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Ever since football was established as a sport, it has witnessed some of the greatest tactical minds in its illustrious history. Sir Matt Busby, Arrigo Sacchi, Johan Cruyff, Bob Paisley Bill Shankly and many more; these men changed the beautiful game with their revolutionary thinking.
Another name that joins this pantheon of greats is that of Sir Alex Ferguson. The legendary Manchester United boss has gone down as one of the most brilliant tacticians ever to grace the beautiful game; his impressive haul of 38 trophies in 49 years as a manager stands a testament to his unrivalled greatness.
But, there isn't a scarcity of successful managers who have won titles in abundance. Why then, should you consider Sir Alex as the GOAT?
Each one has had their respective style of management that has made them write history. If that's the case, how and why does the Scottish gaffer make a cut above the rest?
Let's have a look.
#5 He was an excellent decision-maker
One of the greatest qualities of any leader is his ability to make decisions that bring changes and turn situations into his favour. You will hardly see a good general without fine decision-making abilities.
When it comes to the pitch, Sir Alex was far too well-known for his intelligent substitutions that changed the course of the game in his favour loads of times. Of the countless times he amazed us with his decisions, none of them remains as fresh as the double substitution against Bayern Munich in the 1999 Champions League final. Teddy Sheringham and Ole Gunnar Solksjaer replaced Andy Cole and Dwight, eventually pulling out one of the greatest comebacks the football world has ever seen.
What's more, the Scot also displayed courage in making a couple of tough decisions, displaying a great strength of character and his unchallenged authority.
He sold David Beckham, an absolute fan favourite and a vital part of his set up, showing that no player can be greater than the club itself. He let go of Rudd Van Nistelrooy in order to pave the way for an 18-year-old Cristiano Ronaldo to make it into the first team.
True enough, his peerless decision-making is a vital reason why he is counted amongst the best in the sport.
#4 His excellent man-management skills
Sir Alex put his man-management skills to a brilliant effect, in order to forge a connection with his players. His relations with his players went beyond a football pitch.
During his stint at the club, Sir Alex managed a variety of individuals; a shy creature like Paul Scholes and aggressive personalities like Eric Cantona and Roy Keane.
While Eric Cantona gave headaches to every manager he played for before Sir Alex, the Scottish gaffer struck the right chords when he took control of the Frenchman. He made a legend out of an infamous footballer who was surrounded by controversies often and was on the verge of retirement.
Recently, Wayne Rooney revealed an insight to the Scot's innate man-management skills, which is worth a read.
That's not all. He ingrained values in his players that are still visible today.
Take Cristiano Ronaldo's never-give-up attitude and endless desire to win. Where do you think that comes from? The Portuguese claiming Sir Alex to be his second father is a fine testament to his peerless man-management skills.
Most important of all, he built a friendly atmosphere where everyone at the club ranging from the kit washer to the club captain felt equally important and responsible for the well-being of the club. His psychological understanding of the human mind and emotions is a reason why he was able to mould Manchester United into more than just a football club - into a big family.
#4 He was a master tactician who achieved greatness with meagre resources
One of the greatest factors of Sir Alex Ferguson's management. The Scottish gaffer was used to doing impossible things - on a consistent basis, throughout his career.
The first of his jaw-dropping achievements came back in 1983 when his Aberdeen team defeated a mighty Real Madrid 2-1 to lift their first ever European trophy.
Remember that game against Arsenal? The Man United boss played 7 defenders against the Gunners and emerged victorious with a 2-0 scoreline. His effective decision in using J.S. Park to mark Andrea Pirlo during United's Champions League game against AC Milan paid huge dividends as the Red Devils beat the Rossoneri 4-0, winning the tie 7-2 on aggregate.
Those examples give a solid proof of his tactical astuteness and footballing intelligence.
Sir Alex Ferguson had the guts to churn out results with the kind of players he had at his disposal. He lifted his first Premier League title with a bunch of kids who would later go on to become legendary veterans in the sport; a fine example that tells how he achieved the best things out of the meagre resources available to him.
His constant emphasis on the development of youngsters is worth a mention; developing raw talents and using them to a devastating effect was one of his greatest skills. Youth development always stood as a primary weapon and an answer to his rivals who relied on their stellar financial backing to win silverware.
In his later years at the club, he successfully saw off challenges from filthy rich clubs like Chelsea and Manchester City with a rather weaker squad of players, while handing out opportunities to youngsters.
Unarguably, his inimitable ability to deliver results from the available resources, regardless of their quality, is a crucial reason why he is perhaps the greatest mind to have graced the beautiful game.
#2 He beat generations to stay at the top
One reason why Sir Alex commands massive respect for his achievements is the longevity he displayed in his Manchester United career.
Of course, the fact that he managed the club for 27 years and lifted 38 trophies with the club makes him a footballing great in every aspect. But, what stands out is the fact that he managed to beat generations to stay at the top by building 4 different teams during his spell at the club.
First, it started with beating Blackburn in the early 90's. That was followed by Newcastle and then a resurgent Arsenal under Arsene Wenger.
As Sir Alex successfully saw off challenges from the Invincibles by winning league titles, another threat emerged in the form of Chelsea led by a young Jose Mourinho. But, even the Portuguese couldn't hold the Scot at bay, as Man United lifted the league title thrice in a row, followed by Mourinho's back-to-back league title triumphs.
Last but not the least, Sir Alex managed to fend off another threat to his throne, this time from filthy rich neighbours Manchester City. After the heartbreaking manner in which United lost the title in 2012, they bounced back to win it in the next year with a healthy 11-point lead at the top of the table.
And oh, how can we forget about Liverpool? He surpassed United's bitter rivals as the most successful club in the history of English football during his trophy-laden spell at Old Trafford.
Managing in different leagues is a challenge no doubt, as a coach has to adapt to different styles of play and deliver the results. But, during his 27 years at the club, Sir Alex proved that facing different challenges while staying put requires an equal amount of dedication and determination to succeed.
His ability to adapt to changes by trying out different ideas enabled Manchester United to stay at the top, no matter whichever club they faced during his spell at Old Trafford.
#1 He made Manchester United what they are today
Ryan Giggs is known as Mr. Manchester United by the United faithful, but with all due respect to the Welshman, Sir Alex is a worthy competitor for that title.
In his 27 years at Old Trafford, the scot literally created a dynasty of the club all by himself. He nurtured the values of the club, the morals on the basis of which the club stands today.
Of the many sets of attributes Sir Alex nurtured and instilled in the club, United has earned a fine reputation for their never-give-up attitude both on and off the pitch. Their endless desire to fight to the end has earned them loads of thrilling last-minute comebacks and titles eventually.
Ask any Man United fan why the club has the boasts the most number of supporters in the world and 'Sir Alex Ferguson' will be one of his first reasons. During his stint, Manchester United became the most famous club around the globe.
He made Manchester United the most romantic club in the history of world football. The Red Devils will always be indebted to Scot's tireless services that propelled them to the pinnacle where they are today.
Sir Alex is the G.O.A.T. Period.
