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Amazon.co.uk Review
Arguably the most successful, and controversial club manager in British football history, Sir Alex Ferguson has also been a prolific chronicler of his own life--seven autobiographies to date--but journalist, author (and United fan) Michael Crick claims now to have written the first serious, critical biography of The Boss. Crick, award-winning journalist, and biographer of Michael Heseltine and Jeffrey Archer, attempts to bring the same sort of structured research-based approach to this study of Ferguson--tracing his life from a Govan childhood, his ultimately frustrated playing career, through his first steps in management, to the trophy-harvesting Aberdeen and Manchester United sides that established his place in the pantheon. To this end, there is a page-by-page list of reference sources (including Fergie's own books), and a demonstrable intention to analyse and assess the veracity of various established "facts" about the Manchester United manager's extraordinary life and career. At times this reads like nit-picking, but what this book reinforces is that Ferguson has been and is a practised and remorseless operator in the public arena--whether it is ham-stringing opponents with his infamous "mind games", gagging the media, peddling his own "official" version of history, or establishing the strict paternalism that is the foundation of the Fergie approach to squeezing performances out of players.
Alex McLeish [then playing for Ferguson at Aberdeen], for instance, says that when his father died unexpectedly in his early forties Ferguson stepped in and "assured me that he would take my Dad's place as much as he could in keeping me up to scratch".
The chronicling of Ferguson's relationships with such key players—"lost boys" like McLeish, Cantona, Ince, Keane, plus the legion of stars that emerged wide-eyed from under Fergie's wing and the Old Trafford schoolboy squad--is a particularly interesting theme.
Not surprisingly, given Ferguson's and Manchester United's notorious media wariness, there is little fresh material from centre-stage, but a widespread of new interviews with some of the supporting-cast in this extraordinary drama are well used, as is material from contemporary media reports, and books, including Ferguson's, that have long since drifted out of print. The result is a rounded study that nevertheless debunks elements of the Ferguson myth. Immensely readable, not least because the ambition of the man in question drives the narrative along at a tremendous gallop, The Boss is a very welcome addition to the Fergie library.--Alex Hankin --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Review
'A fascinating story, and though there are plenty of warts, it is all the better for that.' --The Sunday Times
'Magisterial... And no Crick biography would be complete without the explosive revelations.' --Sunday Telegraph
'Crick's cracking tale gets under Ferguson's skin... If you have space for one book in the suitcase this summer, make sure it is this one.' --The Times
'Magisterial... And no Crick biography would be complete without the explosive revelations.' --Sunday Telegraph
'Crick's cracking tale gets under Ferguson's skin... If you have space for one book in the suitcase this summer, make sure it is this one.' --The Times
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
21 of 23 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
As a lifelong United fan and Ferguson admirer. This book provides the oppurtuinity to see Ferguson from a different angle than the one he portrays in his own books.
Michael Crick investigates Ferguson's rise from the back streets of Govan to being the manager of the most famous football club in the world with forensic detail and research that would make even the most seasoned investigative journalists envious.
The book shows that Ferguson is a shrewd operator in dealing with the media, players and at playing psychological mind games with his opponents and enemies. But it also shows the hidden side of Ferguson's personality his loyalty to his family, young players, his love for the beautiful game and his charity work.
All in all this book is probably the best football book written, it's a shame that some United fans have attacked Crick without ever reading this fine piece of jounalism it's a book that will open your eyes to the unscruplous world of British Football and it's no1 club Manchester United.
Michael Crick investigates Ferguson's rise from the back streets of Govan to being the manager of the most famous football club in the world with forensic detail and research that would make even the most seasoned investigative journalists envious.
The book shows that Ferguson is a shrewd operator in dealing with the media, players and at playing psychological mind games with his opponents and enemies. But it also shows the hidden side of Ferguson's personality his loyalty to his family, young players, his love for the beautiful game and his charity work.
All in all this book is probably the best football book written, it's a shame that some United fans have attacked Crick without ever reading this fine piece of jounalism it's a book that will open your eyes to the unscruplous world of British Football and it's no1 club Manchester United.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Although I can sympathise with some of the previous reviewers' comments with the author's dry, detached style of writing, I nevertheless found the book to be an interesting and easy read. It is also quick to get through, despite being over 600 pages long. I'm not a Manchester United fan, but I wanted to find out about Alex Ferguson the man and manager - what makes him tick, and why is he so successful. To be fair, Michael Crick provides those answers, even if the "autobiographical" section of the book is a bit lacking. The dominant theme of the book is football, relentless ambition and determination to be the best. Therefore it is probably not surprising that other aspects of Ferguson's personality are barely touched upon. Ferguson comes across as a football addict.
I found out some useful stuff about Ferguson - his background in Govan, his New Labour sympathies, Trade Unionism, his admirable charity work and donations and love of horse racing. He also comes across as an intelligent, bright man, loyal to family and friends, until you cross him. Indeed there is a flip side to Ferguson - his brutal bullying of young players, contradictory attitude over "tapping up" players and use of agents and gambling, the childish boycotts of the press. It is a prime example of the murky world of professional football.
On the football front though I have nothing but admiration for his achievements at Manchester United, and Aberdeen in particular, with whom he briefly overturned the traditional Old Firm hegemony in Scotland. Maybe had he stayed Aberdeen could have permanently challenged Rangers and Celtic. Another regret (from my own biased point of view) is Ferguson's turning down the Spurs job in the mid-1980s.
A recommended read.
I found out some useful stuff about Ferguson - his background in Govan, his New Labour sympathies, Trade Unionism, his admirable charity work and donations and love of horse racing. He also comes across as an intelligent, bright man, loyal to family and friends, until you cross him. Indeed there is a flip side to Ferguson - his brutal bullying of young players, contradictory attitude over "tapping up" players and use of agents and gambling, the childish boycotts of the press. It is a prime example of the murky world of professional football.
On the football front though I have nothing but admiration for his achievements at Manchester United, and Aberdeen in particular, with whom he briefly overturned the traditional Old Firm hegemony in Scotland. Maybe had he stayed Aberdeen could have permanently challenged Rangers and Celtic. Another regret (from my own biased point of view) is Ferguson's turning down the Spurs job in the mid-1980s.
A recommended read.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I actually bought this for a friend of mine :P But before I gave it to him, I checked some of the book, and it seemed interesting, so next time I'll do some shopping then ill remember to buy this AWESOME BOOK
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Excellent Book
thought this was a fantastic read, gave a great insight into the 'darker' side of ferguson and doesn't hold back. Read more
Published 17 months ago by Shoulders
A tome too far...............
Until recent years I have never been the world's most avid reader, but have developed a liking for biographies and autobiographies, and simply "eat them for breakfast" (finishing... Read more
Published on 18 Nov 2002 by P. Ricci
Disappointing
Much research and effort has gone into this book, and while there are many things to enjoy in Michael Crick’s biography the overall sense is one of disappointment. Read more
Published on 21 Aug 2002
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