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Leading
In this revelatory new book, Sir Alex Ferguson dissects his 38 record-breaking years of management - first in Scotland and then, of course, at Manchester United - to reveal the key tools he used to deliver sustained success on and off the field. From tactics to teamwork, from hiring to firing, from dealing with the boardroom to responding to failure, LEADING investigates the pivotal leadership decisions of an astonishing career.
416 pages, Hardcover
First published September 1, 2015
1123 people are currently reading
6783 people want to read
About the author
Alex Ferguson
89 books246 followersa former Scottish football manager and player who managed Manchester United from 1986 to 2013. His time at the club has led to Ferguson being regarded as one of the most successful, admired and respected managers in the history of the game.
Ferguson managed East Stirlingshire and St. Mirren before a highly successful period as manager of Aberdeen. After briefly managing Scotland following the death of Jock Stein, he was appointed manager of Manchester United in November 1986.
Ferguson is the longest serving manager of Manchester United, overtaking Sir Matt Busby's record on 19 December 2010, eventually completing more than 26-and-a-half years as the club's manager. He has won many awards and holds many records including winning Manager of the Year most times in British football history. In 2008, he became the third British manager to win the European Cup on more than one occasion. He was knighted in 1999 for his services to the game and also holds the Freedom of the City of Aberdeen.
On 8 May 2013, Ferguson announced his retirement as manager of Manchester United. During his 26 years at the club, he won 38 trophies, including 13 Premier League and two UEFA Champions League titles
Ferguson managed East Stirlingshire and St. Mirren before a highly successful period as manager of Aberdeen. After briefly managing Scotland following the death of Jock Stein, he was appointed manager of Manchester United in November 1986.
Ferguson is the longest serving manager of Manchester United, overtaking Sir Matt Busby's record on 19 December 2010, eventually completing more than 26-and-a-half years as the club's manager. He has won many awards and holds many records including winning Manager of the Year most times in British football history. In 2008, he became the third British manager to win the European Cup on more than one occasion. He was knighted in 1999 for his services to the game and also holds the Freedom of the City of Aberdeen.
On 8 May 2013, Ferguson announced his retirement as manager of Manchester United. During his 26 years at the club, he won 38 trophies, including 13 Premier League and two UEFA Champions League titles
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 591 reviews
December 29, 2015
Written as a collection of anecdotes, this book tries to condense Sir Alex's philosophy into a set of principles by which to live. In my opinion, this is not so much a book about management or leadership as it is about work ethic.
Sir Alex Ferguson typifies the stolid Scottish Work ethic, and more than anything else, this book succeeds in crystallizing that work ethic and shaping it into a coherent whole.
Do not expect any mind bending management philosophy here. Sir Alex does not magically reveal a trick or two that enabled him build the mammoth organization that Manchester United is today. Instead, what is offered up are pithy, timeless pieces of advice. 'Reach work early', 'Be disciplined and focus', 'Build rather than buy', these are the building blocks that populate the framework of Si Alex's thinking.
For me this book works because it goes back to the basics, and in this world of productivity apps and GTD philosophies (which are fantastic tools in their own right), this is a refreshing book that extols some timeless principles of success.
Sir Alex Ferguson typifies the stolid Scottish Work ethic, and more than anything else, this book succeeds in crystallizing that work ethic and shaping it into a coherent whole.
Do not expect any mind bending management philosophy here. Sir Alex does not magically reveal a trick or two that enabled him build the mammoth organization that Manchester United is today. Instead, what is offered up are pithy, timeless pieces of advice. 'Reach work early', 'Be disciplined and focus', 'Build rather than buy', these are the building blocks that populate the framework of Si Alex's thinking.
For me this book works because it goes back to the basics, and in this world of productivity apps and GTD philosophies (which are fantastic tools in their own right), this is a refreshing book that extols some timeless principles of success.
November 2, 2015
Do you want to know some hot news about David Beckham? About Wayne Rooney or about Cristiano Ronaldo? Yes? Then do not read this book, because you won't find here any. In this book you will find very interesting comparison of the work of football managers and of CEOs, sales managers etc. They have quite a lot in common.
I have never read such a long epilogue as the one in this book. The epilogue is really long but you will find there interesting comparison of ManU and Sillicon Valley companies.
Well written, contains lot of great information. For someone who likes football and works as a manager I would say that this is a must-read book.
