- Hardcover: 479 pages
- Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton; 1st ed 1st printg edition (10 Aug 1999)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0340728558
- ISBN-13: 978-0340728550
- Product Dimensions: 23.6 x 15.4 x 5 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (25 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 165,282 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
Managing My Life: My Autobiography: The Autobiography
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Product Description
Amazon.co.uk Review
When considering the public face of Sir Alex Ferguson--the unsmiling, world-beating football manager who has taken just about all the honours the British game has to offer--it is difficult to imagine that he grew up as the son of a ship builder on the banks of the Clyde in Glasgow. Yet Ferguson's story is much the same as many others who have made it to the top in the sport: a boy with talent who rose above the expectations of his working-class background to become a household name throughout the world.
Such is the power of football; but more relevantly, such is the power of raw talent, pure determination and a bit of good luck. In Managing My Life Ferguson tells the story of just how he developed from a football-mad youngster to the first British manager to win the FA Cup, the Premiership and the European Cup in one season; but whereas others with a similar experience romanticise their tough upbringing and eulogise it from the comfortable position success affords them, with Ferguson there is the feeling that the tough, uncompromising way he runs his team is a direct product of values instilled in childhood that he still holds close.
I grew up accepting that shipbuilding was part of the fabric of my existence. In a community that reliews heavily on a single industry, there is an intensity of shared experience that draws people together and tends to make them appreciate the need to support one another. It has been said that the values great managers like Jock Stein, Sir Matt Busby, Bill Shankly and Bob Paisley brought to their jobs in football were rooted in their mining background. I have no doubt it is true and I am sure, too, that any success I have had in handling men, and especially in creating a culture of loyalty and commitment in teams I have managed, owes much to my upbringing among the working men of Clydesdale.Opening the book with a word on his recent Treble success (after all, who could be expected to wait until the end of this extraordinary story for all the gory details?), Ferguson soon reveals the big secret of his success--family support. The constants throughout his life have been close friend and family relationships and an absolute passion for winning, and both are constantly recurring themes throughout the book. Candid, thoughtful and passionate, this is certainly a story no Ferguson lover can miss. But, more importantly, it is one those who hate him should be made to read--if you thought the dour face and frequent complaints to the referee were his whole character, you are sorely mistaken; they are symptoms of his never-ending quest for perfection. --Lucie Naylor
Review
'The best football autobiography I have ever read' (The Sunday Times )
'The richest and most enthralling story in post-war British sport' (Independent )
'Danielle Steele meets Geoffrey Archer, with a Booker Prize quality injected by Hugh McIlvanney' (Independent on Sunday )
'A treat' (Sunday Express )
'Ferguson emerges from this account as a genuine national hero, one of the great Scots of the 20th century' (Mail on Sunday )
'Provocative, stimulating, emotional and honest' (The Herald ) --This text refers to the Paperback edition.
'The richest and most enthralling story in post-war British sport' (Independent )
'Danielle Steele meets Geoffrey Archer, with a Booker Prize quality injected by Hugh McIlvanney' (Independent on Sunday )
'A treat' (Sunday Express )
'Ferguson emerges from this account as a genuine national hero, one of the great Scots of the 20th century' (Mail on Sunday )
'Provocative, stimulating, emotional and honest' (The Herald ) --This text refers to the Paperback edition.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Leeds fan who (arm up my back!!) recommends this book,
By leedsutd40@hotmail.com (Leeds) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Managing My Life: The Autobiography (Paperback)
I am a Leeds United season ticket holder - so why did I pick up a book from the manager of our rivals? - Maybe I am a little macarbe but mainly I do enjoy football literature.As a partisan fan I can't help thinking that Mr Ferguson is abit of a moaner and really sections of this book back-up that myth -- he never really does give Leeds the credit of winning the title but that Man U lost it and injuries and the Sun (yes the yellow ball in the sky) has alot to answer for!! But to be perfectly honest this is a compelling read tracing the mans life and the first 250 pages deal with his formative years and his career in Scotland. I agree that he is forthright but the questions the previous reviewer mentioned are never explored. A worthwhile piece of football literature for ALL football fans if they can stomach it. Well worth it!
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
From Govan to Barcelona...captivating stuff!,
By A Customer
This review is from: Managing My Life: My Autobiography (Hardcover)
As a Liverpool fan, I was still intrigued to understand the man mainly responsible for Liverpool's demise in English football. There were some excellent insights to his ideas of football and players. Amazing, how there were players he wanted that even Man United could not afford. But he never did explain if he knew that Graeme Souness was being lined up to replace him. Also, his excuses for leaving Alan Hansen out of the '86 World Cup were unsatisfactory. While he commands my greatest respect, having read this book, I am unconvinced he does not know what it takes to win at the international level. That Scotland team was the best they ever had and he failed to inspire them. Also, he never talks much about his training regime. I would like a chapter dedicated to tactics and training. That would be more fascinating then knowing about some woman in England that writes to him each week. I await the next book on team play by Ferguson, and his explanation for pairing Cole with Yorke and if Cantona could be credited with Beckham's technical brilliance.
5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Comprehensive , triumphant autobiography,
By
This review is from: Managing My Life: The Autobiography (Paperback)
This book is not exactly a "page turner" , but it is well worth reading. Sir Alex Ferguson emerges from it not only as a phenomenally successful football manager , but as a genuinely impressive human being. I enjoyed his early life story in particular , probably because his later life is now so familiar. My first recollections of Ferguson were when he managed St Mirren to some successes in the 70's and was largely unaware of his relatively successful playing career with St Johnstone , Dunfermline, Rangers et al.The novel traces his playing career and skilfully interweaves it with details of his personal life and comments and opinions on the people he encounted along the way.His full life included stints as a toolmaker and pub manager in Glasgow. A picture develops of an energetic ,determined,competitive, tactically skilful and honest man who commands and displays loyalty and is a master motivator. Ferguson watched and learned from people like Jock Stein over the years and acknowledges such influences throughout the book."The Treble" Man.Utd. achieved in 1999 begins and ends the story and will always be the highpoint of Ferguson's career and the Man Utd success story of the past decade is covered in detail with interesting insights into his dealings with Ince , Kanchelskis , Cantona etc. Sir Alex Ferguson emerges from this book as an impressive figure. There is no trace of arrogance in the story, from a man who came up through the lowliest ranks of Scottish clubs in his playing and management career. As his management career draws to an end this well-written book is a worthy tribute.
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