- November 23, 2024
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Each morning I wake up, I roll over and check my iPhone. It’s probably not the best habit in the world, but as someone who is always trying to relay news and information, it’s a routine I have fallen into over the last three years.
On Wednesday morning, I saw news I never thought I would see: Sir Alex Ferguson, of Manchester United, announced that he would be retiring at season’s end.
Manchester United is one of the top soccer clubs in the world, playing in the Barclay’s English Premier League.
Ferguson has been at the helm for the past 27 years — longer than I have been alive.
Growing up, my Sunday mornings were filled with eggs, bacon and Man U football. When I play FIFA, I always use United.
And when I chew gum, I tend to lean toward green spearmint because, well, that’s what Sir Alex has chewed during every match for as long as I can remember.
After 27 years, Sir Alex Ferguson, who is 71, leaves a legacy at United that probably won’t ever be duplicated.
He has captured 13 league titles (including this season), two UEFA Champions League titles and will go down as one of the greatest — if not the greatest — soccer managers in the sport’s history.
“As a coach, you always think you have what it takes to push the right buttons so your players can perform at their best,” says FPC assistant boys soccer coach Reg Monsanto. “But players are not robots. And more often than not, we second guess our decisions. Sir Alex is a special man that became a special coach that was able to do it right year in and year out. Regardless of his roster, and whatever drama infected the team, the product on the field was always top quality.”
Matanzas boys soccer coach Rich Weber, an Arsenal fan, says Ferguson will leave a great legacy behind.
“Spending time in Glasgow last summer where he is from and started his career — the passion of the Scots clearly transcends the game,” Weber says. “He is a rare breed and will be missed by the game.”
It will be odd not seeing Sir Alex on the pitch, wearing his classic tie and scarf, directing his players through a grueling Premier League schedule. But, he will become a United director and ambassador.
He will be missed, but he’s going out on top, that’s for sure.
