[ parts: intro | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 ]

Proud Beginnings, Part 4:
Alex Ferguson

Alex Ferguson, b. 1941. Football manager, by David Mach

Born in Govan, Alex Ferguson played football for Glasgow schools and Scotland schools before joining the amateur club Queen's Park FC in 1957. He subsequently played as a professional with several clubs, including Dunfermline Athletic and Rangers.

In 1974 Ferguson was appointed manager of East Stirlingshire and began a second, highly successful, career in football management. In 1978 he joined Aberdeen and guided 'the Dons' to three Premier Division titles, four Scottish Cup victories and one League Cup win, breaking the 'Old Firm' (Rangers and Celtic) trophy stranglehold. In 1983 Aberdeen defeated the favourites, Real Madrid, to lift the European Cup Winners' Cup.

Ferguson moved to Manchester United in 1986. His success there has been phenomenal. He twice won the League and Cup double and has recently surpassed the record of the legendary Sir Matt Busby for the number of trophies his teams have brought back to Old Trafford.

• click here for SCRAN Resource