Alex Ferguson arrived at OldTrafford in 1986 with an impressive record from his eight years at Aberdeen. He succeeded in breaking the Celtic-Rangers stranglehold on Scottish football, winning the championship three times and the Scottish Cup on four occasions. He also guided the Dons to a famous European Cup Winners’ Cup victory over Real Madrid, beating the mighty Spanish side 2-1 in the Final in Gothenburg. He had a brief spell as caretaker manager of Scotland following the death of Jock Stein.
Youth system bears fruit
Ferguson then turned his attention to making Manchester United a powerhouse in England's top flight at a time when Liverpool were the undisputed top dogs. Fortunes in the early days were mixed. His team lifted the FA Cup in 1990 and followed it up with a victory over Barcelona in the European Cup Winners’ Cup Final the following year Shortly aften//ards the youth system in which Ferguson had invested so heavily began to bear fruit. Players of the stature of Giggs, Beckham, Scholes and the Neville brothers progressed to the senior side. Ferguson also made some astute signings, notably Peter Schmeichel and Eric Cantona, who together cost just ? 1.5 million. Ferguson’s side proved irresistible, winning the inaugural Premiership title in 1993. A league and Cup Double followed in 1994, and again in 1996. But the crowning moment came in 1999, when Ferguson added the European Cup to his sizeable haul of domestic trophies. He announced that 2002 would be his final season, but had a change of heart and took United to yet another championship in 2002-03.
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