Customer Reviews
Toy boxes, second-hand boots and foreign holidays - By: Mr. S. Bailey, 24 Sep 2008 
There are many football fans who would turn their noses up at the idea of reading a book about the manager of another club, particularly, Manchester United's boss. They would be wrong to do so. Managing My Life, instead of merely retelling the all too familiar story of Manchester United's ascendancy to the top of English football under Alex Ferguson's stewardship, charts the full span of his interesting, occasionally tumultous, life & career; from his rough & tumble childhoodin Glasgow's Govan through to the ups-and-downs of the 1999 Champions League Final. Indeed, we are given glimpses of aspects of Ferguson's personality hitherto subdued or obscuredin his many media appearances. His almost child-like innocence & glee about being selected for the Scottish international team's world tourin the summer of 1967 shows that vividly. Detailing the itinerary, which included Israel, Hong Kong, Australia, New Zealand & Canada he notes that he had "never been further than Spain, but the Govan boy was ready for the faraway places with strange-sounding names". In his description of his troubled times, as a player, with his boyhood heroes Glasgow Rangers, a suggestion of vulnerability & self-doubt creeps into his words. Pointedly, he remarks thatin his forty yearsin professional football no experience had "created a scar comparable with that left by the treatment I received at Ibrox".
That is not to suggest that with this autobiography Ferguson has grown soft, sensitive & likable. Many of his reflections show why he is respected & admired rather than loved & adored. He derides his one-time player Paul Ince's desire to be called by the tag of the `Guvnor' as "nonsense [which] should have been leftin his toy box", despite recognising that it was just a mask for the player's insecurity. Aberdeen player Gordon Strachan's statementin the 1983-84 season that he was bored & intended to quit the club was met with the plain, uncomplicated 'advice' to "Go & get yourself unbored". In many of the more bullish statements on subjects he is reminiscent of managers of a bygone age, like, Bill Shankly & Brian Clough; individuals who are willing to say what they feel & believe without regard for the consequence or affect their words will have. Ferguson's comments about his eight successful years at Aberdeen, where he picked up the League, Scottish Cup & the European Cup Winners' Cup with Aberdeen, indicate that clearly. Boldly, he declaresin a statement which may come across as heresy to followers of Manchester United that, "no matter how well things go at Old Trafford it will be difficult to surpass the satisfaction of turning a provincial club... into the benchmark of qualityin the Scottish game".
Alex Ferguson's choice of Hugh McIlvanney, his friend & fellow Scot, as a ghost-writer for this forthright autobiography is as shrewd as any manoeuvre he has madein the transfer market. The highly-acclaimed sportswriter has brought structure, coherence & a touch of linguistic flair to this (successful) attempt to explain how Ferguson went from a childhood where he had to wait for a neighbour to give him second-hand boots so that he could turn out for his street team to becoming a knight of the realm.
As with all autobiographies there is an element of hubrisin Ferguson's recollections upon matches, events & his actions. Those who are looking for a critical, dissenting voice, therefore, may wish to consider political journalist Michael Crick's well-researched, unauthorised biography The Boss: The Many Sides of Alex Ferguson [2003].
Takes tedium to a whole new level - By: Sam Hispam, 01 Aug 2007 
Even by the standards of football autobiography this is very dull. There is nothing juicy or interesting here. I expected Ferguson to be a bit more of a feisty character: instead of which he's just dull. You won't get any insights into management technique or any behind the scenes stories here.
Great Book About a Great Manager - By: Jay, 22 Mar 2007 
Despite not being an avid supporter of Manchester United I have always been very keen to have an insight into the life & times of club's greatest ever manager.
The book clearly portrays the great mans early days & his tough upbringingin Govan, Glasgow. Uniquely,in a city which had major religous differences Alex's parents were from a mixed marriage. We get a great insight into Alex's early footballing life & the tough times that his family enduredin surviving.
A fascinating discussion about Alex Ferguson's time as a player were amongst other clubs represented Glasgow Rangers. Even as a player we could to realize that he had a volatile temperament which would continue to serve him as a natural football leader.
From success at the unfashionable Aberdeen football Club to the pressures of managing one of the biggest sports clubsin the world Alex remains how much his childhood upbringing continues to be a major backbone of his life.
A truly great read into the one of soccers most respected characters.
Read Between The Lines - By: , 21 May 2003 There is a genre of British autobiographies you could call "man from tough working class background makes good". To begin with I was frightened that Alex Ferguson had placed his own autobiography so firmlyin this genre that it would contain little of any value.
However, as you get into it, & as long as you have your 'between the lines' head on, it has quite a lot to offer.
From a footballing point of view I became more into it once it reached an era I could remember (late sixties).
Particularly fascinating is the effect senior school had on Alex, due to his being older than his peers. I find myself wondering if this was a major influencein forming the aggression, expectation of extreme loyalty, & paternalism that are clearly major parts of his make-up, & so commonin successful leaders.
I am now thinking of reading Michael Crick's book, although, despite Alex's obvious attempts to hide much about himself, I think most comes through if you look for it.
What Makes Him Tick - By: Mrs K Jarvis, 17 Dec 2002 A lot of people myself included do not know of Alex Fergusons early beginnings. It was interesting to read how he started at the bottom & worked his way up through sheer grit, determination & being able to nurture his players.
