Rob Shepherd has seen all sides of the great Manchester United manager over the years – but now he’s tipping him to leave the club by the end of the season.
The popular perception of Sir Alex Ferguson is that he’s some kind of megalomaniac monster. Fergie has by necessity had to be a bit of an ogre to become, as far as I am concerned, the greatest boss British football has ever seen.
The fierce will to win, the singlemindedness, the refusal to suffer fools, the brooding passion and pride, the sheer angst of the man are all part of a psyche which has made him and Manchester United so successful. There is, though, a hugely generous side to the man, as his fiercely loyal inner circle of friends will vouch. I can’t claim to have been in Fergie’s social company that often, although on the rare occasions I have he has been engaging, with committed views on a wide range of subjects. Although the wit is often acerbic, he can be self-effacing too.
He’s also a man who will jump to the defence of people when he thinks they’re in the right, as I discovered back in 1993 when United visited Galatasaray for the first time in the Champions League. The arrival in Istanbul was shocking. No-one had expected the ‘Welcome to Hell’ signs which have since become legendary, nor that some of the locals who had turned up at the airport to greet United would jostle and spit at the entourage.
The game was played out in the most hostile atmosphere I’ve ever encountered. It made the recent Old Trafford Battle of the Buffet after the Arsenal game look like a tea party. Later, at a shambolic press conference, one Turkish journalist complained that United and the English newspapers had stoked it all up. Well, that was it. I couldn’t keep my mouth closed and interrupted the chap by pointing out who had been doing all the spitting, shouting and snarling over the previous 48 hours.
A UEFA official was not happy I had interrupted the flow of questions and I was told to shut up. Fergie, rather stunned by the entire scene, having already praised the character and sprit of his team in the circumstances, decided it was best to leave. On arriving safely back at the airport, I strode into the departure lounge and caught Fergie’s eye. Or, should I say, glare. Ferguson summoned me over to where he was sitting alongside Sir Bobby Charlton. The United players looked on intrigued as I walked what felt like the plank.
Me? World War Three?
I assumed I was in for a bollocking, better known as the infamous Fergie hair dryer. Far from it. It was more a case of sun lamp treatment. ‘Hey, Shepherd – you nearly started World War Three in there,’ he said before putting his arm around me, and adding: ‘Good lad, you were spot on.’ Phew. Then he offered a few thoughts about the hosts that are better left to the imagination. Suffice it to say Ferguson used some of the more colourful phrases he picked up in his young days around the Glasgow docks.
In recent years his relationship with the press has become increasingly strained. Yet when a northern-based football writer found himself in trouble a couple of years ago Fergie came to his rescue. Rival journos unfairly quoted some controversial off-the-record Ferguson remarks, while the hack in question played by the rules. His paper was furious and in the process of sacking the man for missing ‘the story’.
On hearing this, Ferguson rang up the editor of the paper and told him if they went through with the dismissal he’d never talk to the paper again. The reporter was reinstated. A couple of months later he had one of the scoops of the year when he revealed Rio Ferdinand would be joining United in a £30 million deal from Leeds.
I’m afraid to say, however, that Fergie’s 19th season at United is surely his last. It’s stunning that he conceded the Premiership title in the first week of November and admitted he can’t get the team right given that since 2001 he’s spent £161 million on players. Since going back on his decision to retire three seasons ago, Fergie and United have lost direction. Too many of the expensive buys – Juan Sebastian Veron, Diego Forlan, Kleberson and Eric Djemba-Djemba – have been disastrous.
The board, understandably loyal to Fergie given his achievements, can’t tolerate continued failure given the financial structure of the club. Winning the European Cup would change everything but, incredibly, Bet Direct offer a frugal 3/1 of United NOT qualifying for the Champions League next season.
I’m convinced Ferguson will be gone by the end of the season. New pool betting company anybets.com quotes Martin O’Neill at 9/4 as firm favourite to succeed. You can get Carlos Queiroz at 8/1, Steve McClaren at 10/1, Sven Goran Eriksson at 12/1, Steve Bruce at 16/1, Roy Keane at 33/1, or Arsene Wenger (taking the pizza) at 100/1 – I’d bet on O’Neill.
Ferguson is famed for squeezing every last second out of referees, but time is ticking away for him. He no longer seems to possess the powers to turn the clock back and revive the golden years. Back him to be gone by May.
