Alex Ferguson’s unlikely post-managerial career as a corporate guru (he has lectured business classes at Harvard) advances further with this latest book – new Fergie tomes now being an-almost annual occurrence – in which he gives his views on leading large organisations. Though a decent enough read, there is little to be learned here that hasn’t already been disclosed in previous Ferguson books (as well as his own output, he has also been the subject of fine autobiographies by Michael Crick and Patrick Barclay).
For all of his legendary bellicosity, perhaps the chief lesson to be gleaned from Ferguson’s longevity is that he is an arch politician. From a purely footballing point of view, meanwhile, eyebrows will do no doubt be raised at his omission of Roy Keane from the list of world class talents he managed at Man Utd – with Paul Scholes squeezing in ahead of the Corkman. Sorry, Fergie – Roy was twice the player Scholes was and the heartbeat of United’s legendary treble winning side in 1999. Perhaps Ferguson will readdress the issue in his no doubt soon-to-be-published next book.