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Alex: The Man Behind The Legend
★★★★★ "A terrific journey through an incredible life." — The Guardian.
BEFORE, DURING AND AFTER MANCHESTER UNITED
ALEX is the most up-to-date biography of Sir Alex Ferguson—the most decorated manager in British football history.
Find out how he recovered from his brain surgery in 2018.
Why he appointed David Moyes as his successor.
How livid he was when Moyes was sacked ten months later.
What he thought of Louis van Gaal’s tenure as Manchester United manager. What he thought of Jose Mourinho’s reign. And just how big a role he played in the appointment of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
This book also takes a deep dive into Alex’s relationship with the Glazer family and how he views the work carried out by Ed Woodward.
From nought to eighty, this is the most complete biography ever written about Sir Alex Ferguson.
★★★★★
Eamonn Holmes (TV royalty and friend of Alex Ferguson):
"A portrait of a genius for anyone wanting to know what makes Fergie tick..."
★★★★★
Ken Doherty (World champion snooker player and friend of Alex Ferguson):
"A fitting and wonderful tribute to the greatest football manager of all time."
★★★★★
Mike McGrath (The Daily Telegraph)
"A terrific journey through an incredible life."
BEFORE, DURING AND AFTER MANCHESTER UNITED
ALEX is the most up-to-date biography of Sir Alex Ferguson—the most decorated manager in British football history.
Find out how he recovered from his brain surgery in 2018.
Why he appointed David Moyes as his successor.
How livid he was when Moyes was sacked ten months later.
What he thought of Louis van Gaal’s tenure as Manchester United manager. What he thought of Jose Mourinho’s reign. And just how big a role he played in the appointment of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
This book also takes a deep dive into Alex’s relationship with the Glazer family and how he views the work carried out by Ed Woodward.
From nought to eighty, this is the most complete biography ever written about Sir Alex Ferguson.
★★★★★
Eamonn Holmes (TV royalty and friend of Alex Ferguson):
"A portrait of a genius for anyone wanting to know what makes Fergie tick..."
★★★★★
Ken Doherty (World champion snooker player and friend of Alex Ferguson):
"A fitting and wonderful tribute to the greatest football manager of all time."
★★★★★
Mike McGrath (The Daily Telegraph)
"A terrific journey through an incredible life."
- GenresBiography
364 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 25, 2021
33 people are currently reading
37 people want to read
About the author
David B. Lyons
25 books141 followersDavid B. Lyons is an international bestselling author from Dublin, Ireland
He writes psychological thriller novels and has achieved No.1 rankings in the Amazon crime charts in Ireland, the UK, Canada and Australia.
Former freelance journalist David grew up in Dublin - the city his novels are set - but currently spends his time between Birmingham in the UK and the Irish capital. David is married to a Brummie, Kerry, and they have one daughter, Lola.
Before becoming a novelist David was a football writer, a celebrity columnist and a music reviewer. He has lectured in Journalism and in Creative Writing in colleges and universities in both Ireland and in the UK.
You can connect with David here:
Website: TheOpenAuthor.com
Twitter: @TheOpenAuthor
Facebook: www.facebook.com/AuthorDavidBLyons/
He writes psychological thriller novels and has achieved No.1 rankings in the Amazon crime charts in Ireland, the UK, Canada and Australia.
Former freelance journalist David grew up in Dublin - the city his novels are set - but currently spends his time between Birmingham in the UK and the Irish capital. David is married to a Brummie, Kerry, and they have one daughter, Lola.
Before becoming a novelist David was a football writer, a celebrity columnist and a music reviewer. He has lectured in Journalism and in Creative Writing in colleges and universities in both Ireland and in the UK.
You can connect with David here:
Website: TheOpenAuthor.com
Twitter: @TheOpenAuthor
Facebook: www.facebook.com/AuthorDavidBLyons/
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
March 27, 2022
Although I am far from being a supporter of Manchester United I have to admit I admire Alex Ferguson and all he has achieved in football. This is the third biography I have read of his life, the other two were autobiographies written by Alex himself and were predictably less willing to highlight the flaws and failures that came along the way to greatness. The book is full of fascinating information and stories, many of which I had never heard and the more balanced view enhanced my enjoyment.
