The genius of Sir Alex Ferguson and the gift of Robin van Persie

Robin van Persie of Manchester United celebrates scoring the second goal with manager Sir Alex Ferguson during the Barclays Premier League match vs. Stoke City at Britannia Stadium on April 14, 2013 in Stoke on Trent, England. (Getty Images)

Former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson, who recently retired after close to 27 years at the helm of Old Trafford, is quite simply a genius.

Whether you love, hate or couldn’t care less about the club, if you know football you know the man, his club and its achievements over the previous quarter of a century. From knocking Liverpool off their perch to grooming two different generations of fantastic players, the Scot achieved the impossible dream on more than one occasion.

Like all great minds, his has always pondered of tomorrow rather than today. It is only with this in mind that we can even begin to fully understand the significance of what Ferguson did for United in his final season as their manager.

One of the major headlines, not just for United but across the world of football, was Robin van Persie‘s move from fierce rivals Arsenal to the red half of Manchester. While the goal-scoring impact of the Dutchman has been overwhelming in itself, what he means to the club is much more.

For someone who is so meticulous about his work and has the foresight to raise players like Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes under his wings, it is but logical to assume that Ferguson knew he would retire at the end of last season before it even began.

Having just been piped to the title by local rivals Manchester City in heart-wrenching fashion, his pursuit of van Persie was mainly chalked up to his promise of never again losing the title on goal difference.

And even while that may be true, a 29-year-old striker from a local rival who was reluctant to sell, was certainly not the first option on the table at the beginning of that transfer window.Speculation was rife over Robert Lewandowski’s interest in joining the club, along with a host of regular rumours involving the likes of Karim Benzema and Fernando Llorente.

Yet it was for van Persie that Ferguson broke his usual youth-oriented transfer policy and paid Arsenal £24m for his services; all this after having first convinced Arsene Wenger to sell via a direct phone call. Today, with Ferguson no longer by Old Trafford sideline, it all makes so much more sense, what with Wayne Rooney throwing another one of his tantrums.

David Moyes and Ed Woodward have adopted a radically different transfer policy to the one that United are used to; one that has failed spectacularly so far. Thiago Alcantara and Cesc Fabregas have flat-out rejected very public approaches by the club. And yet, United are more or less just as respected and feared as they were last season.

Ferguson may have shifted his office in the corridors of Old Trafford, but van Persie has gone about his business in a classy yet admirable manner; the former Arsenal captain has elevated himself to the position of defacto leader on the pitch. Manchester United was Sir Alex Ferguson, now it is gradually becoming Robin van Persie.

The manner in which his protracted transfer took place was a slightly unusual. A marquee player, one of the top performers for a traditional rival and someone who had indicated little interest in the club before was suddenly pushing for a transfer to Old Trafford.

Manchester United, its history and its legacy still held great value in today’s world of exorbitant transfer fees. And while it may take David Moyes time to exert anywhere near as much influence as Ferguson did in the transfer market, the presence of someone like van Persie at the club and his very open desire to be there are certain to attract the right kind of players to Old Trafford.

Even if all of this were to be mere extrapolation, there is no denying the fact that van Persie is one of the most lethal frontmen to have ever donned the United shirt. Former Crystal Palace striker Mark Bright said, Wilfried Zaha is Ferguson’s gift to Moyes. That is perhaps true, but he is certainly not a bigger one than van Persie; a gift that keeps on giving.