Fergie’s fire is as red hot as always

LEADING by Alex Ferguson with Michael Moritz Hodder & Stoughton, £ 25

FORMER Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson needs no introduction. Britain’s most successful football manager is revered by United fans and, since his retirement, respected by opposing fans. Even to people unfamiliar with the back pages he is known for being the former disapproving father figure to David Beckham.

Ferguson retired from football in May 2013 and later that year published his autobiography which sold over a million copies. His follow- up Leading finds him in a reflective mood. Where his previous books were structured as diaries and autobiographies, in Leading he imparts both his management philosophy and life lessons he has learnt.

Instead of chapters focusing on periods of his life or United games they focus on subjects such as time management, teamwork, frugality or dealing with distractions.

Although billed as a management book Leading is actually a collection of amusing stories, tales and observations.

The tone is one of a kindly old grandfather having a fireside chat but there is plenty of evidence of the darker, angrier side that he is also known for.

Ferguson is renowned for setting high standards and having an explosive temper when disappointed. This is perfectly illustrated when, during his early days as manager of Aberdeen, he savaged his team live on TV for putting in a “disgrace of a performance” just minutes after winning the Scottish Cup final by beating Rangers, then one of the leading sides in domestic football.

To his credit Ferguson says that he cringes when he recounts that particular episode and that

experience taught him to temper criticism of his players with words of encouragement.

He muses that if managers are too harsh, too often, all it does is discourage people and lower morale. “I cannot think of any manager who succeeded for any length of time by presiding over a reign of terror,” he writes.

One thing that football fans generally admire is Ferguson’s ruthlessness in his pursuit of excellence. The Govan- born manager believes that decisions should be made and executed quickly and without sentiment.

One example is the decision to buy Nottingham Forest midfield enforcer Roy Keane, a superb player who went on to become a United legend.

However doing so effectively ended the United career of his son Darren who was sold to Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Keane was the superior player and Ferguson Junior had to go to make room for him. While every football fan knows it was the right decision Ferguson says that his long- suffering wife Cathy will occasionally remind him that he “sold his own son”.

For those interested in the subject of leadership, be it managing people effectively and getting the best out of them or learning which qualities and traits separate those who manage and those who inspire, Leading is a worthwhile read.

Football fans might complain that the book is over too quickly, even though Ferguson provides 343 pages of entertaining stories and observations.

Structuring his sermons in an easily read format is the latest managerial masterstroke from a man who made a career out of regularly producing them.