Sir Alex Ferguson is the most decorated manager in the history of English football, but his career in the game isn’t just significant for the silverware he won. Over 30 years since the Scottish manager was hired by Manchester United, the sport and its relationship with worldwide audiences has transformed immeasurably, with as many as 3.2billion viewers watching the Premier League in 2018-19.
Ferguson played a big role in this. By modernising Man United and rejuvenating its image, he turned the club into the preeminent force in the English game and the first international superclub of the Premier League era. During his 27 years in charge, Ferguson’s United swept all in their path, made icons out of Eric Cantona, David Beckham, Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo, and knocked Liverpool off their perch. When he retired in 2013, not only did he have 13 league titles and two Champions League wins to his name, but had also set the tactical, cultural and commercial trends being used by other clubs to try and replicate his success at Old Trafford.
