1941 December 31st
Birth of Alexander Chapman Ferguson
Birth of Alexander Chapman Ferguson
Football player and manager history
Alex Ferguson
Explore 65 football history records associated with Alex Ferguson, arranged by year, month, day and event. Entries may concern different clubs or national teams during the person’s career.
Historical events
1957
Queen’s Park Senior Career
Ferguson begins his senior playing career with Queen’s Park in Scotland, gaining competitive experience as a young striker while continuing to develop his trade outside full-time football.
1964
Dunfermline Athletic Move
Ferguson joins Dunfermline Athletic, where his goalscoring performances establish him as one of the notable Scottish forwards of the mid-1960s.
1966
Scottish League Goalscoring Peak
Ferguson finishes the 1965-66 Scottish league season as joint leading scorer, a breakthrough that strengthens his reputation before his later move to Rangers.
1967
Rangers Transfer
Rangers sign Ferguson from Dunfermline for a substantial fee, giving him the opportunity to play for one of Scotland’s best-known clubs.
1968
Falkirk Football Club
Nottingham Forest want to sign Ferguson, but his wife is not keen on moving to England at that time so he went to Falkirk instead
1969
Scottish Cup Final Appearance
Ferguson plays for Rangers in the Scottish Cup final against Celtic, but Rangers are defeated and his period at Ibrox remains marked by intense scrutiny.
1973
Ayr United Playing Spell
Ferguson moves to Ayr United toward the end of his playing career, shortly before turning his attention to a full-time career in football management.
1974
Manager
Ferguson is appointed manager of East Stirlingshire, at the comparatively young age of 32
1974
Manager
Apponted Manager of St Mirren after taking advice from Jock Stein
1977
St Mirren Promotion to Top Division
Ferguson guides St Mirren to the Scottish First Division championship and promotion to the top flight, demonstrating the rebuilding skills that later define his management career.
1978
Manager
Apponted Manager of Aberdeen
1980
Aberdeen Break Old Firm Dominance
Ferguson leads Aberdeen to the Scottish Premier Division title, ending the long run of league championships dominated by Celtic and Rangers.
1982
Aberdeen Scottish Cup Victory
Aberdeen defeat Rangers in the Scottish Cup final under Ferguson, beginning a sustained sequence of domestic cup success for the club.
1983
Aberdeen European Super Cup
Ferguson leads Aberdeen to the European Super Cup by overcoming European Cup holders Hamburg across two legs, completing another landmark achievement for the Scottish club.
1983 May 11th
European Cup Winners Cup
Aberdeed seal a 2-1 victory over Real Madrid in the final of the European Cup Winners Cup, becoming only the third Scottish team to win a European trophy and Ferguson now felt that "hed done something worthwhile with his life"
1984
OBE
Ferguson is awarded the OBE in the 1984 honours list
1984
Scottish Cup Winners
Aberdeen win the Scottish league and retained the Scottish Cup
1984
Scottish Premier League
Aberdeen win the Scottish league and retained the Scottish Cup
1985
Scotland Caretaker National Appointment
Ferguson assumes caretaker responsibility for Scotland following the death of national manager Jock Stein, taking charge during the campaign to qualify for the 1986 World Cup.
1985
Scottish Cup Winners
Aberdeen retain their league title in the 1984-85 season
1986
Scotland World Cup Finals Campaign
Ferguson manages Scotland at the 1986 FIFA World Cup in Mexico, where the national side exits during the group stage after difficult matches against strong opponents.
1986 November 6th
Manager
Appointed Manager of Manchester United
1987
Early Manchester United Rebuilding
Ferguson reshapes Manchester United’s squad and training culture during his first full calendar year in charge, laying foundations for a longer-term challenge for major honours.
1990 May 17th
First Manchester United FA Cup
Wins his first Manchester United trophy as the club defeat Crystal Palace 1-0 in the final replay.
1991
European Cup Winners Cup
Man Utd win the European Cup Winners Cup
1991
European Super Cup Victory Over Red Star
Ferguson oversees Manchester United’s victory against Red Star Belgrade in the European Super Cup, with Brian McClair scoring the only goal at Old Trafford.
1992
Eric Cantona Recruitment
Ferguson brings Eric Cantona to Manchester United from Leeds United, a transfer that helps transform the team’s attacking confidence and subsequent league fortunes.
1992
Ferguson Recruits French Playmaker
Ferguson signed Eric Cantona from Leeds and gave the Frenchman the licence to improvise that accelerated United's attacking improvement.
1992
First League Cup Under Ferguson
Manchester United defeat Nottingham Forest at Wembley to win the Football League Cup, adding another domestic trophy to Ferguson’s early successes at the club.
1992
League Championship
Man Utd win the 1st League Championship since 1967
1992
Manager
Alex Ferguson is voted Manager of the Year by the League Managers Association
1993
First Premier League Championship
Manchester United secure the inaugural Premier League championship under Ferguson, ending the club’s 26-year wait for an English top-flight league title.
1994
First Premier League and FA Cup Double
Ferguson guides Manchester United to a domestic league and FA Cup double, establishing a standard of success that the club would repeat under his leadership.
1994
Manchester United Final Success with Ferguson
The trophy goes to Manchester United as Ferguson's side overcome Chelsea by 4-0.
