#ThankYouSirAlex

You have been there through out my football life - wait, through out my life!

For us all, a new era arrives, - this tops my graduation night! 

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NOTE: it's 27 years not 25!

Below stats from:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2321272/Alex-Ferguson-told-players-retiring-today-heartfelt-speech-Carrington-training-ground.html#ixzz2Sod6raDD 

THE LIFE AND TIMES OF SIR ALEX FERGUSON

1941 - Born Dec. 31 in Govan, Scotland. 

1957 - Begins playing career at Scottish club Queen's Park. 

1966 - Marries Cathy. 

1974 - Ends six-club playing career and takes charge of Scottish club East Stirling. 

1978 - Becomes manager of Aberdeen in Scottish top division, winning Scottish league for the first time in 1981. 

1983 - Wins European Cup Winners' Cup with victory over Real Madrid in final, and becomes Officer of the Order of the British Empire. 

1985 - Takes temporary charge of Scotland's national team after death of manager Jock Stein on Sept. 10. 

1986 - Coaches Scotland at World Cup, where team failed to advance from group. 

1986 - Becomes Manchester United manager as replacement for the fired Ron Atkinson. Leaves Aberdeen with three Scottish titles, four Scottish Cups, one League Cup, a European Cup Winners' Cup and a European Super Cup. 

1990 - Wins first trophy at United, the FA Cup after a replay against Crystal Palace in the final. 

1991 - Wins European Cup Winners' Cup after beating Barcelona 2-1 in final. 

1992 - Signs French forward Eric Cantona. 

1993 - Wins United's first English title since 1967 and voted Manager of the Year. 

1994 - Retains English title and also wins FA Cup. 

1995 - Made Commander of the Order of the British Empire. 

1996 - Wins Premier League again, this time with youngsters in his team such as David Beckham, Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes and Gary Neville known as "Fergie's Fledglings." 

1999 - Wins a historic Premier League-FA Cup-Champions League treble, after winning European Cup for the first time thanks to late goals by Teddy Sheringham and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in a 2-1 win over Bayern Munich; Becomes a knight; Wins Intercontinental Cup 

2001 - Breaks British transfer record to sign Argentina midfielder Juan Sebastian Veron for 28 million pounds. 

2002 - Decides to stay on at United after announcing decision to retire at the end of the season. Admits decision to make announcement public was an "absolute disaster." 

2003 - Launches legal action against then-United shareholder John Magnier over ownership of race horse Rock of Gibraltar; Reportedly kicks football boot into face of Beckham, causing injury to midfielder's face. Beckham sold to Real Madrid that summer; Signs Cristiano Ronaldo from Sporting Lisbon. 

2004 - Has pacemaker fitted. 

2007 - Denies Chelsea a third straight English title by winning Premier League with United for ninth time. 

2008 - Wins Champions League for the second time with victory in a penalty shootout over Chelsea, following 1-1 draw; Wins Club World Cup. 

2009 - Given four-match touchline ban for comments criticizing fitness of referee Alan Wiley. 

2010 - Wins fourth and final League Cup. 

2011 - United names north stand at Old Trafford as the Sir Alex Ferguson Stand. 

2013 - Reclaims Premier League title from Manchester City, winning it for 13th time.

FERGIE'S TOUGHEST TESTS OF 27 YEARS IN THE OLD TRAFFORD HOTSEAT

EARLY SURVIVAL AND ESTABLISHING HIMSELF

Ferguson may have had a strong reputation in Scotland when he arrived but that would not have saved him had the troubles of his first few seasons continued much longer. United flirted with relegation in 1989-90 but crucially kept the season alive by shining in the FA Cup. They went on to win the trophy with victory over Crystal Palace in a replayed final and Ferguson's reign gathered momentum.

RECLAIMING THE LEAGUE TITLE

United had enjoyed occasional cup successes since last winning the league in 1967 but they were largely living off past glories until Ferguson finally ended their title drought. In 1991-92 they made a strong challenge only to lose out to Leeds at the last hurdle. There was no mistake 12 months later, however, and a further 11 titles have since followed.

WINNING THE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

With a 26-year league hoodoo broken, United's 'holy grail' became success in Europe's elite competition. Admittedly rules regarding foreign players were a hindrance, but mid-1990s European challenges were characterised by struggles and disappointing defeats to teams such as Galatasaray, IFK Gothenburg and Fenerbahce - as well as one infamous footballing lesson from Barcelona. Ferguson ensured they were a far tougher outfit by the end of the decade, though, and they finally threw the monkey off their back in 1999, when victory over Bayern Munich in Barcelona completed a glorious treble.

REBUILDING THE TEAM

To maintain his phenomenal success, Ferguson has continually regenerated his team. Arguably he never did this better than after his initial flurry of trophies when the likes of Paul Ince, Mark Hughes and Andrei Kanchelskis moved on. Ferguson put faith in youngsters such as David Beckham, Nicky Butt and Paul Scholes and was derided for doing so, but it paid off handsomely. Similarly after Arsenal and Chelsea shared the titles from 2004-06, Ferguson hit back with a new side built around Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney.

DEALING WITH PLAYER POWER

The rise of player power over the past two decades has given managers at many clubs huge problems, but Ferguson rarely bows to it. He is very much the boss at Old Trafford and his position is virtually untouchable. There have been controversies involving big-name players including David Beckham, Roy Keane, Jaap Stam and Paul Ince but Ferguson has not only won each time, but been proved right. Last year Rooney appeared to burn bridges in dramatic fashion but he was coaxed back into the fold, and with remarkable results.

SILENCING THE NOISY NEIGHBOURS

When Manchester City, backed by the seemingly endless wealth of Sheik Mansour, became champions of England last season for the first time in 44 years, it seemed the power balance in the city may have shifted indefinitely. But while Roberto Mancini's men struggled to recreate the football that took the Premier League trophy to Eastlands, Ferguson made another key signing - bringing in Robin van Persie from rivals Arsenal - and took title No 13 to Old Trafford to quieten City down for another season.

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