I have never read such a long epilogue as the one in this book. The epilogue is really long but you will find there interesting comparison of ManU and Sillicon Valley companies.
Well written, contains lot of great information. For someone who likes football and works as a manager I would say that this is a must-read book.
August 2, 2018
با خوندن این کتاب پی می بریم موفقیت اتفاقی و بر اساس شانس نیست و فقط بر اساس پشتکار و تجربه و تخصص است
این کتاب را باید هرکسی ادعای مدیریت می کنید باید بخوند
این کتاب را باید هرکسی ادعای مدیریت می کنید باید بخوند
September 22, 2019
همیشه تجربیات افراد موفق تو زندگی بدرد میخوره
October 26, 2017
كتابي بي نظير در مورد نكته هاي مديريتي و رهبري با ترجمه عالي و روان شايان سادات.
ويژگي بسيار خوب اين كتاب مثال هاي واقعي در مورد هر نكته س كه اگر اهل فوتبال هم نباشيد به خوبي در ذهنتون حك ميشن.مطالب روانشناسي كه بينابين نكات اومدن كاملا قابل تامل هستن .موخره مايكل موريتز هم كتاب رو كامل كامل كرده.خوانش اين كتاب رو به همه دوستاني كه اندك ايده يا علاقه اي به پيشرفت دارن حتما توصيه ميكنم .
ويژگي بسيار خوب اين كتاب مثال هاي واقعي در مورد هر نكته س كه اگر اهل فوتبال هم نباشيد به خوبي در ذهنتون حك ميشن.مطالب روانشناسي كه بينابين نكات اومدن كاملا قابل تامل هستن .موخره مايكل موريتز هم كتاب رو كامل كامل كرده.خوانش اين كتاب رو به همه دوستاني كه اندك ايده يا علاقه اي به پيشرفت دارن حتما توصيه ميكنم .
April 6, 2024
فوتبالی نیستید؟ نخوانیدش
ولی اگر مثل من طرفدار فوتبال و خصوصا فوتبال انگلیس و علاقه مند به خاطرات بزرگترین مربی دنیا هستید بخوانیدش.
واقعا موفقیت در سه دهه اتفاقی و شانسی (و همونطور که من به عنوان هوادار تیم حریف با گفتن داورا رو میخرید سعی در کوبیدن فرگوسن داشتم:) ) نیست و با فکر درست و وقت و انرژی زیاد و صد البته نظـم که مهم ترین عنصر موفقیت فرگوسن بوده به دست میاد.
نسخه صوتیش رو با لهجه اسکاتلندی شبیه به لهجه خود فرگوسن گوش دادم و خیلی لذت بردم.
۰۳/۱/۱۸
ولی اگر مثل من طرفدار فوتبال و خصوصا فوتبال انگلیس و علاقه مند به خاطرات بزرگترین مربی دنیا هستید بخوانیدش.
واقعا موفقیت در سه دهه اتفاقی و شانسی (و همونطور که من به عنوان هوادار تیم حریف با گفتن داورا رو میخرید سعی در کوبیدن فرگوسن داشتم:) ) نیست و با فکر درست و وقت و انرژی زیاد و صد البته نظـم که مهم ترین عنصر موفقیت فرگوسن بوده به دست میاد.
نسخه صوتیش رو با لهجه اسکاتلندی شبیه به لهجه خود فرگوسن گوش دادم و خیلی لذت بردم.
۰۳/۱/۱۸
March 10, 2024
کتاب سبک کتابهای مدیریتی رو داره با همون استایلهای کشف رازهای موفقیت یک مدیر. کلا طرفدار چنین کتابهایی نیستم و علت اینکه اومدم سراغ این روایت در واقع خود فرگوسن بود. کتاب پر هست از خرده خاطراتی از تکههای مختلف زندگی ورزشی فرگوسن که خیلی برام جذاب بود
April 24, 2017
کتاب در رابطه با تجارب مدیریتی الکس فرگوسن در منچستر یونایتد و چند باشگاهی است که قبل از پیوستن به منچستر در آن ها در کسوت سرمربی مشغول بوده است و شامل نکات بسیار جالبی در باب مدیریت و رهبری است که همگی حاصل تجارب شخصی فرگوسن است. خواندن این کتاب به
افرادی که علاقه مند به مباحث مدیریت ، رهبری و منابع انسانی هستند، پیشنهاد می شود.
