Secret behind Sir Alex Ferguson's success revealed

There is little doubt that Sir Alex Ferguson was one of the greatest managers of his time, perhaps even all-time. One thing he is renowned for, aside from his success on the pitch, was his demeanor off it. The words “hair dryer” and Sir Alex Ferguson go hand in hand, so much so that a google of the former and football, yields hardly surprising results.

Whilst many have wondered about the origin of his stern headmaster-esque discipline, one thing that everyone will agree is that, it worked. More often than not, after the half-time break, Manchester United looked a lot sharper and hungrier. Thanks to a recent revelation, that question has just been answered.

Whilst hard work, patience and an innate talent certainly helped him succeed, he recently admitted that he owes his success to being beaten with a belt by his favorite schoolteacher when he stepped out of line, as a schoolboy.

Speaking to the Times Educational Supplement, Ferguson, who only last summer gave way for David Moyes, said “Six from that belt and you were in absolute agony. That was the punishment you had, in my case, usually for fighting in the playground.”

The revelation shouldn’t really surprise many, as that was generally the case at least until corporal punishment was banned in Glasgow schools in 1982. Teachers generally used to use coercive means to get students back in line. And whilst there will always be those that argue as to whether, it should have even been allowed back then. It shows how tough Ferguson was, even from a very small age.

In a candid interview, Ferguson, currently a UEFA Coaching Ambassador, also went onto shower praise on his school teach from his time at Glasgow’s Broomloan Road School in the 1950s. Ferguson said “Elizabeth Thomson was an inspiration to me. She improved everyone she touched.”

‘When she first got to the school, she went to the house of every student not in her class and said, “If your kid isn’t in school tomorrow, I’ll be back”.

Ferguson was glowing in his praise of her and also acknowledged that he now has that belt in his study at home, after it was left to him by her, before she died. Of the teacher, he said, “Mrs Thomson endeavored to make you be the best you could be,’ he also admitted “Yes, that part of me comes from her.” And went onto say that the qualities that made her so likeable by everybody, her “personality, determination and energy” was precisely what set him up for success in life.

Ferguson said that he continued to keep in touch with her long after his school life and that she continued to be a big inspiration for him, whilst he was a manager at both Aberdeen and then United before he called time, at the end of last season.

Ferguson also lamented about how he couldn’t attend her funeral. He said “When she died, I couldn’t go to her funeral but months later I got a parcel. She had bequeathed her belt to me.”

“Her nephew sent it with a letter saying: ‘You’ll know more about this belt than anyone.’” He also went onto admit that he still cherishes it and said “It’s in my study now. My grandchildren are terrified of it.”