Manchester United were always known as 'the biggest club in the world' for the latter stages of that drought. Which is beyond satirical because sustained success is an undisputed requirement for any club with a claim to such a moniker. Sir Alex Ferguson took six and a half years to finally put the first league championship on the board, but it was the way he achieved it and the patience his hierarchy demonstrated that are worthy of exceptional fawning.
There was a drinking culture at Old Trafford in the 80s. Players enjoyed regular nights out. Ferguson would be tipped off about parties involving many of his underachieving squad. He would confront them and deliver the infamous 'hairdryer treatment'- but unlike many strict disciplinarians, Ferguson was an advocate of 'tough love'- vicious when his players stepped out of line but full of pride when they delivered silverware and showing a warmth and compassion towards them on a personal level. Every player who walks through the doors of Carrington respects the culture of Manchester United, and embrace the winning mentality that has been instilled. Wayne Rooney may have handed in a transfer request, but his unhappiness is as a result of his hunger to fight for the cause and not being given the chance to do so.
He now leaves Manchester United stating a genuine case for being the biggest club on the planet. My own observation is that they are part of a quartet, with Real Madrid, Barcelona and Bayern Munich more than their equals. Ferguson has won every winnable club trophy, including the now defunct Cup Winners' Cup, and is the only manager to lead an English team to the Club World Cup. Aston Villa, Nottingham Forest, Liverpool and Chelsea despite being being kings of Europe have failed to achieve the world crown. Ferguson has achieved it twice under two different formats. And then there's the treble season in 1999, another unrepeatable triumph.
Another authentic output he leaves behind at Old Trafford is the Manchester United 'philosophy' that David Moyes will be expected to maintain. If Barcelona's blueprint is 'tiki-taka' then United's is relentless, attacking cut-throat football with an emphasis on pace and picking teams apart. Even if they were 1-0 up away from home, Ferguson's United teams would continue to take the game to their opposition. One fine example was in Turin in 1999 when Filippo Inzaghi's tap-ins had left them set for more European heartache when Roy Keane wrestled control and the Red Devils turned the tie around. Whilst there was more than a smattering of fortune regarding their victory in the final, both Keane and Paul Scholes were suspended which highlights how remarkable a triumph it was against a full strength Bayern Munich at the Nou Camp.
Whilst I can adknowledge Ferguson's treatment of referees, journalists and some opposition managers bordered on the crass and vicious at the worst of times, it was part of his DNA. He would use every trick in the book to gain an advantage for his teams. The ultimate irony is many of those media figures praising him this week also criticise Luis Suarez, who actually possesses many traits Sir Alex does- both men have veered away from morality and fair play in order to gain an edge for his team because they are on a crusade to win. And it may yet pay off for Suarez in the future. The 64 million pound question regarding Moyes is will he have the same hunger, the same obsession and the same backbone to fight outsiders to the death as his predecessor in order to make United number one. Given it is the retiring Ferguson who hand-picked him, maybe it's a yes.
Ferguson has created multiple great United teams and his tactical flexibility can be visualised by the differences between them. His first creation possessed the flair and inspiration of Eric Cantona to go with a rock-solid spine of Steve Bruce and Gary Pallister, and Roy Keane dominating all who opposed him in the centre of the park. He famously proved Alan Hansen wrong by building another successful unit based on youth. Scholes, the most gifted English playmaker since Glenn Hoddle, has been under-appreciated in this country for years due to its endless infatuation with artisans rather than artists. He broke through United's youth system and fit in like a jigsaw. David Beckham possessed one of the greatest deliveries of a football I have ever witnessed, and Gary Neville's reliable consistency at right-back lasted years, featuring in more than a few great generations of Manchester United. Jaap Stam was arguably the best centre-half the club had ever had on their books and proved to be the final piece of the puzzle that led to the Treble.
But his most impressive work on a player has to be that of Cristiano Ronaldo. The reason he is who he is now, is because of Sir Alex. He took a £12.25m gamble in the summer of 2003 on a player with great feet but a tendency to be a show pony and attempt one too many step-overs. This was Ronaldo at the beginning of his United career. The Gelsenkirchen escapade with teammate Rooney in the 2006 World Cup triggered outrage from the English media yet Ferguson kept faith with Ronaldo's talent and initiated his transformation into a monster as he single-handedly destroyed teams with not only skill and pace, but with explosive power, lethal finishing and excellent aerial ability too. To morph a skillful step-over merchant into the best player on the planet, which he unquestionably was in 2006-2008 before Lionel Messi peaked, is one of the great feathers in Sir Alex Ferguson's cap.
Will football miss him? United fans will, but supporters of rival clubs will be delighted to see the back of him, especially their competitors in the Premier League's upper echelons. His unmatched iron will to win was worth at least 10-15 points every campaign especially considering some of his recent title winning squads contained less talent than the likes of Chelsea and Manchester City had at their disposal. Did not stop him from conquering their challenge.
One other unofficial accomplishment in which praising him may be going overboard was his appearance in New York last September when Andy Murray edged Novak Djokovic out in five sets for US Open victory, during the international break. His winning mentality being in Andy's presence may just have been the inspiration for the Dunblane man to break his Grand Slam duck and Britain's the same way Sir Alex ended the league title jinx in 1993.
Is he the greatest ever? He is among them. There is a top tier, a pantheon, that he is a part of. Rinus Michels invented total football. Bob Paisley's three European Cups given his reign at Anfield lasted nine years warrants inclusion. Brian Clough made unheralded Nottingham Forest champions of Europe. Helenio Herrera, the creator of catenaccio. Fabio Capello, regardless of what any England fans say, also has a CV to rival anyone in history. All of these men are a valid answer to a somewhat rhetorical question.
Either way the Premier League, which many call the best league in the world, and many others consistently deride, sometimes with justification, will be the most open competition of all the top divisions in Europe next season. La Liga will go to Barcelona or Real Madrid, Bayern Munich with Pep Guardiola and their nearest rivals' star player Mario Gotze, will almost certainly retain the Bundesliga and Juventus look ominously superior to all they face before them in Serie A. The uncertainty (given as I type this Roberto Mancini's exit from Manchester City has been confirmed) due to the top three clubs in the Premier League being under new bosses next season, will provide a sense of refreshing excitement. Nobody can accurately predict at this moment in time which club will grab the bull by the horns next term but I guarantee you if Ferguson was giving it one more season, he would almost certainly win his 14th even with Mourinho on the scene again.
So farewell Sir Alex. Will I miss him? No, because all great things come to an end at every club. But I admire many of his qualities. He is a socialist like myself. His decision to retire being compassion and love for his wife Cathy was extremely heart-warming. The way he would push all buttons and use every trick in the book to try to win, I even respect that. Had he always portrayed a nice guy image and shown a soft touch towards those obstructing his pathway, he would not have won 38 pieces of silverware. He was not a perfect individual by any means and many of his actions were objectionable, but the results speak for themselves and cannot be questioned.
Where United go now, will be intriguing, but next season's Premier League will be a fascinating watch. Bring it on.
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