افرادی که علاقه مند به مباحث مدیریت ، رهبری و منابع انسانی هستند، پیشنهاد می شود.
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October 2, 2024یازده مهر ۱۴۰۳
با اینکه فوتبالی نیستم اما این کتاب خیلی چسبید. مخصوصا با لهجه ایرلندی راوی.
با اینکه کتاب پره از رفرنس های ورزشی اما تکنیک ها و روش هایی رو توضیح میده که در بقیه فیلد ها هم میشه استفاده کرد و فقط باید نسبت به کاری که میکنی کاستومایز کنی.
با اینکه فوتبالی نیستم اما این کتاب خیلی چسبید. مخصوصا با لهجه ایرلندی راوی.
با اینکه کتاب پره از رفرنس های ورزشی اما تکنیک ها و روش هایی رو توضیح میده که در بقیه فیلد ها هم میشه استفاده کرد و فقط باید نسبت به کاری که میکنی کاستومایز کنی.
September 10, 2016
The book is a second go at Sir Alex's biography, this time focusing solely on his leadership skills. A very enjoyable read indeed. But then again I found the following to be a bit annoying at times:
1. 99% of the book is dedicated at how Sir Alex has done everything right. Even sometimes criticizing his own critics and trying to defend his decisions. Perhaps a bit of modesty or sharing more anecdotes regarding the things that went wrong would have helped the tone of the book to shift sometimes.
2. The co-author knows not much about leadership. For instance he writes in the last chapter of the book (which is unnecessarily lengthy), that introverts don't make good leaders. I have read many books on leadership and can tell you that it is an absolute bull! Every contemporary MBA knows that the notion is wrong.
I enjoyed the book as I am a Manchester United fan. The mono tone of the book made it a bit tedious towards the end but I learnt a few points from it.
1. 99% of the book is dedicated at how Sir Alex has done everything right. Even sometimes criticizing his own critics and trying to defend his decisions. Perhaps a bit of modesty or sharing more anecdotes regarding the things that went wrong would have helped the tone of the book to shift sometimes.
2. The co-author knows not much about leadership. For instance he writes in the last chapter of the book (which is unnecessarily lengthy), that introverts don't make good leaders. I have read many books on leadership and can tell you that it is an absolute bull! Every contemporary MBA knows that the notion is wrong.
I enjoyed the book as I am a Manchester United fan. The mono tone of the book made it a bit tedious towards the end but I learnt a few points from it.
February 28, 2022
"من یک کارشناس مدیریت یا یک فرد کارکشته در حوزه تجارت نیستم و علاقه ای هم ندارم تا از عبارات ثقیل و شیک استفاده کنم. بنابراین انتظار یک نسخه آکادمیک و حساب شده را نداشته باشید.این کتاب در مورد درس ها و مشاهداتی است که در طول دوره مربی گری ام در رشته فوتبال به دست آوردم."
.
.
بریده ای که اوردم کاملا محتوای کتاب رو مشخص میکنه؛ سرالکس از خاطرات و تجربیاتش و تکنیک هایی که در مقابل مشکلات به کار گرفته تو یه سری تقسیم بندی مشخص صحبت میکنه.
قضیه ازین قرار بوده که مایکل موریتز دنبال آدم هایی میگشته که تونسته باشن طی سالیان درازی موفقیت رو برای سازمان تحت مدیریتشون به ارمغان بیارن؛ وکی بهتر از فرگوسن؟ سرمربی ای که بیست و شش سال به صورت پیوسته تو یونایتد مربیگری کرد و کمتر رکورد و افتخاری باقی موند که بهش دست پیدا نکنه.
هیچوقت طرفدار یونایتد نبودم اما باید اعتراف کرد که انسان هایی مثل فرگوسن سهم قابل توجهی در زیبایی و اعتبار فوتبال دارن و باید ازشون تقدیر کرد.
این کتاب رو به فوتبالدوستا پیشنهاد میکنم.
ممنون از تو فرگوسن عزیز که باعث زیباتر شدن فوتبال شدی!
.
.
بریده ای که اوردم کاملا محتوای کتاب رو مشخص میکنه؛ سرالکس از خاطرات و تجربیاتش و تکنیک هایی که در مقابل مشکلات به کار گرفته تو یه سری تقسیم بندی مشخص صحبت میکنه.
