Born in Govan, Glasgow, he began his playing career with Dunfermline before moving to Queen's Park, then on to Glasgow Rangers. He entered management with East Stirling and had a spell with St. Mirren before joining Aberdeen. With them, he won the Scottish championship three times, the Scottish Cup four times (completing a League and Cup Double in 1984), the European Cup Winners' Cup and the Scottish League Cup.

Following the death of Jock Stein in 1986, he was appointed caretaker-manager of Scotland for the World Cup Finals in Mexico.

Ferguson arrived at United on 7th November 1986 and immediately set about rebuilding the club's youth system, among other things. He had his first success in 1990, when United won the FA Cup by beating Crystal Palace in a replayed Final. This opened the door to Europe and in 1991 United won the Cup Winners' Cup when they beat Barcelona in Rotterdam.

Under his management, United won the League Cup for the first time in 1992, but Ferguson made it clear that his aim was to win the League. After seeing his side finish runners-up in 1988 and 1992, he took United to the Premiership title in 1992/93 with the help of Eric Cantona, signed from Leeds.

Thus began the most successful period in the club's history. They won the Double in 1994 and the next year were runners-up in both major competitions. Ferguson then turned to his young players, but also decided to plunge into the transfer market. He broke the club record when he bought Andy Cole from Newcastle for £6.5 million in January 1995.

Following Cantona's retirement from football in the summer of 1997, Ferguson signed England striker Teddy Sheringham from Tottenham for half that amount. It proved to be a shrewd piece of business two years later when Sheringham scored in the FA Cup and European Cup Finals to help United achieve a remarkable Treble.

In May 1999, Ferguson received his fourth Carting Manager of the Year award. His services to football had already earnt him an QBE and CBE and on 20th July, 1999, his tremendous season culminated in a knighthood.

Sir Alex Ferguson remains as hungry as ever for success, in spite of announcing that he will retire from football management in 2002, when he will be 60.