I did find the book a very good read but I couldn’t help feeling that it needed a good editing as there was a lot of repetition, timelines changing back and forth and constant references to other books. I feel just referring to the books at the back of the book would have been sufficient. The other irritancy to me was that David Lyons would start a story and then say more information would be told in a later chapter only to then virtually repeat what you had already been told when you get there. In effect the book was far longer than it needed to be.
Overall I did enjoy the read but unfortunately once I got irritated by the writing it was difficult to give the book a chance. I did like the more balance account of Alex Fergusons life but unfortunately the book is full of errors, repetitions and quotes from other books.
I would like to thank both Netgalley and BooksGoSocial for supplying a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I did find the book a very good read but I couldn’t help feeling that it needed a good editing as there was a lot of repetition, timelines changing back and forth and constant references to other books. I feel just referring to the books at the back of the book would have been sufficient. The other irritancy to me was that David Lyons would start a story and then say more information would be told in a later chapter only to then virtually repeat what you had already been told when you get there. In effect the book was far longer than it needed to be.
Overall I did enjoy the read but unfortunately once I got irritated by the writing it was difficult to give the book a chance. I did like the more balance account of Alex Fergusons life but unfortunately the book is full of errors, repetitions and quotes from other books.
I would like to thank both Netgalley and BooksGoSocial for supplying a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
May 11, 2022
For more reviews and bookish posts visit https://www.ManOfLaBook.com
Alex: The Man Behind the Legend by David Lyons is a biography of Alex Ferguson, Manchester United’s famous manager. Mr. Lyons is a bestselling author from Ireland.
Alex: The Man Behind the Legend by David Lyons is a biography of Alex Ferguson, Manchester United’s famous manager. Mr. Lyons is a bestselling author from Ireland.
Alex Ferguson is one of the most successful, and well-known, managers in the history of soccer. He led Manchester United to multiple titles, British and European, including the elusive Treble in 1999. A Treble is when a club wins three trophies in a single season, in Man U’s case: Premier League, FA Cup, and Champions League. Widely regarded as the greatest soccer manager of all time, he is just as famous as the team’s most beloved players.
I have certainly heard of Sir Alex Ferguson, however, I have not read any books by, or about him. Alex: The Man Behind the Legend by David Lyons certainly opened my eyes to the contributions Mr. Ferguson made not only to Man U. but to the sport of soccer as a whole.
I enjoyed the writing very much, especially how the author wrote the accents. Enough to let the reader know what they might sound like, but also not too much as to make us work hard to understand what they’re talking about.
More than anything, I enjoyed reading about Mr. Ferguson’s management and leadership style. He was planning years ahead, building a club, not a team. His tremendous memory for people served him well, and I can certainly see why people of all ages and cultures followed him through thick and thin.
I am no soccer scholar, I know names, teams, highlights, and enjoy watching the game (and playing if it’s not too hot and if these old knees don’t act up). I have to take the author at this word of events, and players. But as I mentioned, I enjoyed the other aspects of the book, namely the management style.
The author does refer to many other books and movies about Mr. Ferguson, so I can only assume that if you read 2-3 books on him, nothing here might be of any news. I, however, have not.
The one complaint I do have is the phrase “which you can read about in detail in a later chapter”, which is repeated so many times it gets annoying. I did, however, enjoy reading the book very much and my appreciation of Mr. Ferguson, which was already very high, went up several notches.
Alex: The Man Behind the Legend by David Lyons is a biography of Alex Ferguson, Manchester United’s famous manager. Mr. Lyons is a bestselling author from Ireland.
Alex: The Man Behind the Legend by David Lyons is a biography of Alex Ferguson, Manchester United’s famous manager. Mr. Lyons is a bestselling author from Ireland.
Alex Ferguson is one of the most successful, and well-known, managers in the history of soccer. He led Manchester United to multiple titles, British and European, including the elusive Treble in 1999. A Treble is when a club wins three trophies in a single season, in Man U’s case: Premier League, FA Cup, and Champions League. Widely regarded as the greatest soccer manager of all time, he is just as famous as the team’s most beloved players.
I have certainly heard of Sir Alex Ferguson, however, I have not read any books by, or about him. Alex: The Man Behind the Legend by David Lyons certainly opened my eyes to the contributions Mr. Ferguson made not only to Man U. but to the sport of soccer as a whole.
