#3 Struggles at the beginning of his tenure
Ferguson’s successes with United are all well-documented by various biographers, and even in his own autobiography published in 2012. What fans have forgotten about is the fact that he took nearly four years to win his first trophy with the club.
United finished 2nd in Ferguson’s first full season, 9 points behind victors Liverpool. In 1988-89, however, despite signing Mark Hughes back from Barcelona in his 3rd season, United could only manage an 11th-placed finish – the same as ‘86-87, his first season in charge.
His fourth season was not much of a consolation at the beginning, and the pressure mounted on Ferguson after United’s humiliating 5-1 loss to derby rivals Manchester City. Ferguson’s first title at the club came at the end of this season, and it was here that United began building their legacy as England’s most successful team of the 1990s and 2000s.
