Sir Alex Ferguson appointed Manchester United manager 40 years ago

Summarised from 2 outlets · 3 reports · Updated 6 Nov, 13:07 · Archive

Sir Alex Ferguson was appointed Manchester United manager on 6 November 1986, beginning the club's most successful era.

Sir Alex Ferguson was appointed Manchester United manager on 6 November 1986, replacing Ron Atkinson following a 4-1 League Cup defeat by Southampton. The club had been struggling, staying out of the relegation zone only on goal difference.

Ferguson managed Manchester United for 26 years until his retirement at the end of the 2012–13 season. During his tenure, he won 38 major trophies, including 13 Premier League titles and two UEFA Champions League titles, transforming both the club and the game itself.

Now 84, Ferguson has released a new memoir reflecting on his life. In it, he pays tribute to NHS staff, particularly neurosurgeon Dr Alexandru Cotici, crediting them with saving his life after he suffered a brain haemorrhage following Manchester United's match against Arsenal in May 2018. The Daily Mail reports that Ferguson's appointment came after preliminary approaches had been made to him while he managed Aberdeen, with one of Atkinson's colleagues revealing Ferguson had been 'tapped up' for the job during the 1986 World Cup in Mexico.

How it is being reported

• Sir Alex Ferguson is a painful reminder of Man Utd's glory days 40 years on from his arrivalManchester United have become a pale imitation of their heyday under Sir Alex Ferguson, who started his incredible transformation process 40 years ago to the dayMirror Sport · 6 Nov, 14:09
• Sir Alex Ferguson: The day the NHS saved my lifeFergie, 84, took over as manager of Manchester United 40 years ago, on November 6, 1986. He went on to transform not only the fortunes of a footballing giant, but the game itselfThe Mirror · 6 Nov, 12:43
• Inside Man United's secret plot to poach Sir Alex Ferguson from Aberdeen, 40 years on - from phone calls with a fake Scottish accent to clandestine meetings at M74 services on Bonfire NightIt is 40 years ago today since Manchester United appointed Sir Alex Ferguson as manager and ushered in the most successful era in the history of the club.Daily Mail Sport · 6 Nov, 09:56

In this story: Sir Alex Ferguson · Manchester United · Ron Atkinson · Southampton · Aberdeen · Dr Alexandru Cotici · Arsenal · Scotland

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