Ronaldo was wonderful in those two games. In the Madrid leg he made his way into our dressing room to sit with our players. You could tell he missed them. After the Old Trafford game, as I was watching the video of the sending-off, he came in to sympathise. The Real players knew the sending-off had been absurd. Mesut Özil confessed to one of our players that José’s team felt they had got out of jail. Cristiano declined to celebrate his goal, which is just as well, because I would have strangled him. There were no issues with him at all. He’s a very nice boy.
My final thought on Man City losing the title to us was that they couldn’t call on enough players who understood the significance of what they had achieved by winning the League for the first time for 44 years. Evidently it was enough for some of them to have beaten Manchester United in a title race. They settled down into a sense of relief. Retaining a title is the next hard step and City were not in the right state of mind to defend what they had won on the most dramatic closing day in Premier League history.
When I won the League for the first time in 1993, I didn’t want my team to slacken off. The thought appalled me. I was determined to keep advancing, to strengthen our hold on power. I told that 1993 side: ‘Some people, when they have a holiday, just want to go to Saltcoats, twenty-five miles along the coast from Glasgow. Some people don’t even want to do that. They’re happy to stay at home or watch the birds and the ducks float by in the park. And some want to go to the moon.
‘It’s about people’s ambitions.’
SENIOR PLAYING CAREER
1958–60 Queen’s Park
Games 31
Goals: 15
1960–64 St Johnstone
Games: 47
Goals: 21
1964–67 Dunfermline Athletic
Games: 131
Goals: 88
Played for Scottish League (0) v. Football League (3) at Hampden Park, 15 March 1967.
Scottish FA XI summer tour 13 May–15 June 1967: scored 10 goals in seven appearances against Israel, Hong Kong Select, Australia (three matches), Auckland XI, Vancouver All Stars.
1967–69 Rangers
Games: 66
Goals: 35
Played for Scottish League (2) v. Irish League (0) in Belfast, 6 September 1967. Scored one goal.
1969–73 Falkirk
Games: 122
Goals: 49
1973–74 Ayr United
Games: 22
Goals: 10
Total
Games: 415
Goals: 218
(Scottish League, Scottish Cup, Scottish League Cup and European competitions only)
MANAGERIAL CAREER
JUNE–OCTOBER 1974 East Stirlingshire
OCTOBER 1974–MAY 1978 St Mirren
Finished fourth in Division One in 1975–76; Division One champions 1976–77; finished eighth in Premier Division 1977–78.
1978–86 Aberdeen
Season 1978–79
SCOTTISH PREMIER DIVISION
Final position: fourth
Scottish Cup: semi-final
Scottish League Cup: finalists
European Cup Winners’ Cup: second round
Season 1979–80
SCOTTISH PREMIER DIVISION
Final position: champions
Scottish Cup: semi-final
Scottish League Cup: finalists
UEFA Cup: first round
Season 1980–81
SCOTTISH PREMIER DIVISION
Final position: runners-up
Scottish Cup: fourth round
Scottish League Cup: fourth round
European Champion Clubs’ Cup: second round
Drybrough Cup: winners
Season 1981–82
SCOTTISH PREMIER DIVISION
Final position: runners-up
Scottish Cup: winners
Scottish League Cup: semi-final
UEFA Cup: quarter-final
Season 1982–83
SCOTTISH PREMIER DIVISION
Final position: third
