I'm going to cry on sunday, I can tell already. Just thinking about the fact he's going to be making his final speech is choking me up already.
Sir Alex Ferguson Tribute Thread
- Thread starter ArmchairCritic
- Start date
Im still reeling from this to be honest. Walking around as though Im dazed. Many have commented on it. I think this is going to last for quite a long time. Im a grown man FFS!
Im lucky enough to have lived through all the SAF years, being a 11 when he took over. When I think back over my own life, its ups and downs, successes and failures, its my parents and SAF who are deeply interwoven into my life story. Like my parents, SAF was a constant in my life. He was always there.
As I grew older so I used SAF as a central role model. Every week, there was something to learn from the way he portrayed himself, in the words he said, from his strategic thinking in team selection. I've tried to apply many of his leadership methods into my own professional style and allowed myself to be inspired by his acts of kindness and humility.
Then there is the football. At the end of the day, for us fans, football is just a form of entertainment ... and we have been royally entertained for so so so long. There is simply no way to quantify how lucky we were as Manchester United fans to have lived through his tenure as our leader. Do any of us even know how many wonderful experiences of sheer ecstasy we have enjoyed because of his inspiration and design? The mind boggles.
At the end, there is no need to feel sadness for SAF. He really lived the dream. Born into a life of faceless toil and yet he retires as the most adored man in his industry and one of the most loved men by men in the world. I'm so delighted that he has had such a magical, wonderful and enriching life experience. He deserves every moment of his life and a hopefully a long, healthy and vibrant retirement.
For us fans, we will mourn his retirement for years and years to come. Simply not seeing him every week will be such a jolt to my routine. Not having access to his words of wisdom, his humour, he personality - its going to leave a huge gap.
Sir Alex, Im so happy that you know how appreciated and loved you are. We will never stop talking about you, you made a huge impact on so many peoples lives, the vast majority of whom you never met. And all of us are better people for having had you in the background of our lives.
Salute.
Im lucky enough to have lived through all the SAF years, being a 11 when he took over. When I think back over my own life, its ups and downs, successes and failures, its my parents and SAF who are deeply interwoven into my life story. Like my parents, SAF was a constant in my life. He was always there.
As I grew older so I used SAF as a central role model. Every week, there was something to learn from the way he portrayed himself, in the words he said, from his strategic thinking in team selection. I've tried to apply many of his leadership methods into my own professional style and allowed myself to be inspired by his acts of kindness and humility.
Then there is the football. At the end of the day, for us fans, football is just a form of entertainment ... and we have been royally entertained for so so so long. There is simply no way to quantify how lucky we were as Manchester United fans to have lived through his tenure as our leader. Do any of us even know how many wonderful experiences of sheer ecstasy we have enjoyed because of his inspiration and design? The mind boggles.
At the end, there is no need to feel sadness for SAF. He really lived the dream. Born into a life of faceless toil and yet he retires as the most adored man in his industry and one of the most loved men by men in the world. I'm so delighted that he has had such a magical, wonderful and enriching life experience. He deserves every moment of his life and a hopefully a long, healthy and vibrant retirement.
For us fans, we will mourn his retirement for years and years to come. Simply not seeing him every week will be such a jolt to my routine. Not having access to his words of wisdom, his humour, he personality - its going to leave a huge gap.
Sir Alex, Im so happy that you know how appreciated and loved you are. We will never stop talking about you, you made a huge impact on so many peoples lives, the vast majority of whom you never met. And all of us are better people for having had you in the background of our lives.
Salute.
Sames
Its exactly this, especially this part;
Its like losing a parent. I didnt realise how much he meant to me until this week when he has been snatched away from me (and all of us). And without hearing from the man himself outside of statements and press release, it still doesnt feel real. I've accepted that David Moyes is the new manager, and I am excited for the future of the football club. But it just seems weird to me to think I'll never see Sir Alex on the touchline, in a press conference, or in a post match interview ever again, and I'm struggling to come to terms with that part
I've gone through my collection of funny football related gifs and pictures and collected some of the best ones featuring Fergie. Most of them are from here, so you might have already seen most of them.
