Sir Alex Ferguson becomes manager of Manchester United

On November 6th 1986 Alex Ferguson was unveiled to the world as Manchester United's new manager.

When he first took charge he came to realise that the fitness levels of the players at Old Trafford were not what they oiught to be and he pinpointed the "drinking culture" amongst the Manchester United playing staff as one of the main reasons for this. Alex Ferguson knew that players such as Kevin Moran, Bryan Robson, Norman Whiteside and Paul McGrath would all have to be brought into line.

When Alex Ferguson took over the hotseat at Manchester United the club were languishing in the depths of the First Division after losing 6 of their first 13 matches. However in his first game in charge things didn't go to plan as the United slumped to a 2-0 defeat by Oxford United at the Manor Ground. For his first win in charge of the club Ferguson would have to wait until his third match, a John Sivebaek goal being enough to secure a home victory over Queens Park Rangers.

After a dreadful start to the 1986-87 season United's form seemed to stabilise under the guidance of Alex Ferguson and the team consolidated their place at the top table of English football with an eleventh place finish.

Alex Ferguson's first full season in charge of Manchester United saw the Scot make his first signing when he splashed out £250,000 to bring Arsenal defender Viv Anderson to Old Trafford. However, he didn't stop there, as he freshened up the squad with the signings of Steve Bruce and Brian McClair. As the new players began to click United finished the season in second place, their highest position for eight years. In fact The Reds could've nicked the title from arch-rivals Liverpool if they had gotten off to a better start (United won just six of their first sixteen matches that season.

The Following season (1988-89) was pretty much one to forget for Manchester United fans. Although Alex Ferguson brought home Mark Hughes from Barcelona for a then club record fee of £1.8m the team slumped to a dismal eleventh place finish.

According to reports at the time the 1989-90 season was a make or break campaign for the Manchester United boss. After a poor start in the league, which saw The Reds lose 5-1 to Manchester City, it was said that Alex Ferguson was very close to losing his job. When he took his men to play Nottingham Forest in the F.A. Cup 3rd round, Fergie knew defeat could spell the end to his short ,Manchester United career. In fiercely contested game it looked like the tie was heading for a replay until Mark Robins nodded in a cross by fellow strike partner Mark Hughes, Alex Ferguson's job seemed to be safe, for the time being at least.

After beating Hereford United (1-0), Newcastle United (3-2) and Sheffield United (1-0) The Reds were now through to the semi-final of the F.A. Cup where they faced Lancashire rivals Oldham Athletic. In a superb game at Maine Road United managed to salvage an 3-3 draw with goals by Bryan Robson, Neil Webb and Danny Wallace and get themselves a replay. The second game was a tighter affair, with the game poised at 1-1 Mike Phelan picked up the ball in midfield and threaded a wonderful ball through to Mark Robins, he out sprinted the Oldham Athletic defenders to slot the ball past the goalkeeper.

In the 1990 F.A. Cup final at Wembley Manchester United were favourites to lift the trophy, but there is something about the competition which seems to spur the underdogs to lift their game to extreme levels. With just 18 minutes on the clock the South Londoners Crystal Palace took a shock lead through Gary O'Reilly after a blunder by United goalkeeper Jim Leighton. Palace were in the lead for just seventeen minutes before captain marvel Bryan Robson bundled in the equaliser. In the 62nd minute Mark Hughes rifled a fierce half-volley past Palace goalkeeper Nigel Martyn to put United 2-1 up. However the team from London weren't going to give up their dream without a fight.a goal from young substitute Ian Wright ten minutes after United had taken the lead sent the game into extra time. Another goal from Wright put the underdogs 3-2 up just 2 minutes into the extra time, before Mark Hughes got United's third and his second of the game to secure a replay for Alex Ferguson and his team mates.

The replay - again at Wembley Stadium - was a much tighter affair with both teams cancelling each other out, until defender Lee Martin rifled the ball into the roof of the net to give Manchester United a 1-0 lead, which they scrapped and held on to to claim their seventh F.A. Cup title.

Victory for Man Utd in the 1990 F.A. Cup final would mean that Alex Ferguson would get the chance to cut his teeth on the European stage for the first time in five seasons as United would represent England in the European Cup-Winners Cup.

In the first round Alex Ferguson and his Manchester United side faced Hungarians Pecsi Munkas - in the first leg at Old Trafford goals by Clayton Blackmore and Neil Webb gave The Reds a 2-0 victory to take to Budapest. The second leg was just a formality with a Brian McClair goal securing United a 3-0 aggregate victory. The second round would see Alex Ferguson's side only having to travel a few miles as they were drawn against Welsh Cup winners Wrexham. United won the home game 3-0 thanks to Steve Bruce, Gary Pallister and Brian McClair. A 2-0 victory at the Racecourse ground secured Alex Ferguson a third round tie against Frenchmen Montpellier, who had won the French cup with the help of little known striker Eric Cantona however the future Manchester United kegend loan spell had ended before Montpellier took on Fergie's boys.

After a nervy 1-1 draw in the first leg at Old Trafford many people thought United's run in the European aCup-Winners cup would come to an abrupt halt. However, Alex Ferguson and his men had other plans a goal by Steve Bruce and a stunning Clayton Blackmore free-kick gave Man Utd a superb 2-0 victory.

Thanks to Alex Ferguson Manchester United were in their first European semi-final since they were defeated by Juventus at the same stage of the competition seven years earlier. Fortunately for United though they had to face Polish Cup winners Legia Warsaw and not the might of Italy's finest, so a place in the Rotterdam final was a distinct possibility for Fergie. Goals by Steve Bruce, Mark Hughes and Brian McClair in the Polish capital secured a brilliant 3-1 victory. The second leg would just be a formality, United booked their place in their first European final since the glory days of Sir Matt Busby with a 1-1 draw with United's solitary goal coming via a Lee Sharpe strike.

The European Cup-Winners Cup final took place on a wet and windy night at the De Kuip stadium Rotterdam against Barcelona. On the night Alex Ferguson noted that the weather conditions would perhaps favour his Manchester United side. It turns out he might've had point United took the lead in the 67th minute when Mark Hughes tapped in aSteve Bruce knock down. Seven minutes later a superb Bryan Robson through ball put Hughes in on goal, the Welshman rounded the out rushing Barcelona goalkeeper Carles Busquets and smashed the ball into the gaping net. Manchester United were now on the verge of winning only their second European trophy in their history, but they were given a scare when Ronald Koeman pulled a goal back with eleven minutes left to play when he scored with a trademark 35 yard free kick which United goalkeeper Les Sealey failed to deal with. A goal mouth clearance by Clayton Blackmore in the last minute ensured The Reds would hold on to their lead and be taking the European Cup-Winners Cup back to Old Trafford.

Although the following season (1991-92) Alex Ferguson and Manchester United failed to defend their European Cup-Winners Cup crown after losing to Athletico Madrid in the second round and lost the League title to Leeds United after looking certainties to win their first championship in 25 years; they were compensated by picking up the European Super Cup against Red Star Belgrade and the League Cup in a 1-0 victory over Nottingham Forest.

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