Scottish Cup: winners
Scottish League Cup: quarter-final
European Cup Winners’ Cup: winners
Season 1983–84
SCOTTISH PREMIER DIVISION
Final position: champions
Scottish Cup: winners
Scottish League Cup: semi-final
European Cup Winners’ Cup: semi-final
European Super Cup: winners
Season 1984–85
SCOTTISH PREMIER DIVISION
Final position: champions
Scottish Cup: semi-final
Scottish League Cup: second round
European Champion Clubs’ Cup: first round
Season 1985–86
SCOTTISH PREMIER DIVISION
Final position: fourth
Scottish Cup: winners
Scottish League Cup: winners
European Champion Clubs’ Cup: quarter-final
Season 1986–87 (August–1 November 1986)
SCOTTISH PREMIER DIVISION
Scottish League Cup: fourth round
European Cup Winners’ Cup: first round
SUMMARY
ABERDEEN’S EUROPEAN CAMPAIGNS DURING ALEX FERGUSON’S MANAGERSHIP
Season 1978–79 Cup Winners’ Cup
Round 1 Marek Dupnitsa (Bulgaria) (a) 2–3, (h) 3–0, Agg: 5–3
Round 2 Fortuna Düsseldorf (West Germany) (a) 0–3, (h) 2–0, Agg: 2–3
Season 1979–80 UEFA Cup
Round 1 Eintracht Frankfurt (West Germany) (h) 1–1, (a) 0–1, Agg: 1–2
Season 1980–81 European Cup
Round 1 Austria Memphis (Austria) (h) 1–0, (a) 0–0, Agg: 1–0
Round 2 Liverpool (h) 0–1, (a) 0–4, Agg: 0–5
Season 1981–82 UEFA Cup
Round 1 Ipswich Town (a) 1–1, (h) 3–1, Agg: 4–2
Round 2 Argeş Piteşti (Romania) (h) 3–0, (a) 2–2, Agg: 5–2
Round 3 SV Hamburg (West Germany) (h) 3–2, (a) 1–3, Agg: 4–5
Season 1982–83 Cup Winners’ Cup
Preliminary round Sion (Switzerland) (h) 7–0, (a) 4–1, Agg: 11–1
Round 1 Dinamo Tirana (Albania) (h) 1–0, (a) 0–0, Agg: 1–0
Round 2 Lech Poznań (Poland) (h) 2–0, (a) 1–0, Agg: 3–0
Quarter-final Bayern Munich (West Germany) (a) 0–0, (h) 3–2, Agg: 3–2
Semi-final Waterschei (Belgium) (h) 5–1, (a) 0–1, Agg: 5–2
Final (Gothenburg, Sweden) Real Madrid (Spain) 2–1 (aet)
Season 1983–84 Super Cup
SV Hamburg (West Germany) (a) 0–0, (h) 2–0, Agg: 2–0
Cup Winners’ Cup
Round 1 Akranes (Iceland) (a) 2–1, (h) 1–1, Agg: 3–2
Round 2 SK Beveren (Belgium) (a) 0–0, (h) 4–1, Agg: 4–1
Quarter-final Újpest Dózsa (Hungary) (a) 0–2, (h) 3–0 (aet), Agg: 3–2
Semi-final Porto (Portugal) (a) 0–1, (h) 0–1, Agg: 0–2
Season 1984–85 European Cup
Round 1 Dinamo Berlin (East Germany) (h) 2–1, (a) 1–2, Agg: 3–3 (Lost 5–4 on penalties)
Season 1985–86 European Cup
Round 1 Akranes (Iceland) (a) 3–1, (h) 4–1, Agg: 7–2
Round 2 Servette (Switzerland) (a) 0–0, (h) 1–0, Agg: 1–0
Quarter-final IFK Gothenburg (Sweden) (h) 2–2, (a) 0–0, Agg: 2–2 (Lost on away-goals rule)
Season 1986–87 Cup Winners’ Cup
Round 1 Sion (Switzerland) (h) 2–1, (a) 0–3, Agg: 2–4
HONOURS
EUROPEAN CUP WINNERS’ CUP
Winners: 1983
SCOTTISH PREMIER DIVISION
Champions: 1980, 1984, 1985
SCOTTISH CUP
Winners: 1982, 1983, 1984, 1986
SCOTTISH LEAGUE CUP
Winners: 1985–86
EUROPEAN SUPER CUP
Winners: 1983
DRYBROUGH CUP
Winners: 1980
OCTOBER 1985–
JUNE 1986 Scotland
FULL INTERNATIONALS
RESULTS
October 1985 East Germany (friendly, home) 0–0
November 1985 Australia (World Cup play-off, home) 2–0
December 1985 Australia (World Cup play-off, away) 0–0
January 1986 Israel (friendly, away) 1–0
March 1986 Romania (friendly, home) 3–0
April 1986 England (Rous Cup, away) 1–2
April 1986 Netherlands (friendly, away) 0–0
June 1986 Denmark (World Cup, Mexico City) 0–1
June 1986 West Germany (World Cup, Querétaro) 1–2