قضیه ازین قرار بوده که مایکل موریتز دنبال آدم هایی میگشته که تونسته باشن طی سالیان درازی موفقیت رو برای سازمان تحت مدیریتشون به ارمغان بیارن؛ وکی بهتر از فرگوسن؟ سرمربی ای که بیست و شش سال به صورت پیوسته تو یونایتد مربیگری کرد و کمتر رکورد و افتخاری باقی موند که بهش دست پیدا نکنه.
هیچوقت طرفدار یونایتد نبودم اما باید اعتراف کرد که انسان هایی مثل فرگوسن سهم قابل توجهی در زیبایی و اعتبار فوتبال دارن و باید ازشون تقدیر کرد.
این کتاب رو به فوتبالدوستا پیشنهاد میکنم.
ممنون از تو فرگوسن عزیز که باعث زیباتر شدن فوتبال شدی!
December 31, 2015
More or less what you'd expect if you invite a monstrously competitive person to spend 400 pages telling you why they were so successful. But it has lots of insight and you come away thinking that you'd want to be on the same team as him. There is a postscript by someone involved in finance in Silicon Valley which is preposterous, pondering the similarities with the world Sir Alex inhabited with the world of elite IT. Doesn't understand that whilst we might like to be as rich as the founder of Google or Intel, what we dream about doing is winning titles and cups.
July 28, 2024
اول از هر چیزی بهتره بگم که من اصلا فوتبالی نیستم. الکس فرگوسن رو هم در حد اسم میشناختم. این کتاب هم به توصیه یکی از دوستان خوندم.
برای من کتاب درس چندان تازهای نداشت. اما با وجود فوتبالی نبودنم، به شدت جذاب بود.
توصیهش میکنم؟ شاید. اگر زیاد کتاب میخونید، آره. ولی اگر وقت کمی برای کتاب خوندن دارید/میذارید کتابهای اولویتدارتری هستن که بهتره اونارو بخونید.
برای من کتاب درس چندان تازهای نداشت. اما با وجود فوتبالی نبودنم، به شدت جذاب بود.
توصیهش میکنم؟ شاید. اگر زیاد کتاب میخونید، آره. ولی اگر وقت کمی برای کتاب خوندن دارید/میذارید کتابهای اولویتدارتری هستن که بهتره اونارو بخونید.
July 2, 2018
Summary:
Leadership lessons aside, this book is just downright interesting. The lives of professional soccer players, their coaches and managers are just fascinating. There are quite a few nuggets of management and leadership gold layered throughout a frank assessment of Alex Ferguson's career as the manager of Manchester United. These lessons aren't on the nose at all because they're hidden among a myriad of very interesting stories about the industry. This is a great read!
I would recommend this book to anyone interested in soccer, leading and/or management.
The main message I took from this book is that soccer is huge and the lives of world class athletes, coaches and managers have a lot they can teach us!
Some notable points:
- As you get older, you temper your enthusiasm with experience.
- We are accidental victims of our parent's DNA, we are shaped by the luck of the draw, through the circumstances into which we are born and by our experiences.
- If you can connect talent and work, you can achieve so much.
- Part of the pursuit of excellence involves eliminating as many surprises as possible.
-Part of the way you develop excellence within in an organisation is in the way that you define success.
- Much of leadership is extracting that extra 5% off excellence that people don't know they have.
- As a leader, you don't need to be loved. Although it is useful on occasion to be feared. You do need to be respected though.
- Last minute instructions can shake confidence.
- Graveyards are full of indispensable men.
- It is good to let the employees around you know that you care about the little details, but it's their job to attend to them.
- The best leaders tend to be missionaries rather than mercenaries.
- To build a winning organisation, you need to be building every day.
- Successful people in business often trip upon their obsession before the rest of the world wakes up to its potential.
- No organisation ever achieved greatness by constantly reacting. You do not lead by following.
- Great leaders are competing, not with others, but with the idea of perfection itself.
Leadership lessons aside, this book is just downright interesting. The lives of professional soccer players, their coaches and managers are just fascinating. There are quite a few nuggets of management and leadership gold layered throughout a frank assessment of Alex Ferguson's career as the manager of Manchester United. These lessons aren't on the nose at all because they're hidden among a myriad of very interesting stories about the industry. This is a great read!
I would recommend this book to anyone interested in soccer, leading and/or management.
