Sir Alex Ferguson celebrates 25 years as Manchester United manager on Sunday (today). The Scottish coach reflects on a fantastic 25 years in charge at Old TraffordHe was dressed in his training gear, he was ready for work and he was focused on the next game, but Sir Alex Ferguson was reluctantly coaxed into acknowledging the big red elephant in the room at Manchester Uniteds training ground.This weekend marks Fergusons 25 years at the club, an achievement that quite rightly provokes awe, if not shock. Eventually, he conceded that this was his fairytale.Perhaps fearing it could look like an obituary, Ferguson has been reticent about the landmark. At one stage he delivered a trademark line in that still-thick Glasgow accent: Im no gettin into that.But a quarter of a century in the United job is a subject that would not disappear and although Ferguson referred to the 25 years as a really fantastic spell - as if referring to three weeks of promising results - the comment came amid a short appreciation of his time.It is a bit of a fairytale to last so long, he said. It has been a fantastic spell for me. It is something you dont think is going to happen and I appreciate that. When I look back, I say to myself how fortunate I am to have had these players.The list is incredible, going back to the very start with Bryan Robson, Norman Whiteside, Brian McClair, (Mark) Hughes, (Paul) Ince, (Roy) Keane, (Eric) Cantona. What a collection of players. They were fantastic players. It is hard to think I controlled all these players for so long.Pressed on what keeps him going at such a clip, Ferguson stalled. Its difficult to say - to put everything in a box, he said. Things change, managing is different even from seven, eight years ago.Ferguson looked far from someone soon to be 70 and who oversees a global institution. He looked the opposite of tired. On Thursday night there was a tribute dinner at Lancashire County Cricket Club, but Ferguson had batted away all interview requests about his anniversary - even with in-house station MUTV, apparently.He gave way briefly to club magazine Inside United. In this Ferguson spoke of the dramatic development of Old Trafford from 1986, of underappreciated long-time colleagues such as Jim Ryan and of a blatant penalty kick which was not awarded at West Ham 16 years ago.That seemed more typical of the man who earlier this year stood up at Stirling University and told the graduates, Dont underestimate enthusiasm.Some may have been expecting more complex and therefore supposedly superior advice. What they got was followed by, Never give in.We can complicate Fergusons deeds, partly because we know there is so much we do not know. It is the reason Ferguson has been asked repeatedly about his secret. But a recurring theme of his epic tenure is simplicity.Enthusiasm and determination come into it but what Ferguson has displayed over 25 years at Old Traffordand before at Aberdeen and St Mirrenis a unique mix of all these.Desire and passion have become TV cliches but the Ferguson variety is authentic and when added to competitive spirit and intelligence, you get the force of nature who is unquestionably one of the all-time greats of the British game.These are not mysterious attributes but they are what dragged United out of the long shadow of Sir Matt Busby and the 1960s. It took nous to see the sporting, economic and emotional benefits of a return to youth which shaped the club and helped transform it.Ferguson has given debuts to 79 teenagers in his 25 years. From that foundationa frequent Ferguson wordsprang the victories, trophies, titles and memories gathered over an unparalleled period of time.In November 1986, Ferguson took over a United team lying 19th in the old First Division. Imagine that. They had Watford and Oxford United above them and a fanbase that had not seen a League title on colour television.This May, just under 25 years later, United had won 37 major trophies under Ferguson including, gloriously, two European Cups.Old Trafford wasnt known as the Theatre of Dreams back in 1986. It was a venue of frustration. Back in 1986 there were no teenage girls from Korea hanging around the gates of the United training ground, as there are now.Ferguson always stresses the importance of staying true to your roots, of not changing. One of his signature quotes is: Part of my job is to make sure these lads keep their feet on the ground. I say to them, When you go home to your mother, make sure she is seeing the same person who she sent to me.Yet the man dedicated to staying the same has been revolutionary. Nothing in English football is the same as when Ferguson, on a reputed annual salary of 60,000, succeeded Ron Atkinson.This is why Ferguson deserves to be lauded - even on Merseyside or in Leeds. There have been disappointments, of course: losing 6-1 to Manchester City and 3-1 to Barcelona are fresh checks on any hint of complacency. And there has been no shortage of controversy. Yet Ferguson endures.In the same issue of the club magazine, Javier Hernandez is asked for his impressions of the manager. Hernandez was born in Mexico two years after Ferguson arrived at Old Trafford.The young striker said, Hes completely different. You cant compare him to anybody else. Whats impressed me most about him and this is something I noticed from the very first day I met him, is that he is a very simple person.You can talk about all the things hes won and all the years hes been in charge but you wouldnt know it if you watched him on the bench. Every game looks like its his first. Hes so excited, so enthusiastic.It is a quality not to be underestimated. And with Ferguson saying on Thursday, I will continue as long as I feel healthy enough to do it, the fairytale goes on.
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