Flashback: Manchester United's search for a worthy successor in the post-Ferguson era
In October, Ten Hag was the latest post-Ferguson manager to be sacked and another man is coming in with the task of returning the Red Devils to glory and recapturing Alex Ferguson's successful era. However, even Ferguson was not far from ending his managerial position at Old Trafford relatively soon.
Alex Ferguson almost became Arsenal's manager
Alex Ferguson was appointed Manchester United manager 38 years ago on November 6th, 1986. Did you know he almost became the manager of Arsenal? The London team was actively looking for a new coach in the spring of 1986. Arsenal first offered the job to Barcelona coach Terry Venables, but he turned it down.
The Gunners then focused their attention on the interesting coach of Alex Ferguson from Aberdeen. However, he was also temporarily in charge of the Scottish national team at that time, because its coach John Stein died in September 1985 (directly during a qualifying match due to heart failure).
Therefore, Ferguson remained the Aberdeen manager for the time being. The Scotsman was a hot managerial commodity, he was not opposed to a move to England, but the World Cup was coming up in the summer of 1986, where Scotland qualified. He put Arsenal's offer on hold, saying he would start negotiations after the World Cup only.
But Arsenal was looking for a manager urgently and they finally took a gamble on young manager George Graham from Millwall. Imagine if there had been no World Cup that year, if the Scottish national team had not unfortunately lost their coach, or if the Scots had not qualified for the tournament... In short, Arsenal were close to having Alex Ferguson as their manager, the man, who is today an inseparable symbol of Arsenal's great rival from Manchester.
Hard beginnings at Old Trafford
In 1986, when Alex Ferguson became the manager of Manchester United, the club was among the top sides of the English First Division. Although United hadn't won the league for two decades – they last won it in 1967 in the era of Matt Busby. After the arrival of Alex Ferguson, it took a long time for the Red Devils to become an established top club, as we know them from the 1990s.
In the first season under Ferguson (1986/1987) Manchester United finished in 11th place in the league. In the next season, they jumped to second place (nine points behind the winners Liverpool), but a year later another drop came – again 11th place.
When the Red Devils finished 13th in the 1989/1990 season, there was speculation that Ferguson would be released from United. It was decisive for his stay at the club that the Red Devils were able to win in the second leg of the FA Cup final against Crystal Palace (the first leg ended in a draw 3-3). Alex Ferguson thus won the first trophy in his four-year tenure with United.
Ferguson's trophy machine
In 1991, Manchester United beat Barcelona in the Cup Winners' Cup final and then went on to win the UEFA Super Cup after beating European Cup winners Crvena Zvezda Belgrade. In 1992/1993, the English top flight was launched under the Premier League brand, and the Red Devils immediately became the hegemons of the new competition. In the very first year of the Premier League, United won supremely. They defended the title the next year and added an FA Cup triumph.
In the 21 seasons in the Premier League (until 2013), during which Ferguson sat on the Manchester United bench, the Red Devils won 13 league titles. In addition, Alex Ferguson won five FA Cups, four League Cups and 10 Community Shields with United. His Red Devils were also successful in Europe and the world.
They won the Champions League twice, the UEFA Super Cup, the Cup Winners' Cup the Club World Cup and the Intercontinental Cup. It was a precious achievement when United remarkably won the treble in the 1998/1999 season, winning the Premier League, the FA Cup, and the Champions League (after a phenomenal turnaround from 0-1 to 2-1 over Bayern Munich in stoppage time with goals from Teddy Sheringham and Ole Gunnar Solskjær). Following this success, Alex Ferguson was knighted and given the title of Sir for his services to British football.
Search for the 'new Sir Alex'
Sir Alex Ferguson is synonymous with Manchester United's great era and trophies. Thanks to him, the Red Devils became the most famous club in the world. During his 27 seasons with Manchester United, the team won 38 trophies. Beyond that, Alex Ferguson had an admirable win percentage. None of his successors have matched him.
The next to try is Ruben Amorim, who will take charge of Manchester United from Sporting Lisbon on November 11th. Will the Portuguese be the one to turn Old Trafford back into the Theatre of Dreams and memories of Sir Alex?
