An open letter to Sir Alex Ferguson

Dear Sir Alex,

I cannot start writing a letter to you in any way other than expressing my deepest gratitude for making Manchester United the club and that brand that it is today, for giving me, and all the other Man Utd fans a reason to rejoice every other year, for being a source of inspiration when we were down, and most of all for teaching us that the fight does not end when you lose, it only ends when you give up.

What could I tell you more, that hasn’t been told countless times by the greatest of players, managers and pundits? What more accolades can I shower upon you, one of the greatest managers of all time, a legend at Old Trafford, hailed by Sir Matt Busby, and knighted by the Queen? What more could I ask of you, when you have beaten all the competition there were, conquered all that there is, demolished all the barriers that there could be, and have already laid foundations to the next generation at Old Trafford? Yet, here I am, a simple fan sitting in front of a laptop more than 7000 miles away, trying to write a meaningful letter.

Success is sometimes overwhelming, and it does not last forever. But in your case, success was just a byproduct to excellence. You made an important decision of your life by choosing to manage Manchester United, rejecting offers from Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur and other clubs, who were keen on appointing you as their gaffer. Whether it was luck or destiny that Man Utd signed you, we would never know. And there started a love affair of the highest quality, one that is 25 years young this week, and is interlaced with many an interesting anecdote, many a fairytale ending and a lot of success.

You taught us the value of trust, when you showed us that the trust you had placed in the young crop of 92 was not misplaced. You were responsible for giving us the ‘Golden Generation’ of Manchester United, comparable only to the Busby Babes. You showed that you can win, and win big with kids. You showed us that everyone are not alike, and everyone needs to be respected for who they are. Convincing Eric Cantona to return to football after his lengthy ban and making him the ace orchestrator he was on the pitch is one of the many instances. While it may seem impossible to be protective of the players in the open while giving them the hairdryer treatment they deserve behind the doors, you executed it to perfection.

You were a fatherly figure to the players, and in a way, to us, Man Utd fans all over the world. You had to manage the personal lives of the players as well as their professional lives, and you always did it to the best of your abilities. Out went the partying culture at Man Utd, and its place was taken by unparalleled success. Paul Scholes, David Beckham and Roy Keane are but few examples of the same.

At a time when loyalty is a foreign word in any walk of life, let alone the money-driven world of football, you have shown that there are some things money can’t buy. To strive to succeed for 25 years is hard enough, to do it at one club is even harder. But to do it at a club of the stature of Manchester United is what makes the word ‘legend’ seem insufficient to describe it. The longevity can be truly illustrated only with the fact that the “kids” you nurtured are past their career and have taken to television punditry and coaching, while you still turn out on the pitch every single day, shouting instructions to the players. English football has seen more than a thousand managers come and go ever since you took over the reins at Old Trafford.

You saw off the challenge of the rich Blackburn Rovers, the mighty Arsenal under Arsene Wenger and Chelsea with their Roubles, all the while playing spectacular football in a run that saw us increasing our league tally from 7 to 19 over the past 20 years, in the process silencing the Kop faithful. You always placed the club above individuals, including yourself, which in my humble opinion, is the greatest trait of a great human being.

You have created a legacy at Old Trafford. One that would live on even after you. Even as we rejoice our landmark league title, the noisy neighbours are raising their voices. And if there is one thing I am sure of, it is that even as I write, you are preparing to take the bull by its horns and toss it away. I am sure that every Manchester United fan will agree with me when I say that 25 years as our boss are just not enough for us. Here’s wishing you another 25! To a legend who has been in charge of the club for more years than I have been alive, that is all that I could offer you.

There is a lot more to be said, but words do not suffice to truly express what I feel. I wish that someday I will make a trip to the Theater of Dreams, and see you live in action. To meet you would be a dream come true for any United supporter, and it would be no different for me. A few years down the lane, when my kids ask me who the greatest manager ever was, I would reply with dreamy eyes, “I don’t know.” Because frankly, it doesn’t matter. For, the “greatest ever” is a title given to someone who could be compared with another. And for me, Sir Alex Ferguson is beyond comparison.

Regards and gratitude,Man Utd fan.

I hope that someday it reaches Sir Alex Ferguson. So please keep sharing, it will be much appreciated :)