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Alex Ferguson: My Autobiography (2013)

by Alex Ferguson(Favorite Author)

3.76 of 5 Votes: 5

ISBN

0340919396 (ISBN13: 9780340919392)

languge

English

genre

Memoir & Autobiography

publisher

Hodder & Stoughton

review 1: Sir Alex Ferguson is probably the greatest football manager of all time after Brian Clough and perhaps Jose Mourinho. As such, the prospect of reading his autobiography seemed quite enticing. The book is decent, but it won't light the world on fire.The book reveals quite a power hungry man behind the calm gum chewing face: "The most important thing in my job is control. The minute they [the players] threaten your control, you have to get rid of them" (Ferguson 32%). This reveals a controlling aspect of Ferguson's personality and one that was perhaps key to his success at all the clubs he managed. However, he is way too defensive in the book. He does not admit mistakes. He dismisses Rafa Benitez's claims that he pressures referees as "rubbish," for instance. He also has the... more tendency of overusing phrases like "wee lad" and "brave as lions". The former is typical Scottish lingo, but the latter becomes annoying. Overall, Ferguson's biography will does shake the world of literature, but is quite an insightful read.
review 2: Cards on the table, I'm not a Manchester United fan. I've never particularly warmed to Alex Ferguson either - he's a bit too gruff and lacking in humour for my personal taste - but I do admire what he has achieved at the club in the past 25 years or so. I'd heard a few snippets from the book, but just the headline pieces. Also, having recently read Roy Keane's autobiography, which covers some of the same period, I'd read one side of some of the incidents. So, I had a reasonable idea what to expect. What I found was exactly what I expected... but no more. The headlines I'd already heard (mainly his views on Beckham and Gerrard) were the only elements that could be considered controversial, and then only mildly so. In truth, the whole think felt watered down compared to the views expressed on virtually every page by Keane. The rest was really just a replay of information I felt was already in the public domain for anyone who has followed English football in recent times.Overall, it's clear Ferguson ruled the club in a manner that accepted no challenge to his authority - try it and you're gone. He had some good principles that informed his management style and gave his players a structure that was conducive to getting the best out of his team. But as a man he came across as rather dull. It's an ok read, but mainly one for the fans who want to re-live the glory years. less

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