Brief
Sir Alex Ferguson / © Presse Sports

Sir Alex Ferguson, the iconic coach of Manchester United, has just been shown the door by the club’s current leadership. Serving as an ambassador for the Red institution since stepping down from the Manchester sidelines in 2013, the Scotsman has significantly influenced the way English managers approach their roles. Some of his most insightful statements were compiled in a article on leadership by the Harvard Business Review ("Sir Alex Ferguson’s Formula"). Here are a few excerpts:

  • When you give young players a chance, you not only extend the lifespan of your team, but you also build loyalty.
  • The hardest thing is to let go of a player who has been a great guy—but all the evidence is on the field. If you see the change, the deterioration, you must ask yourself what things are going to be like in two years
  • We never allowed a bad training session. What you see in training manifests itself in the game.
  • In matters of authority, showing strength is necessary but it is not enough.
  • It’s necessary to call out mistakes when players don’t meet expectations. That’s when criticism is important. I delivered it right after the game—waiting until Monday was out of the question!

Stubbornness is a great quality. It’s incredible to see what can happen in the final seconds of a soccer match sometimes.