Every time we talk about any legendary manager or player, we talk about his brilliance in the field but behind every success there is a trait and this attribute can be a punishment for others but it is acceptable as long as it is yielding results and this is something that holds true for Manchester United who almost ruled the English soccer under the mentorship of former manager Sir Alex Ferguson.
Alex has undoubtedly been the among the most successful English managers ever but this is also true that he could never make everyone happy about the way he used to lead the side, in fact, many used to call him authoritative who only wants to dictate the players. Every now and then former players, who have played under him, reveal lots of things about the former Red Devils boss and this time it is the turn of club’s former youth player Mads Timm to talk about his style of leading the highly successful Manchester United of nineties.
He reveals some dressing room insides in his autobiography called Red Devil and said, “He implemented and insisted on a leadership culture and ruthlessly made sure his players dedicated themselves unconditionally to his ideas and hierarchy. He was a control freak, and he often motivated players with fear. In his way, he was good for the time and fitted well to the players who were at United then.
“David Beckham, Ryan Giggs and the Neville brothers’ personalities all fitted perfectly into Ferguson’s slave army.”
This could be his attempt to market his maiden book, which is a fashion these days to create a curiosity in the book, while many also agree with his views over the former great. Also adding about the Alex approaches he used to follow that time, Timm says it can never be successful in today’s environment with so many options residing with every team. He added, “I am not sure he could create the same success in the same way today. Today you cannot get the footballers to subject themselves by talking about honour and willingness to die for the club.
Recalling FA Youth Cup final against Middlesbrough in 2003, he furthered, “We won 3-1 on aggregate and that secured us the trophy, as an axe-wielding Ferguson had demanded. But we were not allowed to rest on our laurels. ‘Do not celebrate. Keep winning,’ commanded Ferguson. You may never enjoy anything too much sounded a part of his core philosophy.”
Sir Alex Ferguson: melis / Shutterstock.com