Alex Ferguson: A Leader who Inspired Performance
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Case Details:
Case Code : LDEN082
Case Length : 24 Pages
Period : 1974-2012
Pub Date : 2012
Teaching Note :Not Available
Organization : Sir Alex Ferguson, Manchester United Football Club
Industry : Sports
Countries : UK
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This case study was compiled from published sources, and is intended to be used as a basis for class discussion. It is not intended to illustrate either effective or ineffective handling of a management situation. Nor is it a primary information source.
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"Alex Ferguson is one of the greatest managers of all time. He's been at the club for more than 20 years with different generations of players. He's a great psychologist-he adapts himself to all generations of players-he's a kind of genius."
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-Eric Cantona, former player of Manchester United Football Club, 2011.
"Sir Alex is the perfect manager to work alongside. Many managers get stuck in their ways, but Alex always moves with the times. He's always looking for the innovative things to get the edge to make sure he and Manchester United are at the forefront of their development in football."
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-Steve McClaren, Former assistant to Sir Alex, former manager of Middlesbrough, 2011.
"Changing culture at a place and changing behavior is the mark of a great leader. He's been there 25 years, and he's changed it permanently. That's what leadership's about."
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-Howard Wilkinson, Former English Football Player and Manager, 2011.
Twenty Five and Counting...
On November 5, 2011, the north stand at the old Trafford Football stadium was renamed 'Sir Alex Ferguson Stand' to commemorate Alex Chapman Ferguson's (Ferguson) 25 years of service as manager of Manchester United Football Club (MUFC). It was the first time in the history of the century-old club that a stand had been named after a person. On the occasion, David Gill, Chief Executive of MUFC, said, "Sir Alex's contribution to United has been immense and the magnificent stadium we have here at Old Trafford is a testament to his ability and success."
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Ferguson took over as the manager of MUFC in 1986, when the club's glory was a thing of the past and it was languishing among the bottom two teams in the First Division5. The team had not won a single league title for 26 years. Its performance was poor and the fitness levels of the players were low. Ferguson immediately started working with the players, but the results were slow to come. The team finished 11th in the First Division in 1989. Over the next few years, the performance of the team was far from consistent.
But Ferguson worked relentlessly with the team members. He installed a strong work ethic among team members and expected them to give one hundred percent for the team and the game. He motivated the players to perform by telling them that a match was not won or lost till the last minute. He took several risks like replacing key players and inducting young players during important matches. When some of the players were going through difficult times, Ferguson fully supported them. He did not criticize the players in public. Ferguson revamped the youth team system6 , scouted for young talent, trained them, and inducted them into the team.
Ferguson always maintained that no player was bigger than the club and treated all the players equally. He did not think twice before selling even important and famous players when their behavior was not in accordance with the rules of the club.
Under his guidance, the club won a major title in 1990. After that, there was no looking back. In 1998-99, MUFC won three major titles - the FA Cup7 , the Premier League8 , and the UEFA Champions League9 –making it a treble. With Ferguson at the helm, the club won 37 titles within a span of 25 years. About Ferguson and his leadership style, former goal keeper of MUFC, Peter Schmeichel, said, "There are thousands of better coaches. But management? The handling of men? There’s nobody better."
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