’ve got in the field.” (Over Rooney and his 2010 u-turn from leaving the club)

I’m privileged to have followed Sir Matt because all you have to do is to try and maintain the standards that he set so many years ago.” (On Sir Matt Busby) Ferguson writes that he found the wine appalling at Stamford Bridge and he told Roman Abramovich so. The following week, he took delivery of a case of Tignanello from the Russian. But the chapter veers away from Mourinho, as Ferguson discusses a range of topics from George Best to the desire of Nemanja Vidic to enlist for the Kosovo conflict and his personal transfer errors, chief among them Kieran Richardson, Eric Djemba-Djemba, William Prunier and Ralph Milne. There had been expectation that Ferguson would discuss why he did not advance Mourinho as his Old Trafford successor, but there is no mention of the subject in this chapter. DH The Pizzagate match at Old Trafford "scrambled Arsène's brain" He was towering over me and the other players were almost covering their eyes. I’m looking up and thinking ‘if he does hit me, I’m dead” (On a dressing room disagreement with Peter Schmeichel) Wayne is truly blessed. He doesn’t just have ability, he has a fire inside him.’ (After Rooney joined United in 2004) So no doubt people are going to think me a Man U supporter for having read Alex Ferguson's autobiography. No, no, no. I would like to point out I go for a rather sad club, one that is very well supported but are run more like a comedy club than anything else. Yes, I support the Toon and unless Sheikh-el-Billionaire comes in and buys out that clown Mike Ashley, we'll never win a damn thing! At least our jail-bird shirts look cool, eh? ;)They say he’s an intelligent man, right? Speaks five languages! I’ve got a 15-year-old boy from the Ivory Coast who speaks five languages!” (On Wenger) Whether dribbling or sprinting, Ryan can leave the best defenders with twisted blood” (On Ryan Giggs) The latest and probably the most controversial book about Ferguson till date. Sir Alex who stepped down at the end of last season, continues on from his previous autobiography Managing My Life: The Autobiography. Being an autobiography, this book also tells the story of Alexander Chapman Ferguson; the boy, the husband, the father, the friend, the footballer, the pub owner and the manager. This book focuses more about his career at Manchester United. I would have loved to read more about his time in the shipyards of Govan and his time at Aberdeen.

If Chelsea drop points, the cat’s out in the open. And you know what cats are like - sometimes they don’t come home.” part of this book without the permission of the publisher constitute unlawful piracy and theft of the author’s To not apologise for the behaviour of the players to another manager is unthinkable. It’s a disgrace, but I don’t expect Wenger to ever apologise…he’s that type of person.’ (2005, Wenger) Well, according to Wikipedia we've had 23 managers (some for less than two games, some repeat offenders like good old Kevin Keegan). I actually thought we might have had more considering how much of a carousel the post actually resembles. As good as Fergie was as a manager I wonder how long he would have lasted at Newcastle... This is "control" – the key word in Ferguson's philosophy of management – exerted well after the final whistle has been blown.

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Focussing primarily on the years since his last autobiography which was published in 1999, the book recounts his side of many stories that made the news over the years, along with many that didn't, and unsurprisingly, he comes across as an articulate, intelligent, driven person - strong willed to the point of arrogance some might say (though this is explained in his philosophy) - and as a result, the book is far above the standard of the usual sports biography that I've read in the past.

If I have my health I can carry on. There will be a point when I do quit but I have absolutely no idea when that is.” The pace of the game demanded a referee who was fit. It is an indictment of our game. You see referees abroad who are as fit as butcher’s dogs. We have some who are fit. He wasn’t fit. He was taking 30 seconds to book a player. He was needing a rest. It was ridiculous.’ (On referee Alan Wiley) If you're a Manchester United fan, read this book. If you're a Liverpool or Manchester City fan, read this book. If you're a football fan regardless of the team you support, READ THIS BOOKThe Mail on Sunday in their review stated ‘Ferguson emerges from this account as a genuine national hero, one of the great Scots of the 20th century.’