So it's finally over.
End of the chewing gum, the rants, the pointing at watches and barely concealed cursing at officials. End of the controversial quotes, the "squeaky bum time" and the red faced, red hot will to win that poured from the touchline like lava to light a fire under his players. The end of an era.
27 years, 38 trophies and several completely different, completely dominant eras, Sir Alex Ferguson leaves behind a legacy that the statue outside Old Trafford only goes so far to explain. Since Ferguson took over in a time of footballing austerity in Manchester, looking longingly at their rivals at Merseyside celebrating title after title with winning team after winning team. When Alex took over, the score was 18-7 in favor of Liverpool.
1993 was the watershed moment, where 7 years of struggles and squad purging finally paid off and Ferguson could look to every member of his team knowing it was his. Then came the Cantona years, where all the vitriol, chaos and romance that football signifies was encapsulated by one upturned shirt collar.
1999 was the probably the most satisfying success of all; where the heroics of Roy Keane in Turin were matched by the magic of the Nou Camp two weeks later, and Peter Schmeichel got his perfect farewell while the best schoolboys in England stood together as the best team in Europe.
The turn of the 21st century came with it's own challenges; Wenger and Mourinho on the field, his health off it. Thoughts of retirement crept in as age began to wear, but the will to win remained, and United continued to roll on toward success after success.
2008 marked the 50th anniversary of the Busby Babes, and appropriately another European title for a team led by another significant #7. Cristiano Ronaldo's era at the forefront of United's greatest side under Ferguson(so says the man himself) is another paragraph in this, one of many tributes to a career that has been integral to history of a club, a community and a country.
Manchester United's successes paved the way for the progress of the Premier League, lost in the dark ages of a European reputation tarnished by tragedy. The continued success and eventual marketability of Manchester United ensured that the club became Manchester United the brand, and by definition - English football, the brand.
The deals with Nike, the memorable players and the continuous victories have become entrenched in a club's reputation so emphatically one struggles to think of a time without a successful, popular Manchester United. United changed football in England for the better, by being victorious. Alongside the thousands - no millions - of fans that will mourn the retirement of Britain's greatest manager, Rupert Murdoch should be weeping into a handkerchief.
27 years, hundreds of different players, dozens of different formations, shapes and surprises but one constant: success. Football is weakened by the exit of a man who could choose his destiny in a sporting culture that often doesn't give it's a clients a choice.
When Ferguson took over the score was 18-7. He leaves with it at 18-20.
Sir Alex Ferguson. Bloody hell.
