Sir Alex Ferguson opens up on a request he made to Sir Bobby Charlton in 1986 after becoming Manchester United manager, which helped him rebuild the club and deliver unprecedented success.
Manchester United were a very different football club in 1986. The Red Devils had not been crowned First Division champions since 1967, which meant Sir Alex Ferguson had a huge job on his hands.
Wilf McGuinness, Frank O’Farrell, Dave Sexton, Tommy Docherty and Ron Atkinson all had spells as United manager before Ferguson’s appointment.
Perhaps the biggest change Ferguson made at Old Trafford saw a culture shift. He got rid of some big names in his first few years at the club, but received the utmost support from the board that brought him to England from Aberdeen.
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Even though United are a completely different animal in the modern game, Ruben Amorim faces a similar challenge to get United back to winning Premier League titles and competing regularly in the Champions League.
Sir Alex Ferguson and Omar Berrada at the Etihad Stadium
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Sir Alex Ferguson had Man Utd wish granted by Sir Bobby Charlton
Ferguson’s relationship with young players laid the foundations for his 26-year tenure at Old Trafford. This made him a footballing architect as well as a manager because his vision was to build on the club using the same philosophy as Sir Matt Busby.
Busby, like Ferguson, believed that young players provided the energy and loyalty necessary for long-term success.
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In an interview with Press Box PR, Ferguson reveals how he had one request after becoming United manager. It was granted by Sir Bobby Charlton, who was club director at the time, and they shared a close relationship in the many years that followed.
“When I went to United, Bobby Charlton was in the meeting and I said: ‘I don’t know why you have appointed me unless you give me the reign to produce young players.’
“Bobby said: ‘That’s done, you’ve got the job.’ Bobby Charlton was a fantastic man.”
Man Utd icon Sir Alex Ferguson perfectly captures the ethos of believing in youngsters 🔥👏
Giving young people an opportunity is a fantastic thing and they very seldom let you down. These lads never let me down when they put that jersey on.
Sir Alex Ferguson speaking at the opening of Salford City’s Peninsula Stadium in 2017
Sir Alex Ferguson arrives at Old Trafford to watch Manchester United.
Photo by Ash Donelon/Manchester United via Getty Images
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Ferguson went on to build multiple teams with help from the academy. There is no denying that the foundations for the Treble triumph in 1999 were laid with the iconic Class of 92.
The jury is still out as to whether Amorim will show the same level of faith in United’s academy prospects, especially with Kobbie Mainoo often being overlooked for a place in the team.
Sir Alex Ferguson issues title drought warning to Man Utd
In the same interview, Ferguson shared his admiration for Amorim and acknowledged that the job is ‘not easy’.
Ferguson makes a comparison to when he took over United and warned that the club may have to wait like Liverpool, who ended a 30-year wait for league success under Jurgen Klopp.
He added: “He [Amorim] is a good personality. It is not easy. I remember looking back on my own time there, starting off when Liverpool were the bee’s knees. They were a fantastic club winning the European Cup four times and all that, but then it took them 31 years to win the league again.
“We are now in the same situation. It could be ten years, could be 11 years, because of that cycle. It has to be thought out carefully and we have to make sure the recruitment is going to be better than what it was.”
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