The main message I took from this book is that soccer is huge and the lives of world class athletes, coaches and managers have a lot they can teach us!
Some notable points:
- As you get older, you temper your enthusiasm with experience.
- We are accidental victims of our parent's DNA, we are shaped by the luck of the draw, through the circumstances into which we are born and by our experiences.
- If you can connect talent and work, you can achieve so much.
- Part of the pursuit of excellence involves eliminating as many surprises as possible.
-Part of the way you develop excellence within in an organisation is in the way that you define success.
- Much of leadership is extracting that extra 5% off excellence that people don't know they have.
- As a leader, you don't need to be loved. Although it is useful on occasion to be feared. You do need to be respected though.
- Last minute instructions can shake confidence.
- Graveyards are full of indispensable men.
- It is good to let the employees around you know that you care about the little details, but it's their job to attend to them.
- The best leaders tend to be missionaries rather than mercenaries.
- To build a winning organisation, you need to be building every day.
- Successful people in business often trip upon their obsession before the rest of the world wakes up to its potential.
- No organisation ever achieved greatness by constantly reacting. You do not lead by following.
- Great leaders are competing, not with others, but with the idea of perfection itself.
October 29, 2020
Mình rất ưng quyển sách này.
Mình vốn dĩ ko thích bóng đá nhưng được 1 người bạn giới thiệu, lại được mentor tặng nên đọc.
Thực sự mình đọc thấy rất nhiều bài học mình có thể học cũng như hoàn toàn áp dụng được trong cuộc sống đặc biệt là công việc của mình.
Một tấm gương về người HLV trưởng - Sir Alex - người đã cống hiến cả cuộc đời cho bóng đá, cho MU, người làm việc ko ngừng nghỉ.
Nhớ đến 3 chữ P của ông - là sự kiên nhẫn, nhẫn nại, sự chuẩn bị vô cùng chu đáo.
Nhớ đến ông chắc chắn phải nhớ đến sự kỉ luật.
Và đặc biệt là trong mọi quyết định luôn đặt tổ chức, tập thể trước cá nhân.
Vô cùng ngưỡng mộ ông, người lèo lái cả tổ chức đạt được những thành tích vô tiền khoáng hậu.
HN, ngày 27.10.2020
Mình vốn dĩ ko thích bóng đá nhưng được 1 người bạn giới thiệu, lại được mentor tặng nên đọc.
Thực sự mình đọc thấy rất nhiều bài học mình có thể học cũng như hoàn toàn áp dụng được trong cuộc sống đặc biệt là công việc của mình.
Một tấm gương về người HLV trưởng - Sir Alex - người đã cống hiến cả cuộc đời cho bóng đá, cho MU, người làm việc ko ngừng nghỉ.
Nhớ đến 3 chữ P của ông - là sự kiên nhẫn, nhẫn nại, sự chuẩn bị vô cùng chu đáo.
Nhớ đến ông chắc chắn phải nhớ đến sự kỉ luật.
Và đặc biệt là trong mọi quyết định luôn đặt tổ chức, tập thể trước cá nhân.
Vô cùng ngưỡng mộ ông, người lèo lái cả tổ chức đạt được những thành tích vô tiền khoáng hậu.
HN, ngày 27.10.2020
January 12, 2017
Pro toho, kdo žije fotbalem je to povinnost. Ferguson nikdy nebyl můj oblíbenec, ale zaslouží si respekt. Kniha je svižná, poutavá a přečte se jedním dechem. Spíše bych chtěl napsat proč jsem neudělil plný počet. a) Feguson je zde téměř neomylný b) některé kapitoly jsou až senilně opakující se, respektive jejich části c) nezábavný doslov spoluautora. Naopak velké plus je, že ač nemám rád druh knížek a la "učebnice jak být lepší", tak tady mi to nevadilo a i omleté pravdy v kontextu s fotbalem fungovali a neuráželi. Kdybych nebyl fanoušek fotbalu, tak bych dal lepší tři, takhle dávám hodně silné 4.
December 30, 2021
كتاب ممتع ملئ بالعبر و التجارب الشخصية و النصائح من أنجح مدربي العالم السير أليكس فيرجسون❤️❤️❤️
December 30, 2022
I've been a Manchester United fan since many years now, and consequently, my opinion of the book might be somewhat biased.