I enjoyed the writing very much, especially how the author wrote the accents. Enough to let the reader know what they might sound like, but also not too much as to make us work hard to understand what they’re talking about.
More than anything, I enjoyed reading about Mr. Ferguson’s management and leadership style. He was planning years ahead, building a club, not a team. His tremendous memory for people served him well, and I can certainly see why people of all ages and cultures followed him through thick and thin.
I am no soccer scholar, I know names, teams, highlights, and enjoy watching the game (and playing if it’s not too hot and if these old knees don’t act up). I have to take the author at this word of events, and players. But as I mentioned, I enjoyed the other aspects of the book, namely the management style.
The author does refer to many other books and movies about Mr. Ferguson, so I can only assume that if you read 2-3 books on him, nothing here might be of any news. I, however, have not.
The one complaint I do have is the phrase “which you can read about in detail in a later chapter”, which is repeated so many times it gets annoying. I did, however, enjoy reading the book very much and my appreciation of Mr. Ferguson, which was already very high, went up several notches.
July 7, 2022
This is my review, which you can read in a later chapter in this book.
January 30, 2024
I was excited when I purchased this book,especially after reading the 5 star reviews and the endorsements from sir alex close friend Eamomm Holmes and also from Ken Doherty.
However after only a few pages in I was disappointed by the amount of wrongful facts provided by the author(who is a journalist)but t was clearly too lazy to do proper research into the great sir alex ferguson before he decided to wrote this book.the author on no fewer than 10 occasions on this books uses his favourite phrase of "you can read about in a later chapter"over and over.
Some of the most blatantly annoying errors include reference to the crucial 1990 fa cup 3rd round game away to Nottingham forest.(the author wrongly in this book states this match happened in 1989!!! Everyone who even has a passive interest in Manchester united or indeed sir alex ferguson would know this match happened in 1990,other mistakes include writing in one chapter that sir alex got thr better of pep guradiola Barcelona team in the champions league semi final of 2008(Barcelona was actually managed by the Dutchman Frank rikard at this time)claiming that in 2008 united finished 15 points ahead of second placed Chelsea(this wasn't the case,the title was only confirmed uniteds on the last day of the season after they beat Wigan 2-1)and that in 1997 when Wimbledon knocked united out of the fa cup in the 4th round this stopped united from reaching 3 fa cup finals in a row(again incorrect fact,united had in fact reached 3 fa cup finals in a row in the years of 1994,1995 and 1996) the writer again wrongly says that united won the league in 2002(they didn't arsenal won it that year and united won it back then in 2003)
Amazingly in one chapter the writer who again didn't do proper research while discussing the heated rivalry united and arsenal had in the Premier league from 1998 -2004 fails to male any mention of the battle of old Trafford between united and arsenal when after a 0-0 draw and van nistelrooy missed a last minute penalty the chaos the followed with several arsenal players attacking van nistelrooy especially Martin known!!!
A lot of the chapters have been lazily rushed through without discussing or explaing key points that happened during the course of the seasons that he badly explains.
This should of been a well written tribute to the greatest manager of all time,instead it is filled with wrongful facts and was in truth just rushed out so the this author could make a quick buck from the great sir alex name.
I also wonder if the tributes about this book from eamonn Holmes and ken Doherty are legitimate and it's no suprise that one of the authors journalists friends gives the book a 5 star rating!!!
This books is a shambles,very poorly researched and full of incorrect facts it is by no means a tribute to the great Sir Alex Ferguson.
I would not recommend anyone buy this book.
However after only a few pages in I was disappointed by the amount of wrongful facts provided by the author(who is a journalist)but t was clearly too lazy to do proper research into the great sir alex ferguson before he decided to wrote this book.the author on no fewer than 10 occasions on this books uses his favourite phrase of "you can read about in a later chapter"over and over.