The Phelan balloon and his reaction to Rooney's goal are brilliant. Don't go Fergie 
Below is a letter from Sir Alex to my late father when he was seriously ill in hospital. Sadly my dad was not well enough to of seen it but I'm certain that it would of made his day had he seen it.
^^ I get very emotional when I see things like this, esp as I have also lost my father. May yours be at peace.
How many of us take the time to write to people we don't know as an act of kindness? The fact is we don't or do so very little, and not many of us are are busy as SAF is as our manager.
Special man who has done special things all his life.
How many of us take the time to write to people we don't know as an act of kindness? The fact is we don't or do so very little, and not many of us are are busy as SAF is as our manager.
Special man who has done special things all his life.
Below is a letter from Sir Alex to my late father when he was seriously ill in hospital. Sadly my dad was not well enough to of seen it but I'm certain that it would of made his day had he seen it.
That is a nice touch from Sir Alex, shows the kind of man he is.
He did something similar a number of years with my family, my uncle used to drive for him when he came to London when at a casino, and they got on quite well. I even managed to have a chat with him after an away game at Upton Park once! Awesome day.
Sir Alex would always ask for him when he came to this casino to see if he was available, and my Uncle would always talk about him and say what a nice guy he was.
Sadly, my uncle died a month or so after of pneumonia, and at his funeral Sir Alex sent flowers and a really lovely message.
Will never forget what he did.
When my son was about 6/7 he wrote to SAF personally, unbeknown to us, asking for a signed card from the team as his birthday was coming up.
To our surprise he wote back; a lovely,personally signed letter saying that the players were quite busy but he wished my son a really happy birthday.It was even better in fact as it expressed sincere sentiments and he bothered to take time out to write back......
Fast forward this season my son now 21 met him and got a picture with him at the recent fans forum. He reminded him of the incident, and Fergie siad that he tries to respond to all letters like that...what a man!
“When I left United I wasn’t expecting a gold watch or a carriage clock, but instead he [Sir Alex] handed me an old document from his files and said, ‘I think you had better have this.’
“It was a scout’s report on me, from an old Third Division game when I was playing for Gillingham against Chesterfield, and it still raises a smile now."
“On the form it said, ‘Bright sunny day... Bruce picked up a facial injury and moved into midfield, where he can’t play... He is weak, no left foot, one-paced..."
"And they were the complimentary bits.
“The report concluded, ‘In my opinion, the Third Division is his level... he will make a decent living at this standard... but not good enough for Manchester United."
“That was my leaving present from Sir Alex, and I couldn’t just tuck it away in a drawer. As a reminder of what I managed to achieve as a player, I framed it and hung it in the smallest room in the house."
“Within three years of that scout’s assessment of my cultured left foot, I was playing for the biggest club in the world. "
- Steve Bruce
“It was a scout’s report on me, from an old Third Division game when I was playing for Gillingham against Chesterfield, and it still raises a smile now."
“On the form it said, ‘Bright sunny day... Bruce picked up a facial injury and moved into midfield, where he can’t play... He is weak, no left foot, one-paced..."
"And they were the complimentary bits.
“The report concluded, ‘In my opinion, the Third Division is his level... he will make a decent living at this standard... but not good enough for Manchester United."
“That was my leaving present from Sir Alex, and I couldn’t just tuck it away in a drawer. As a reminder of what I managed to achieve as a player, I framed it and hung it in the smallest room in the house."
“Within three years of that scout’s assessment of my cultured left foot, I was playing for the biggest club in the world. "
- Steve Bruce
Roy Keane has said he was disappointed to see his former manager Alex Ferguson depart Manchester United this week.
Speaking on ITV this afternoon, Keane stated that the understanding Ferguson held with his players inspired their success and admitted he felt fortunate to feature under him.
Keane said: "I wasn't as shocked as everyone else. At 71 he had great success and there are such demands in the game now. "I was disappointed, of course. It's always sad to see a great manager leave the game. "I have massive respect for what he's done as a manager. I was lucky to play under him and privileged to play for the club. He'll be a big loss.