This is not a quintessential football book that panders certain celebrity footballers' stats, or talk about football matches in much detail. It makes use of snippets from Sir Alex's career as a player, and as a manager, to elucidate on the different attributes that make a great leader.
Considered by many (including myself) as the greatest manager to have ever graced the sport, SAF, during his 39 years as a manager, won a not so fancied Aberdeen their maiden, and only major European trophy in 1983, and built Manchester United into what it is today, one of the greatest club in world football.
Discipline, hard work, and team before individual were the cornerstones on which he built his teams over the years. He also believed one can not simply buy one's way into instant history or legacy. Even when clubs like Chelsea, and later on Manchester City would splurge like crazy on players, United would stick to their guns, focus on innovation, invest in the academy, and it paid off handsomely year on year.
Managing a football club is very different from managing a company/start up, but in certain aspects the lines get blurred. Dealing with subordinates (players) who look up to you for guidance, and growth; bosses (club CEO/owners) to whom you are answerable; navigating through challenges, both external and internal - there's a lot one can take away from the book.
This is not a quintessential football book that panders certain celebrity footballers' stats, or talk about football matches in much detail. It makes use of snippets from Sir Alex's career as a player, and as a manager, to elucidate on the different attributes that make a great leader.
Considered by many (including myself) as the greatest manager to have ever graced the sport, SAF, during his 39 years as a manager, won a not so fancied Aberdeen their maiden, and only major European trophy in 1983, and built Manchester United into what it is today, one of the greatest club in world football.
Discipline, hard work, and team before individual were the cornerstones on which he built his teams over the years. He also believed one can not simply buy one's way into instant history or legacy. Even when clubs like Chelsea, and later on Manchester City would splurge like crazy on players, United would stick to their guns, focus on innovation, invest in the academy, and it paid off handsomely year on year.
Managing a football club is very different from managing a company/start up, but in certain aspects the lines get blurred. Dealing with subordinates (players) who look up to you for guidance, and growth; bosses (club CEO/owners) to whom you are answerable; navigating through challenges, both external and internal - there's a lot one can take away from the book.
October 13, 2019
Excelente autobiografía, describe perfectamente las claves de su exitosa carrera como entrenador, no contiene jugadas o alineaciones, simplemente como formó su autodiciplina y hambre de exito
January 26, 2020
For a Football fan like me, this was a great read. Much has been said about how Sir Alex Ferguson transformed Manchester United and it was great to know about what went behind the curtains for that transformation to take place. My book was extremely detailed in all the aspects that it covered and I think Sir Alex was fairly transparent with every aspect of his management style.
I, however, also think that Sir Alex gets very biased towards Manchester United, whenever talks around the functioning of other clubs, sacking of managers or buying players came to the fore. And this is regardless of the facts that, after Sir Alex, David Moyes wasn't even given a full year to practice his ideologies on the team.
Yes, I greatly admire what United have achieved during Sir Alex's time. But I felt he has been overly critical of the functionalities of the other clubs, especially Manchester City & Chelsea. Now, this might be coming from the fact that I'm a life-long Chelsea fan but then, I think, the tone is starkly clear for anyone to identify. One of my Quora answers also revolves around this aspect of transfers of Manchester United - https://www.quora.com/Why-is-Chelsea-...
Lastly, I felt the Epilogue was not only very lengthy but was quite unnecessary as well. I think it was a not-so-good attempt to liken Sir Alex's tenure and workings with that of Silicon Valley's companies. While for a startups aficionado like me, it wasn't all bad, a better way of inclusion would have been in between the chapters at the relevant places. In the current format, it often turned out to be quite uninteresting. I read books on startups, management and CEOs and I really don't think there are much tangible stuff in here.
But don't get me wrong! For any football fan, if they just want to read about football, this could be a really great read. Even if you're not a United fan.
I, however, also think that Sir Alex gets very biased towards Manchester United, whenever talks around the functioning of other clubs, sacking of managers or buying players came to the fore. And this is regardless of the facts that, after Sir Alex, David Moyes wasn't even given a full year to practice his ideologies on the team.
Yes, I greatly admire what United have achieved during Sir Alex's time. But I felt he has been overly critical of the functionalities of the other clubs, especially Manchester City & Chelsea. Now, this might be coming from the fact that I'm a life-long Chelsea fan but then, I think, the tone is starkly clear for anyone to identify. One of my Quora answers also revolves around this aspect of transfers of Manchester United - https://www.quora.com/Why-is-Chelsea-...