June 1986 Uruguay (World Cup, Mexico City) 0–0
1986–2013 Manchester United
Season 1986–87
THE TODAY LEAGUE DIVISION ONE
United’s record up to Alex Ferguson’s arrival
United’s record under Alex Ferguson
Final position: 11th
FA Cup: fourth round
Season 1987–88
BARCLAYS LEAGUE DIVISION ONE
Final position: runners-up
FA Cup: fifth round
League Cup: fifth round
Season 1988–89
BARCLAYS LEAGUE DIVISION ONE
Final position: 11th
FA Cup: sixth round
League Cup: third round
Season 1989–90
BARCLAYS LEAGUE DIVISION ONE
Final position: 13th
FA Cup: winners
League Cup: third round
Season 1990–91
BARCLAYS LEAGUE DIVISION ONE
Final position: sixth
FA Cup: fifth round
League Cup: finalists
European Cup Winners’ Cup: winners
FA Charity Shield: joint winners
Season 1991–92
BARCLAYS LEAGUE DIVISION ONE
Final position: runners-up
FA Cup: fourth round
League Cup: winners
European Cup Winners’ Cup: second round
European Super Cup: winners
Season 1992–93
FA PREMIER LEAGUE
Final position: champions
FA Cup: fifth round
League Cup: third round
UEFA Cup: first round
1992–93 FA PREMIER LEAGUE
Season 1993–94
FA CARLING PREMIERSHIP
Final position: champions
FA Cup: winners
League Cup: finalists
European Champion Clubs’ Cup: second round
FA Charity Shield: winners
1993–94 FA CARLING PREMIERSHIP
Season 1994–95
FA CARLING PREMIERSHIP
Final position: runners-up
FA Cup: finalists
League Cup: third round
UEFA Champions League: first group phase
FA Charity Shield: winners
Season 1995–96
FA CARLING PREMIERSHIP
Final position: champions
FA Cup: winners
League Cup: second round
UEFA Cup: first round
1995–96 FA CARLING PREMIERSHIP
Season 1996–97
FA CARLING PREMIERSHIP
Final position: champions
FA Cup: fourth round
League Cup: fourth round
UEFA Champions League: semi-final
FA Charity Shield: winners
1996–97 FA CARLING PREMIERSHIP
Season 1997–98
FA CARLING PREMIERSHIP
Final position: runners-up
FA Cup: fifth round
League Cup: third round
UEFA Champions League: quarter-final
FA Charity Shield: winners
Season 1998–99
FA CARLING PREMIERSHIP
Final position: champions
FA Cup: winners
League Cup: fifth round
UEFA Champions League: winners
1998–99 FA CARLING PREMIERSHIP
Season 1999–2000
FA CARLING PREMIERSHIP
Final position: champions
FA Cup: did not enter
League Cup: third round
UEFA Champions League: quarter-final
Intercontinental Cup: winners
FIFA Club World Cup: third in first-round group
1999–2000 FA CARLING PREMIERSHIP
Season 2000–01
FA CARLING PREMIERSHIP
Final position: champions
FA Cup: fourth round
League Cup: fourth round
UEFA Champions League: quarter-final
2000–01 FA CARLING PREMIERSHIP
Season 2001–02
BARCLAYCARD PREMIERSHIP
Final position: third
FA Cup: fourth round
League Cup: third round
UEFA Champions League: semi-final
Season 2002–03
BARCLAYCARD PREMIERSHIP
Final position: champions
FA Cup: fifth round
League Cup: finalists
UEFA Champions League: quarter-final
2002–03 BARCLAYCARD PREMIERSHIP
Season 2003–04
BARCLAYCARD PREMIERSHIP
Final position: third
FA Cup: winners
League Cup: fourth round
UEFA Champions League: first knock-out phase
FA Community Shield: winners
Season 2004–05
BARCLAYS PREMIERSHIP
Final position: third
FA Cup: finalists
League Cup: semi-final
UEFA Champions League: first knock-out phase
Season 2005–06