1995
Cantona Returns from Suspension
Ferguson reintegrates Eric Cantona into the Manchester United side after his suspension, retaining faith in a pivotal player during a challenging period for the club.
1996
Manchester United Defeat Liverpool Under Ferguson
The trophy goes to Manchester United as Ferguson's side overcome Liverpool by 1-0. The victory adds another chapter to the club's FA Cup record.
1996
Second Domestic Double
Manchester United complete another Premier League and FA Cup double under Ferguson, overturning Newcastle United’s substantial lead in the league race.
1997
Fourth Cantona League Crown
Ferguson guided United to another Premier League title in Cantona's final season before the French forward suddenly retired.
1997
Fourth Premier League Title
Ferguson secures Manchester United’s fourth Premier League title in five seasons, reinforcing the club’s position as the leading force in English league football.
1998
Jaap Stam Defensive Signing
Ferguson recruits Dutch defender Jaap Stam from PSV Eindhoven, strengthening the defence ahead of Manchester United’s historic 1998-99 campaign.
1999
Ferguson Wins Final with Manchester United
Ferguson ends the tournament with Manchester United on top after the 2-0 final against Newcastle United.
1999
Knighthood Following Treble
Ferguson receives a knighthood in recognition of his services to football after Manchester United win the Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League in one season.
1999
Premier League Championship
Alex Ferguson wins the 1998/99 Premier League championship with Manchester United and steers Manchester United to the league title as the first part of their historic Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League treble.
1999 May 26th
Champions League Comeback in Barcelona
Manchester United defeat Bayern Munich 2-1 in the Champions League final after two stoppage-time goals, giving Ferguson his first title in Europe’s leading club competition.
1999 November 30th
Intercontinental Cup Win in Tokyo
Manchester United beat Palmeiras 1-0 in Tokyo to win the Intercontinental Cup, extending the club’s international success under Ferguson.
2000
Premier League Title Defence
Ferguson directs Manchester United to another Premier League championship, with the team retaining the title comfortably after the previous season’s treble.
2001
Third Straight Premier League Crown
Manchester United win a third successive Premier League title under Ferguson, sustaining a period of domestic dominance around the turn of the century.
2002
Rio Ferdinand Record Defensive Transfer
Ferguson signs Rio Ferdinand from Leeds United for a major transfer fee, investing in a long-term central defensive partnership for Manchester United.
2003
Cristiano Ronaldo Arrives
Ferguson signs teenage winger Cristiano Ronaldo from Sporting CP and entrusts him with Manchester United’s number seven shirt, beginning a formative player-manager relationship.
2003
League Title Reclaimed from Arsenal
Ferguson leads Manchester United back to the Premier League title after Arsenal had taken the championship the previous season, demonstrating the squad’s resilience.
2004
Manchester United Cup Win Under Ferguson
The trophy goes to Manchester United as Ferguson's side overcome Millwall by 3-0. The manager finishes the campaign by lifting the FA Cup.
2006 February 26th
League Cup Victory Over Wigan
Manchester United beat Wigan Athletic 4-0 in the League Cup final, earning Ferguson another domestic trophy while a younger squad develops.
2007
Premier League Crown Restored
Manchester United reclaim the Premier League title after three seasons without it, with Ferguson’s side building around a potent attack led by Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney.
2008
Premier League Championship
Alex Ferguson wins the 2007/08 Premier League championship with Manchester United and retains the Premier League crown while managing a squad that also wins the Champions League.
2008 May 21st
Second Champions League Title as Manager
Wins his second Champions League crown when Manchester United defeat Chelsea on penalties.
2008 December 21st
FIFA Club World Cup Championship
Ferguson’s Manchester United defeat LDU Quito in Japan to become FIFA Club World Cup champions, adding a global club trophy to their successful year.
2009
Record-Equalling Eighteenth League Championship
Manchester United secure their eighteenth English league championship, equalling Liverpool’s long-standing national record under Ferguson’s management.
2009 May 27th
Champions League Final in Rome
Ferguson takes Manchester United to a second consecutive Champions League final, but Barcelona win 2-0 to deny the club a successful title defence.
2010 February 28th
League Cup Retained Against Aston Villa
Manchester United retain the League Cup by defeating Aston Villa 2-1 at Wembley, with Ferguson overseeing another final victory in domestic cup football.
2011
Nineteenth English League Title
Ferguson guides Manchester United to a nineteenth English top-flight championship, moving the club ahead of Liverpool’s previous record of eighteen league titles.
2011 May 28th
Wembley Champions League Final
Manchester United reach the Champions League final at Wembley under Ferguson but lose 3-1 to Barcelona, concluding another deep European campaign.
2013
Premier League Championship
Alex Ferguson wins the 2012/13 Premier League championship with Manchester United and wins his thirteenth Premier League title in the final season of his Manchester United managerial career.
2013
Thirteenth Premier League Championship
Ferguson secures his thirteenth Premier League title as Manchester United manager, completing the final championship campaign of his tenure.
2013 May 8th
Retirement Announcement
Ferguson announces that he will retire at the end of the 2012-13 season, bringing an end to more than twenty-six years in charge of Manchester United.