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 Man United's master Ferguson nears pantheon of Britain's greatest coaches
Posted: Monday May 24, 1999 01:35 PM
LONDON (AP) -- The Champions League final has destiny written all over it for Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson. Wednesday would have been the 90th birthday of legendary Manchester United manager Sir Matt Busby, who guided the Reds to their last Champions Cup trophy 31 years ago. Busby, who died in 1994, also survived a air crash in Munich, Germany, in 1958 that killed eight Manchester United players -- a club know affectionately as the "Busby Babes." "I can understand why people talk about the destiny of this season," said Ferguson, a 57-year-old Scotsman. "It's Sir Matt's birthday ... and we are playing Bayern Munich, the team that reminds us of the tragedy in 1958. There are a lot of coincidences." Ferguson, son of a shipyard worker on the Clyde, is dogged, strong-willed, stubborn and impatient. His determination and work ethic were bred in his working class upbringing and five years spent as an apprentice toolmaker. Now Ferguson is being hailed as one of the greatest managers English soccer has ever seen. He's already claimed 11 major trophies since taking over at United from Ron Atkinson in 1986 -- five league championships, four FA Cups, one league Cup and one Cup Winners Cup. That total puts Ferguson only two behind Bob Paisley, who won 13 trophies at Liverpool in the 1970s and '80s. Before joining United, Ferguson made a name for himself at Aberdeen, winning four Scottish Cups, three league titles, one Scottish League Cup and the European Cup Winners Cup. That's 20 major trophies and counting. Ferguson is also gunning for an unprecedented triple by an English side: league, cup, and Champions Cup. That's 21 major trophies and counting. Ferguson is also gunning for an unprecedented triple by an English side: league, cup, and Champions Cup. Ferguson's record is already astounding, but one title has eluded him -- the European Cup. By winning Wednesday, it would guarantee his place in the pantheon. This will be Ferguson's third European final, and he's won the previous two -- both in the Cup Winners' Cup (Aberdeen in 1983 over Real Madrid and United in 1991 over Barcelona). But this is the big one -- the game he wants most. He will be hurt by the absence of suspended midfielders Paul Scholes and Roy Keane. And there are quesions about the health of injured defender Jaap Stam (achilles injury). And the cavernous, 115,000-seat Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona can be intimidating. "All we'll be doing in Spain is repairing the limbs," said Ferguson, who is sequestering his team outside the city in the beach resort of Sitges. "We'll do more talking than ever, so the preparation will be mental rather than practical work." "We have to make sure the players are calmed down about ths match," he added. "Despite how well they've already done, big games are big games and they have to get the proper sense of it." Winning the league-FA Cup double this season was a great triumph for Ferguson and is team. But only a victory Wednesday will make the season a true success. Then, Ferguson's place in history will be secure.
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