The tributes will start pouring in now on those social networking sites. There will be tons of stories, tons of analyses of his glorious 26 years at the helm of the most successful club in English history. But what I cannot stop wondering about is how it must have exactly been to be him. I mean, isn't that the ultimate life one can ever dream of? Getting over 70, and still having that boundless enthusiasm to do what you love? And to still be the freaking best at it after 39 years?
I won't talk about the stats and all the trophies he won and everything. Pretty much everyone knows about that, and if even if you don't, you're going to be bombarded with all that information anyways. The only statistic that tells the story of his life for me is this: 5 times Manchester United finished as the runners-up in the Premier League under him. On each and every occasion, they stormed back to win back the title. The difference between a successful person and others is not a lack of strength, not a lack of knowledge, but rather a lack of will, said Vince Lombardi. Willpower was never a problem with Ferguson. Every goal scored was cheered with the same childlike enthusiasm, that must have been present right from childhood. Every defeat was met with a burning desire to return to the winning ways.
The speculations are already rife about who shall succeed him at Old Trafford. For all we know, that might be the greatest managerial challenge one has ever faced. The kind of legacy he leaves behind, how do you compete with that? And yet Ferguson might not be gone just yet. They say he'll continue on the football board and as an ambassador. You wonder if there's one final challenge left for him. History tells us its a monumental task to continue the same level of success, when a team loses a legend like him. It took decades for United to get over Sir Matt Busby. Liverpool met with similar fate after Bill Shankly. I wonder if that's why Ferguson wants to hang around, albeit in an upstairs job. To ensure that Manchester United continue to move forward with the legend that he has built in last 26 years.
That, might just be the ultimate triumph for the Wily Old Scott.
I won't talk about the stats and all the trophies he won and everything. Pretty much everyone knows about that, and if even if you don't, you're going to be bombarded with all that information anyways. The only statistic that tells the story of his life for me is this: 5 times Manchester United finished as the runners-up in the Premier League under him. On each and every occasion, they stormed back to win back the title. The difference between a successful person and others is not a lack of strength, not a lack of knowledge, but rather a lack of will, said Vince Lombardi. Willpower was never a problem with Ferguson. Every goal scored was cheered with the same childlike enthusiasm, that must have been present right from childhood. Every defeat was met with a burning desire to return to the winning ways.
The speculations are already rife about who shall succeed him at Old Trafford. For all we know, that might be the greatest managerial challenge one has ever faced. The kind of legacy he leaves behind, how do you compete with that? And yet Ferguson might not be gone just yet. They say he'll continue on the football board and as an ambassador. You wonder if there's one final challenge left for him. History tells us its a monumental task to continue the same level of success, when a team loses a legend like him. It took decades for United to get over Sir Matt Busby. Liverpool met with similar fate after Bill Shankly. I wonder if that's why Ferguson wants to hang around, albeit in an upstairs job. To ensure that Manchester United continue to move forward with the legend that he has built in last 26 years.
That, might just be the ultimate triumph for the Wily Old Scott.
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