"I always felt when I played under him, we just never wanted to let him down. That's what great managers do. "Sometimes after big games it wasn't the hairdryer that worried me - it was when he was quiet.
"We worried we'd let the man down. The hairdryer never concerned me - he was just releasing a bit of anger, which we all do. "He'd have a feel for what a certain player might need. I always felt he got that spot on. He had a feel for the group and what certain characters might need. He made a few mistakes, particularly with me towards the end, but he will still be missed. "With a great manager you just felt you could not let him down."
Speaking on ITV this afternoon, Keane stated that the understanding Ferguson held with his players inspired their success and admitted he felt fortunate to feature under him.
Keane said: "I wasn't as shocked as everyone else. At 71 he had great success and there are such demands in the game now. "I was disappointed, of course. It's always sad to see a great manager leave the game. "I have massive respect for what he's done as a manager. I was lucky to play under him and privileged to play for the club. He'll be a big loss.
"I always felt when I played under him, we just never wanted to let him down. That's what great managers do. "Sometimes after big games it wasn't the hairdryer that worried me - it was when he was quiet.
"We worried we'd let the man down. The hairdryer never concerned me - he was just releasing a bit of anger, which we all do. "He'd have a feel for what a certain player might need. I always felt he got that spot on. He had a feel for the group and what certain characters might need. He made a few mistakes, particularly with me towards the end, but he will still be missed. "With a great manager you just felt you could not let him down."
Keano has spoken
Great words from Keano. Hopefully he can make up with Sir Alex, as sir Alex retires from football altogether.
Fergie.
^
Lovely to hear Keano being gracious about Fergie.
Lovely to hear Keano being gracious about Fergie.
It's fecking ridiculous isn't it? I'm a grown man and had to fight back a tear when I heard a particular poem the other day, it wasn't in anything to do with United or Fergie, but it immediately made me think of him ffs
Football, the one sport that can make the strongest of men vulnerable.
That, and Walt Whitman sure knew how to write a great poem.
as weird as it sounds, I genuinely love the man as if he was a part of my family. When we lost and he was sad I'd be sad, when we lost and he was defiant in defeat I'd feel like 'feck yeah, you tell 'em Sir Alex', and when he celebrated a win, or even a goal, it would make me laugh and smile. The advert for sunday's game on Sky Sports did eventually set me off last night, I'm not even ashamed to admit it. If an advert can set me off though, I know for sure now I will be a wreck tomorrowStill hasn't sunk in.
This is actually happening isn't it? Its hit me tonight, properly tearing up. feck.
Just block it out as best you can - denial, denial, denial all the way.
As General Melchett once said: "If all else fails, a total Pig-Headed unwillingness to look facts in the face will see us through".
Even when I see the Sky Sports advert, and that gruff generic Sky voice says "Time to say goodbye" I'm just about ready to curl into a ball, hugging a pillow and crying "but whyyyyyyyyyy?!!". Tomorrow is going to be a surreal day. The elation of title celebrations subdued by the irreplaceable himself stepping down. I just won't know how to react. I can't not watch it, but I'm beating myself up about it for sure.
At least you get to watch it live and there are people on this forum who will be there. Unfortunately for me, I'll be very late to this celebration and may not be able to watch until much later
I hope it's a phenomenal occasion for a phenomenal manager and man. He deserves every bit of praise and adulation from us. I remember when he bowed towards the stretford end when we should have been bowing to him. Legend.Whether he admits it or not, Keano loved Fergie!
The whole not wanting to let him down line says it all. I can understand Roy's bitterness but he left Fergie with no choice but to deal with him the way he did
The whole not wanting to let him down line says it all. I can understand Roy's bitterness but he left Fergie with no choice but to deal with him the way he did
My son was born the year he was appointed.
My dad passed away a few years after we won the title again after so long.
United has been a huge part of our lives and Sir Alex has helped us share so many great memories.
He looks a little like my dad....perhaps one of the reasons I have had more reason to love the man.
