A tribute & respect to Sir Alex Ferguson in his 71st birthday.

        Sir Alex Ferguson turns 71 today is undoubtedly counted one of the best coaches of the world football since 1986 when he had taken the responsibility of EPL giant Manchester United. A tribute & respect to that great person in his 71st birthday.

           During his 25 years attachment as manager of Manchester United, he is the longest serving manager in their history after overtaking Sir Matt Busby's record on 19 December 2010. His tenure is also the longest of all the current League managers. During this time, Ferguson 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, after Brian Clough and Bob Paisley.
            In 1983, Sir Alex Ferguson was felicitated in 1983 with an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE), for his service to football. He also received the Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 1995 and the Knight Bachelor in 1999. In recognition to his achievements with the Manchester United FC, Sir Alex Ferguson was included into the English Football Hall of Fame in 2002.
           Sir Alex Ferguson received a number of awards in 1999 for his very special contribution to the football, including, the BBC Sports Personality of the Year Coach Award, BBC Sports Personality of the Year Team Award, World Soccer Magazine Coach of the Year, Mussabini Medal, International Federation of Football History & Statistics (IFFHS) Club Coach of the Year and Onze d’Or Coach of the Year. Sir Alex Ferguson was conferred the Laureus World Sports Award for Team of the Year (2000) and BBC Sports Personality of the Year Lifetime Achievement Award in 2001.
           Reminding his immortal achievements & legacy with this great club Manchester United authority had established a bronze sculpture of Alex Ferguson at Old Trafford on 23^rd November 2012.
            Sir Alex Ferguson was born to Alexander and Elizabeth on December 31, 1941 in Glasgow, Scotland. He married Cathy and they have three sons Mark and twins, Darren and Jason. Of his sons, only Darren has followed his father’s profession and is the manager of the Peterborough United FC.
           In 1957 Ferguson started his footballing career at the age of 16 as a striker in Queen’s Park, scored 15 goals for them in 31 appearances. In 1960 he moved to St. Johnstone, scored 19 goals in 37 matches, in 1964 he moved to Dunfermline Athletic, scored 66 goals in 89 matches, between 1967 to 1969 he played for Scottish giant Rangers , scored 25 goals in 41 matches for them,  during 1969 to 1973 he played for Falkirk, scored 35 goals for them in 95 matches, he ended his career Ayr United where he stayed from 1973-1974 season, scored 9 goals  in 24 matches during his stay with them. He scored an overall of 170 goals in clubfootball in his 317 appearances.
              He played for the Switzerland national side in 1967, scored 9 goals for his country in his 7 appearances. He also worked in the Clyde shipyards as an apprentice tool-worker, where he became an active trade union shop steward later.
             Fergie started his coaching career in Scottish side East Strilingshire FC as a head coach in 1974, during 1974-1978 he worked in St. Mirren FC, in 1978 for a long 8 years tenure he took the responsibility of Aberdeen FC. In 1986 he was recruited as the coach of the Scotland national side. In the later stage of the same year November 6^th 1986 he moved to English side Manchester United.

               In his bold stewardship Manchester United becomes the most successful club of the history winning 37 titles during his tenure,  English Premier League- 12 times, FA Cup- 5 times, League Cup- 4 times. FA Community Shield- 10 times (once shared), UEFA Champions League- 2 times, UEFA Cup winners' cup- 1 time, UEFA Super Cup- 1 time, Intercontinental Cup- 1 time, FIFA Club World cup- 1 time.

Premier League (12): 1992-93, 1993-94, 1995-96, 1996-97, 1998-99, 1999-2000, 2000-01, 2002-03, 2006-07, 2007-08, 2008-09, 2010-11
FA Cup (5): 1989-90, 1993-94, 1995-96, 1998-99, 2003-04

League Cup (4): 1991-92, 2005-06, 2008-09, 2009-10

FA Charity/Community Shield (10): 1990 (shared), 1993, 1994, 1996, 1997, 2003, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011

Champions League (2): 1998-99, 2007-08

Cup Winners' Cup (1): 1990-91

UEFA Super Cup (1): 1991

Intercontinental Cup (1): 1999

FIFA Club World Cup (1): 2008

              In 1999 when Man U won the triple crown, the UEFA Champions League, EPL & Intercontinental trophy is counted one of the most successful year of  his career. 2008 is also a great year of his career while he won the UEFA Champions League second time alongwith the EPL.

            Man U & Alex Ferugson becomes synonyms since he is in Old Trafford, in his stewardship the Red Devils becomes the most dominant force in world football. The speculation about who follows Fergie has already had a trial run. After Manchester United had won the Champions League in 2008, beating Chelsea on penalties in Moscow, Ferguson announced that he would be stepping down as manager within the next three years. Right now he is in the search of an eligible person to handover the baton, most probably the man is going to be former Barcelona boss Pep Guardiolla, nowadays with whom he is discussing personally the future gameplan of Man U.

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