Lastly, I felt the Epilogue was not only very lengthy but was quite unnecessary as well. I think it was a not-so-good attempt to liken Sir Alex's tenure and workings with that of Silicon Valley's companies. While for a startups aficionado like me, it wasn't all bad, a better way of inclusion would have been in between the chapters at the relevant places. In the current format, it often turned out to be quite uninteresting. I read books on startups, management and CEOs and I really don't think there are much tangible stuff in here.
But don't get me wrong! For any football fan, if they just want to read about football, this could be a really great read. Even if you're not a United fan.
January 22, 2019
کتاب خوبی بود...
رهبری یک تیم فوتبال خیلیی شبیه رهبری یک تیم در یک سازمانه. با همون سختی ها و همون تنش ها و پیچیدگی ها...
رهبری یک تیم فوتبال خیلیی شبیه رهبری یک تیم در یک سازمانه. با همون سختی ها و همون تنش ها و پیچیدگی ها...
December 28, 2018
This is a superb, profoundly interesting account of the man who has reigned at the top of a sprawling footballing conglomerate for 26 years. There is something for everyone to take away from this book, even if you are not a football fan.
It spans the entire spectrum, covering Sir Alex Ferguson's childhood in Govan, a town in Glasgow, Scotland, his playing career and his managerial stints in three Scottish clubs before he landed at the club where quarter of a century later, he will have a bronze statue and a stand bearing his name in the famous red of Manchester United. This is a tale of a very successful man, who made winning a habit and inculcated that habit into this organization. Most importantly he maintained the habit till he left the club, so much so that Manchester United is synonymous with Sir Alex Ferguson.
Sir Alex writes thoughtfully and candidly. The best part that I liked about this book is that Sir Alex didn't hold back anything, he named names and is surprisingly open. Some very interesting aspects of his tenure are discussed in vivid detail and often it felt like reading the man's mind. His iron grip on the dressing room, coupled with relentless hunger of being - and staying - the best, remain unmatched in footballing world. Football is littered with examples of how great, wildly successful managers lose the dressing room. Jose Mourinho in Chelsea and Manchester United, Carlo Ancelloti in Bayern Munich, Antonio Conte in Chelsea are very recent examples of magnificent managers losing the dressing room and succumbing to player power. And this is where the title of the book is apt; it's called 'Leading', not 'Managing'. Very few football managers become leaders. Perhaps Diego Simone in Atletico Madrid can be called a leader, but he has not spent a decade at the helm of his club yet. The fact that Sir Alex was the supreme authority among his players, coaching staff and others in the football club, for more than two decades, is a testament of how he practiced control and discipline. Being able to retain that control with so many players coming from all corners of the world and translating that control into success by playing well on the pitch, is unmatched in footballing history.
Although I am not a Manchester United supporter, that doesn't stop me from appreciating how charismatic and brilliant Sir Alex was in his tenure at the club. Nobody knows whether football will have such a leader again. However I do feel that a little bit of humility, along with anecdote and explanation of why things went wrong when they did, would have made this a more 'human' read. But again, it maybe wrong to expect that in a book written by such a competitive person.
It spans the entire spectrum, covering Sir Alex Ferguson's childhood in Govan, a town in Glasgow, Scotland, his playing career and his managerial stints in three Scottish clubs before he landed at the club where quarter of a century later, he will have a bronze statue and a stand bearing his name in the famous red of Manchester United. This is a tale of a very successful man, who made winning a habit and inculcated that habit into this organization. Most importantly he maintained the habit till he left the club, so much so that Manchester United is synonymous with Sir Alex Ferguson.
Sir Alex writes thoughtfully and candidly. The best part that I liked about this book is that Sir Alex didn't hold back anything, he named names and is surprisingly open. Some very interesting aspects of his tenure are discussed in vivid detail and often it felt like reading the man's mind. His iron grip on the dressing room, coupled with relentless hunger of being - and staying - the best, remain unmatched in footballing world. Football is littered with examples of how great, wildly successful managers lose the dressing room. Jose Mourinho in Chelsea and Manchester United, Carlo Ancelloti in Bayern Munich, Antonio Conte in Chelsea are very recent examples of magnificent managers losing the dressing room and succumbing to player power. And this is where the title of the book is apt; it's called 'Leading', not 'Managing'. Very few football managers become leaders. Perhaps Diego Simone in Atletico Madrid can be called a leader, but he has not spent a decade at the helm of his club yet. The fact that Sir Alex was the supreme authority among his players, coaching staff and others in the football club, for more than two decades, is a testament of how he practiced control and discipline. Being able to retain that control with so many players coming from all corners of the world and translating that control into success by playing well on the pitch, is unmatched in footballing history.