BARCLAYS PREMIERSHIP
Final position: runners-up
FA Cup: fifth round
League Cup: winners
UEFA Champions League: first group phase
Season 2006–07
BARCLAYS PREMIERSHIP
Final position: champions
FA Cup: finalists
League Cup: fourth round
UEFA Champions League: semi-final
2006–07 BARCLAYS PREMIERSHIP
Season 2007–08
BARCLAYS PREMIER LEAGUE
Final position: champions
FA Cup: sixth round
League Cup: third round
UEFA Champions League: winners
FA Community Shield: winners
2007–08 BARCLAYS PREMIER LEAGUE
Season 2008–09
BARCLAYS PREMIER LEAGUE
Final position: champions
FA Cup: semi-final
League Cup: winners
UEFA Champions League: finalists
FIFA Club World Cup: winners
FA Community Shield: winners
2008–09 BARCLAYS PREMIER LEAGUE
Season 2009–10
BARCLAYS PREMIER LEAGUE
Final position: runners-up
FA Cup: third round
League Cup: winners
UEFA Champions League: quarter-final
Season 2010–11
BARCLAYS PREMIER LEAGUE
Final position: champions
FA Cup: semi-final
League Cup: fifth round
UEFA Champions League: finalists
FA Community Shield: winners
2010–11 BARCLAYS PREMIER LEAGUE
Season 2011–12
BARCLAYS PREMIER LEAGUE
Final position: runners-up
FA Cup: fourth round
League Cup: fifth round
UEFA Champions League: first group phase
UEFA Europa League: second knock-out phase
FA Community Shield: winners
Season 2012–13
BARCLAYS PREMIER LEAGUE
Final position: champions
FA Cup: sixth round
League Cup: fourth round
/> UEFA Champions League: first knock-out phase
2012–13 BARCLAYS PREMIER LEAGUE
SUMMARY
FIFA CWC – FIFA Club World Cup
IC – Intercontinental Cup
Super Cup – UEFA Super Cup
Matches at neutral venues are included as away games
MANCHESTER UNITED IN GLOBAL TOURNAMENTS DURING ALEX FERGUSON’S MANAGERSHIP
Season 1999–2000 Intercontinental Cup
(Tokyo, Japan) SE Palmeiras (Brazil) 1–0
FIFA Club World Championship
Group stage (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) Club Necaxa (Mexico) 1–1, CR Vasco da Gama (Brazil) 1–3, South Melbourne (Australia) 2–0 (Finished third in group)
Season 2008–09 FIFA Club World Cup
Semi-final (Yokohama, Japan) Gamba Osaka (Japan) 5–3
Final (Yokohama) LDU Quito (Ecuador) 1–0
MANCHESTER UNITED’S EUROPEAN CAMPAIGNS DURING ALEX FERGUSON’S MANAGERSHIP
Season 1990–91 Cup Winners’ Cup
Round 1 Pécsi Munkás (Hungary) (h) 2–0, (a) 1–0, Agg: 3–0
Round 2 Wrexham (h) 3–0, (a) 2–0, Agg: 5–0
Quarter-final Montpellier (France) (h) 1–1, (a) 2–0, Agg: 3–1
Semi-final Legia Warsaw (Poland) (a) 3–1, (h) 1–1, Agg: 4–2
Final (Rotterdam, Netherlands) Barcelona (Spain) 2–1
Season 1991–92 UEFA Super Cup
Red Star Belgrade (Yugoslavia) (h) 1–0
Cup Winners’ Cup
Round 1 Athinaikos (Greece) (a) 0–0, (h) 2–0 (aet), Agg: 2–0
Round 2 Atlético Madrid (Spain) (a) 0–3, (h) 1–1, Agg: 1–4
Season 1992–93 UEFA Cup
Round 1 Torpedo Moscow (Russia) (h) 0–0, (a) 0–0, Agg: 0–0 (Lost 4–3 on penalties)
Season 1993–94 UEFA Champions League
Round 1 Kispest Honvéd (Hungary) (a) 3–2, (h) 2–1, Agg: 5–3
Round 2 Galatasaray (Turkey) (h) 3–3, (a) 0–0, Agg: 3–3 (Lost on away-goals rule)
Season 1994–95 UEFA Champions League
Group phase IFK Gothenburg (Sweden) (h) 4–2, Galatasaray (Turkey) (a) 0–0, Barcelona (Spain) (h) 2–2, Barcelona (a) 0–4, IFK Gothenburg (a) 1–3, Galatasaray (h) 4–0 (Finished third in group)
Alex Ferguson My Autobiography Page 29