Sir Alex Ferguson's autobiography sees how the former Manchester United boss transformed a struggling club into one of the world's best; across 26 years, how he transformed United from just another football club into a worldwide business brand.
Rather than 'My Autobiography', the book should have really been called "Settling Old Scores." Through his scribbles, Fergie has largely taken a dig at his former employees David Beckham (obsessed with his celebrity status), controversial skipper Roy Keane (the most savage tongue you could imagine), referees, media, Rafa Benitez (who made things personal). The list goes on and on...
Was the criticism really necessary, especially since Beckham in particular has made efforts to mend damaged relationships since his departure from the club in 2003? Not the same could be said about Keane, though, who has accused Ferguson many times after leaving the club - so on this one Fergie has really settled the score with the latter.
Twelve pages of the book are devoted to his not-so-best friend and Arsenal coach Arsene Wenger and United-Arsenal rivalry of early and mid 2000s. He revealed how Wenger had his fists clenched during the infamous 'pizza-gate' fiasco between the two managers after United ended Arsenal's 49-game unbeaten Premier League run. Wenger at that stage would never have a drink with Ferguson after matches between the two clubs, but his assistant, Pat Rice, also stopped coming to Ferguson's office after that match. However, the book also gives details about how his relationship with Wenger ended up being friendly. A major turning point in their relationship was the 2009 Champions League semi-final when the Arsenal boss invited Ferguson into the dressing room to congratulate him on United's victory.
He also talks about his handling of Ryan Giggs, Rio Ferdinand, Eric Cantona, Ruud van Nistelrooy as well as Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo. He writes how he criticised his players to keep them motivated and working hard, how control was the most important thing under his management. As each season rolls along with the turning of the pages, it becomes clear that the reason for Ferguson's success in becoming the greatest manager ever seen in the game was definitely 'control'.
And this book also confirms that Liverpool did get onto Fergie's nerve. Ferguson reserved some of the fiercest criticism in the book for then Liverpool coach Benítez, dubbing the Spaniard a "control freak" who shunned friendships with colleagues during his time at Anfield. He also suggested that the Spaniard had played captain Steven Gerrard out of position and could not understand why the England captain was not deployed more often in central midfield. And the criticism went on. He continued by saying: Liverpool are eight players short of constructing a squad that could win the Premier League and questioned Steven Gerrard's reputation as one of the best midfielders in the world despite trying to bring him to the club. He also had a similar conclusion on Frank Lampard, saying that he did not consider him to be an elite international footballer and that it was "absolute nonsense" for Gerrard or Lampard to be considered superior to United legend Paul Scholes. His chapter on Liverpool proved how much he hated the Reds.
But the book misses out on few major points as well. Over the course of 350 pages, only two or three pages have been dedicated to the debt-driven takeover of Manchester United by the American Glazers in 2005. The so-called green and gold anti-Glazer protests of 2010 did not get a single mention. Control is the word that recurs time and again and, in many ways, this autobiography is the last major work of a control freak. Ferguson gave his side of the story.
The book became the fastest selling non-fiction work in UK history in its first week on sale. Although there is no "wow moment" or a major revelation, it's a book that every football fan should read and not to forget, it's surely a must read for Manchester United fans.
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