Although I am not a Manchester United supporter, that doesn't stop me from appreciating how charismatic and brilliant Sir Alex was in his tenure at the club. Nobody knows whether football will have such a leader again. However I do feel that a little bit of humility, along with anecdote and explanation of why things went wrong when they did, would have made this a more 'human' read. But again, it maybe wrong to expect that in a book written by such a competitive person.
December 12, 2021
Didn't mind this as much as I thought I would. Some decent anecdotes about Alex Ferguson's time as Manchester United and Aberdeen manager, detailing the little ins and outs of the game well enough. There are spotty parts that could use some more detail, and the writing itself drifts through a variety of subjects without much commitment. A rehash of "My Story" and a few bells and whistles added on, but at least there are some good experience-based life lessons within.
February 9, 2025
Ni es un libro únicamente psicólogico ni trata solo de temas futbolísticos. Da gusto como, desde una posicion de entrenador, te explica de una manera sencilla como llevar todas las actitudes a una “vida normal”.
Es divertido ver como te explica todos los por ques de sus decisiones mintras te presenta anecdotas con cualquier jugador al que dirigio.
Quizas se me ha hecho un poco largo, pero, a nada que te guste la psicologia o el futbol ingles, se disfruta
Es divertido ver como te explica todos los por ques de sus decisiones mintras te presenta anecdotas con cualquier jugador al que dirigio.
Quizas se me ha hecho un poco largo, pero, a nada que te guste la psicologia o el futbol ingles, se disfruta
January 3, 2023
بجز روده درازی های آخر کار که عملا تبلیغات نویسنده بود کتاب خوبی بود. بعنوان یک رقیب و طرفدار آرسنال ، برای فرگوسن احترام زیادی قائل بودم همیشه و مدیریتش رو سطح بالا میدونستم . هرچند اواخر کار ارثیه خوبی بجز تالار افتخار بجا نذاشت و عملا یه جوریایی به اصول خودش پابند نبود و تیم نرمالی نذاشت. یک تناقض دیگه ی منچستر یونایتد هم اینه که نشون داد سیستم یک نفره بود و برخلاف جمله خود فرگوسن تو کتاب که گفته بود اگه سیستمتون وابسته به یک نفر باشه ، اون سیستم مدیریتی خوب نیست . میشه گفت یونایتد هم همین بوده . حداقل تا دهه اول بعد از رفتنش
August 31, 2016
My introduction to the world of Premier Leagues has been very very recent(or lets say "nascent"). However, reading this book gives immense perspective towards situations and most importantly circumstances that changed during the period Alex Fergusson managed the team . His style of writing and refreshingly lucid and is not preachy at any point. It is one of those rare books that focusses on circumstances, decisions and mistakes taken in that position. It is honest and raw. I happened to make the mistake of reading reviews before picking up this book, and my advice to anyone reading this review would be to pay immense amount of attention to approach and circumstance. Do not look at it as a bible for management , but to view management decisions that Alex Fergusson took based on situation. I definitely picked up a thing or two. The mantle the manager of a football team carries is very akin to the decision of a business owner.5 stars from me.
January 28, 2024
"El dinero no crea fe repente un club heterogéneo y competente, no proporciona categoría e historia, no llena estadios con aficionados dispuestos a soportar la lluvia y no hace realidad los sueños de los niños"
Para mi vida personal, me quedo con "si se es indeciso por naturaleza y se permite que todo se vaya aplazando, no funciona".
Para mi vida personal, me quedo con "si se es indeciso por naturaleza y se permite que todo se vaya aplazando, no funciona".
November 23, 2015
Ferguson is a proven entity in leadership. Possessing an ability to see what others often overlook. Ferguson consistently demonstrates the importance of harnessing this skill achieving that which few dare to dream. Read every book by one of life's great thinkers and even greater listeners.
October 14, 2015
Been absolutely bored out of my nut reading this one. One incredibly bland book.
February 1, 2016
Excellent insight into the history of the best football club and wonderful principles about life.
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