One quarter of a century ago
today, Manchester United
Football Club - and with it, the
shape of the game in England -
began to change forever.
In November 1986, United was a
club skulking in its own shadow.
Fresh from a 4-1 defeat at
Southampton, the Reds languished
in the top flight's relegation zone a
year after being apparent title
certainties.
With the club's demands of
excellence scarcely realised since Sir
Matt Busby's departure, the United
board recognised the time for
change had again arrived.
In five years at the helm, manager
Ron Atkinson had won two FA Cups
and had never finished below fourth
in the league, but it was Big Ron's
inability to top second spot which
proved his undoing.
He was relieved of his role, but the
board knew his replacement faced
mounting pressure and diminishing
patience to rediscover past glories.
There was only one man for the
job.
"Taking over a club of Manchester
United's magnitude is an awesome
task," said Alex Ferguson in his very
first matchday programme notes. "I
am not really interested in what has
happened here in the past.
"I don't mean any disrespect to the
great achievements of Manchester
United over the years. It's simply
that there is now only one way to
go, and that is forward. The aim at
this club must clearly be to win the
championship. That is the only real
way to lay the ghosts of the past. I
am going to love every minute of it
here."
Alex's prediction that he would revel
in his new post proved, of course,
to be spot on. Long may that
continue.