There’s a certain irony in the fact that a man who spent most of his Manchester United career doing his best not to speak to journalists (and sometimes banning them from the ground) should unveil his second autobiography last month at a press conference packed to the rafters with reporters.
But it was evidence of the interest in delving into the inner thoughts of the man who was the most influential football manager of the last 25 years. Even as he retired in May at the end of the past English Premier League season following 26 years in the hot seat, there was still an element of mystery to Ferguson.
The book became the fastest selling non-fiction work in UK history, shifting 115,547 copies in its first week on sale and, while there is no “wow moment”, no major revelation, it’s compelling and packed with some brutal honesty.
Ferguson tackles the most controversial moments of his time at United – fallouts with some of his biggest players, such as David Beckham and Roy Keane, and Wayne Rooney’s transfer request.
All football fans, United or not, should buy this book.