10 reasons why Sir Alex Ferguson has enjoyed long term success

“Sir Alex Ferguson has outlasted 5 American Presidents, 5 British Prime Ministers, 10 Liverpool, 18 Chelsea and 19 Man City Managers.”

Remember that we are talking about football management – a highly competitive, frequently unstable, short term role. His rival, and admirer, Arsene Wenger recently said of Ferguson: “I don’t remember anybody else being at the top, top level for such a long time.”

I asked myself a simple question. ‘How?’ Then another couple. ‘Why?’ And; ‘what qualities has he got that make him so relevant as a leader with such longevity?’

Here are 10 of the factors which come to mind.

1. An ability to stay fresh and re-invent himself. Ferguson keeps learning and evolving – as do his teams. He is highly motivated and pursues a state of continual excellence.

Wenger continues: “His commitment is always there, you never feel that his commitment is weakened.

“What I admire maybe the most in him is his forward-thinking. He is always ready to move with the times and never speaks about what he has done before.”He knows when to renew the team, when you have to make changes, and that is exceptional because you can sometimes be a little bit lazy when you have so much success.

“He’s never been like that, he’s always on his toes and he can renew what is needed, when it is needed.”

Ferguson evolves and refreshes his team and squad continually. He has had four or five different distinct squads and eras, yet has retained some continuity – a stable management spine led by himself and trusted long termers like Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs on the pitch.

3. He is not totally enslaved by the drive for success at work. He has perspective and balance. He actually has a life outside the game. He’s grounded by his roots, his love of his family – including wife Cathy, three children (one son Darren is also a football club manager) and is deeply involved outside of football in horse ownership and racing.

4. His sense of humour – often mischievous – is a great pressure coping strategy. He toys with journalists (recently making a Leveson enquiry related quip at their expense), winds up rivals and defuses the pressure the media seek to apply when looking for a story. Even when he famously refused to answer an inane question and walked out of interview – he did it with a smile.

We see often see humour as well as the famous Ferguson anger.

5. Ferguson is an astute communicator. His humour can be mischievous and he often indulges in mind games with opponents (famously Kevin Keegan) in an attempt to deflect them from their true purpose. He seeks to set the agenda and understands the importance of setting his agenda. He know that what he talks about others around him think about. Sometimes he will try and set the agenda for referees.

Ferguson may make a derogatory comment at a pre-match press conference about the opposition manager or their team. This has led to public rows with managers such as Kevin Keegan, Arsène Wenger, Rafael Benítez and Mark Hughes. Sometimes he puts pressure on opponents by outrageously claiming (reverse psychology) that they, not Manchester United, are match favorites.

Ferguson manages people effectively – players, the media and football officials including match referees. The internet reveals many examples of him blowing hot and cold, tapping his watch at linesmen and referees. He’s prepared to publicly question the competence and fair mindedness of top referees such as Martin Atkinson (which resulted in a fine and touchline ban in March 2011). Whoever he targets: Ferguson sets the agenda, can manipulate the emotions of others, and, is capable of undermining their focus and confidence.

His good grasp of the principles of communication, psychology, leadership and influence was probably informed by the tough post of being a shop steward in the notoriously tough Clydeside shipyards.

And of course the media are always around him. Not only is he successful, but he’s always interesting, direct and often controversial. So his message always gets around.

6. Nobody doubts that Ferguson has absolute personal authority. His upbringing in the Govan area of Glasgow and work on Clydeside may have helped here.

Ferguson acquired a reputation as a disciplinarian, with East Stirlingshire striker Bobby McCulley saying he had “never been afraid of anyone before but Ferguson was a frightening bastard from the start.

Aberdeen players nicknamed him Furious Fergie. He fined one of his players for overtaking him on a public road and kicked a tea urn at the players at half time after a poor first half.

Later he cracked down on a drinking culture amongst some of the Manchester United squad when he joined in 1986. The Fergie hair dryer treatment is legendary. There is only one leader. That leader is prepared to be ruthless. David Beckham, Lee Sharpe, Jap Stam and others all know this. Even exceptionally tough characters such as Roy Keane have learnt it.

7. Despite being a strong authority figure he is a mentor and genuinely interests himself with the well-being of his players. Ryan Giggs, who has been a pivotal member of the first team for most of Ferguson’s reign, has whole-hearted praise: “He’s just a great man. Even though he is managing the greatest club in the world and the biggest club in the world, he still has time for any young player or any player with problems – both on and off the pitch.”

David Beckham echoes the sentiment: “Playing under him for the years that I did, well – he was like a father figure to me.

10. Ferguson has credibility. He was a player, including at Rangers, gained managerial success at Aberdeen, then Manchester United and at 70 he still takes training sessions. He’s hands on and earns the respect of those around him.