Sir Alex Ferguson regrets missing chance to bring Pep Guardiola to Man United
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KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Sir Alex Ferguson wishes he had met Pep Guardiola earlier to persuade him to manage Manchester United.
- Guardiola had already committed to Bayern Munich when they met in New York in 2012.
- David Moyes succeeded Ferguson in 2013 but lasted just 10 months at Old Trafford.
In his book Games of My Life, the former United boss reflects on a dinner with Guardiola in New York in 2012.
By then, the former Barcelona boss was preparing for a new challenge with Bayern Munich, leaving Ferguson wondering what might have happened had their meeting taken place a few months sooner.
Ferguson wishes he had approached Guardiola earlier
Ferguson revealed that the timing of his meeting with Guardiola has remained on his mind for years. At the time, the Scot had not made a final decision about his retirement, whilst Guardiola was already leaning towards a move to Germany.Over the past ten years, I have often wondered what might have happened if the dinner I had with Pep in New York in 2012 had taken place a couple of months earlier.The comments offer a glimpse into a potential turning point for United. Had Ferguson managed to convince Guardiola to take over, the club might have pursued a very different direction after the Scot's retirement.
If I could rewind time, we would have dined some months earlier, I would have poured plenty of Tignanello (Italian wine) and I would have tried my hardest to convince him that his future lay in Manchester.
Unfortunately for us, it did. Enough said.
However, there is no guarantee that Guardiola would have accepted the role, or that his subsequent success at Manchester City would have been replicated at Old Trafford.
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Why Guardiola chose Bayern Munich
Guardiola had established himself as one of football's most promising young coaches during his time at Barcelona.Appointed in 2008, he quickly transformed the Catalan side into a dominant force, winning the treble in his first season in charge. His Barcelona team went on to claim major domestic and European honours through a possession-based style that influenced managers around the world.
After leaving Barcelona in 2012, Guardiola took a sabbatical before agreeing to manage Bayern from the 2013/14 season.
His decision gave him the opportunity to test himself in German football after dominating Spain. During his three seasons in Munich, Bayern won three consecutive Bundesliga titles and four domestic trophies overall, although the Champions League remained elusive.
Guardiola subsequently joined City in 2016, where he established another dominant side and helped redefine the standards required to compete in the Premier League.
His achievements in England have made Ferguson's recollection particularly intriguing. Instead of becoming United's successor, Guardiola became the manager responsible for some of the club's most difficult years in the Manchester rivalry.
Ferguson praises Guardiola's managerial approach
Despite missing the opportunity to appoint him, Ferguson has spoken admiringly of Guardiola's development and achievements.The former United manager highlighted the Spaniard's playing background at Barcelona and his experience working under influential coaches, including Johan Cruyff, Bobby Robson and Louis van Gaal.
Pep has set a breathtaking standard for the current generation of players or anybody aspiring to become a manager.Guardiola became Barcelona head coach at just 37, a relatively young age to take charge of a club with such demanding expectations. His success demonstrated that a former player could make the transition to elite management, provided he had the preparation, tactical understanding and leadership required.
When I see some of the game's biggest stars leave the field and immediately take a manager's job without much preparation or experience, my heart sinks. It often ends badly, especially for the Premier League players.
The stakes are too high. You're right in everyone's crosshairs. The public expect that your success on the field will automatically transfer to the dugout.
Pep Guardiola is the most celebrated example of a manager who started with a top club when he was relatively young.
Ferguson's retirement changed Manchester United's future
Ferguson's departure in 2013 created a challenge that United have struggled to overcome consistently.David Moyes was unable to maintain the standards established under his predecessor, and subsequent managers also found it difficult to restore the club to sustained domestic and European dominance.
Guardiola's career followed a contrasting trajectory. After his success at Bayern, he built City into one of Europe's strongest teams, winning multiple Premier League titles and the Champions League.
The contrast has made Ferguson's recollection of their 2012 dinner especially significant for United supporters. The possibility of Guardiola taking charge at Old Trafford remains an intriguing alternative-history scenario.
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