It will be difficult to see him leave of course. But he will always be in my heart wherever he goes.
My dad passed away a few years after we won the title again after so long.
United has been a huge part of our lives and Sir Alex has helped us share so many great memories.
He looks a little like my dad....perhaps one of the reasons I have had more reason to love the man.
It will be difficult to see him leave of course. But he will always be in my heart wherever he goes.
Keane loved Fergie a lot and after he was rushed out he was really devastated and you can see that devastation every time he used to talk about us and fergie.
Anyway, here is he.
Anyway, here is he.
I knew this day would come sooner rather than later, was I prepared for this day and the answer is NO, I simply can't imagine what I will be thinking not seeing Fergie in the dugout will be something that I am not use to.
He is one of the main reason I would look towards a saturday and now that he has retired it is just a sad loss to magic he once brought week in week out, may his retirement be a good one.
I will miss you from the bottom of my heart and know that you will always be in my heart and mind no matter what happens to United.
Win or lose you have been my great admiration for my many good weekends and I will now miss that, you have left a small scar in my heart and I will always miss your leadership.
I am just lost for words and I cannot bring myself to say how much you mean to us fans when you walk into that dug out and what you have accomplished for the club and the fans.
I am just sad with no words that can describe how much I and all the millions or billions of fans will miss you.
Farewell Boss may you enjoy your retirement and again thank you so much for the great memories.
He is one of the main reason I would look towards a saturday and now that he has retired it is just a sad loss to magic he once brought week in week out, may his retirement be a good one.
I will miss you from the bottom of my heart and know that you will always be in my heart and mind no matter what happens to United.
Win or lose you have been my great admiration for my many good weekends and I will now miss that, you have left a small scar in my heart and I will always miss your leadership.
I am just lost for words and I cannot bring myself to say how much you mean to us fans when you walk into that dug out and what you have accomplished for the club and the fans.
I am just sad with no words that can describe how much I and all the millions or billions of fans will miss you.
Farewell Boss may you enjoy your retirement and again thank you so much for the great memories.
I fecking hate that. 4 words on an ad but it makes me so sad and sums up what the day is about.
fergei became the manager of manchester united 2 months before i was born. he is the only Manchester United manager i've known all these years. sunday's going to be an emotional day for all of us. thanks for all the memories fergei. it is a privilege to live and watch the club under your management. good luck and enjoy yourself now.
Fergie, thank you for everything. The memories of those heady days in the early 90s when we began to lift trophies, the treble, Ruud mastering all he surveyed, Ronaldo coming on v Bolton and then that great header in Moscow and then taking the trophy back from City -- these and many more memories I will never forget. You've been a part, albeit a small part, of my family over the last 25 years during which time my wife has become a United fan and my two daughters, neither of whom play soccer (football, for those of you who don't speak American!) know the ins and outs of United better that most of their friends who do play soccer here in California and will forever cherish the few minutes we got to spend in the dressing room at Old Trafford, checking out the player kits with Alan Lester, who attended his first United match at Old Trafford in 1948. You made this all possible. Again, many thanks!
Today is going to be such a unique day, a famous one in the clubs history. The joy of celebrating a title, Fergie's last, mixed with the emotion of saying goodbye. Tremendously jealous of everyone going, hope you enjoy it and sing for him for the 90... tried my best but couldn't get tickets/time off.
Since the news I've been thinking about it all the time and the main thing running through my head has been "get to the game". Just had this unreal feeling of needing to go to show him how much of a presence he's been in my life, as if one more fan would make the difference or that he doesn't already know how beloved he is!!!
It's mad and probably sad but I wanted to feel like I'd shown him in some way... Can't wait for kick off, all the same.
Since the news I've been thinking about it all the time and the main thing running through my head has been "get to the game". Just had this unreal feeling of needing to go to show him how much of a presence he's been in my life, as if one more fan would make the difference or that he doesn't already know how beloved he is!!!
It's mad and probably sad but I wanted to feel like I'd shown him in some way... Can't wait for kick off, all the same.