Some of the most blatantly annoying errors include reference to the crucial 1990 fa cup 3rd round game away to Nottingham forest.(the author wrongly in this book states this match happened in 1989!!! Everyone who even has a passive interest in Manchester united or indeed sir alex ferguson would know this match happened in 1990,other mistakes include writing in one chapter that sir alex got thr better of pep guradiola Barcelona team in the champions league semi final of 2008(Barcelona was actually managed by the Dutchman Frank rikard at this time)claiming that in 2008 united finished 15 points ahead of second placed Chelsea(this wasn't the case,the title was only confirmed uniteds on the last day of the season after they beat Wigan 2-1)and that in 1997 when Wimbledon knocked united out of the fa cup in the 4th round this stopped united from reaching 3 fa cup finals in a row(again incorrect fact,united had in fact reached 3 fa cup finals in a row in the years of 1994,1995 and 1996) the writer again wrongly says that united won the league in 2002(they didn't arsenal won it that year and united won it back then in 2003)
Amazingly in one chapter the writer who again didn't do proper research while discussing the heated rivalry united and arsenal had in the Premier league from 1998 -2004 fails to male any mention of the battle of old Trafford between united and arsenal when after a 0-0 draw and van nistelrooy missed a last minute penalty the chaos the followed with several arsenal players attacking van nistelrooy especially Martin known!!!
A lot of the chapters have been lazily rushed through without discussing or explaing key points that happened during the course of the seasons that he badly explains.
This should of been a well written tribute to the greatest manager of all time,instead it is filled with wrongful facts and was in truth just rushed out so the this author could make a quick buck from the great sir alex name.
I also wonder if the tributes about this book from eamonn Holmes and ken Doherty are legitimate and it's no suprise that one of the authors journalists friends gives the book a 5 star rating!!!
This books is a shambles,very poorly researched and full of incorrect facts it is by no means a tribute to the great Sir Alex Ferguson.
I would not recommend anyone buy this book.
February 8, 2025
What an amazing book. This is the first biography I’ve read (usually read autobiographies). The difference in writing and detail and viewpoints is stark contrast to an autobiography with the individual’s own perceptions. In that respect I loved how it was true and honest.
As for the content this book is pertinent at this time as it mirrors United’s plight of today. Overpaid, Hollywood ego’s just as it was in the dressing room when Alex took over from Big Ron. The parallels are so clear and I hope that Ruben Amorim has the same focus and drive and vision that Alex had back in 1986. I also hope that he is given the time to succeed in a footballing world of instant success. If we can go back to the vision of unparalleled success version 3.0 then we will be in a great position for the coming 20 years. I am genuinely pleased to have read this book now as it gives me the optimism as a United fan moving forward due to the near identical positions the club is at now and where the club was at in November 1986.
As for the content this book is pertinent at this time as it mirrors United’s plight of today. Overpaid, Hollywood ego’s just as it was in the dressing room when Alex took over from Big Ron. The parallels are so clear and I hope that Ruben Amorim has the same focus and drive and vision that Alex had back in 1986. I also hope that he is given the time to succeed in a footballing world of instant success. If we can go back to the vision of unparalleled success version 3.0 then we will be in a great position for the coming 20 years. I am genuinely pleased to have read this book now as it gives me the optimism as a United fan moving forward due to the near identical positions the club is at now and where the club was at in November 1986.
June 24, 2023
An excellent piece of work. Obviously, the majority of the content is in praise of AF, and all that he has achieved. However, the author has also commented on some mistakes along the way, not all of which AF would acknowledge, and also identifies some inconsistencies in the character over the years.
January 20, 2025
Having read almost every book there is from/about this great coach, I can safely say that this book is the best of them all. Written met a real feel for the people involved and with loads of new insight not mentioned in other books. Excellent.
December 7, 2021
Brilliant
A must read for every Manchester United fan no change that a must read for every Football Fan who cares
A must read for every Manchester United fan no change that a must read for every Football Fan who cares
December 19, 2021
Brilliant
The legend that is Alex Ferguson,simply the best.manager of recent times.a great read, I was sad.that it had ended 😒
The legend that is Alex Ferguson,simply the best.manager of recent times.a great read, I was sad.that it had ended 😒
January 9, 2022
Brilliant love it what a great man and legend
April 5, 2022
The greatest manager of all time what a fascinating biography. A must read for anyone who loves football a Man Utd fan or not.
I received this book from the publishers via Netgalley for a review.
I received this book from the publishers via Netgalley for a review.
May 17, 2022
excellent read, very informative. Would recommend.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews