110+ Alex Ferguson Quotes On Teamwork, Success And Winning

Alex Ferguson is a Scottish former football manager and player who managed Manchester United from 1986 to 2013. He is regarded by many as one of the greatest and most successful managers of all time. During his 26-year tenure at Manchester United, he won 38 trophies, including 13 Premier League titles, five FA Cups, and two UEFA Champions League titles. Following is our collection on famous quotes by Alex Ferguson on teamwork, success, winning.

Top 10 Alex Ferguson Quotes

1. Only true champions come out and show their worth after defeat- and I expect us to do that.
2. I can't believe it. I can't believe it. Football. Bloody hell.
3. I've never played for a draw in my life.
4. Hard work will always overcome natural talent when natural talent does not work hard enough.
5. I remember the first time I saw him. He was 13 and just floated over the ground like a cockier spaniel chasing a piece of silver paper in the wind.
6. You can't applaud a referee.
7. They say he's an intelligent man, right? Speaks five languages! I've got a 15-year-old boy from the Ivory Coast who speaks five languages!
8. When an Italian tells me it's pasta on the plate, I check under the sauce to make sure.
9. There is no evidence that changing your managers repeatedly leads to success, but there is evidence at Manchester United, I was managing there for 26 years I won 38 trophies.
10. My greatest challenge is not what's happening at the moment, my greatest challenge was knocking Liverpool right off their f*****g perch. And you can print that.

Alex Ferguson Short Quotes

• I'm going to tell you the story about the geese which fly 5,000 miles from Canada to France.
• He could start a row in an empty house.
• Never give in or give up easily on a cause.
• I think his team are mirroring Stuart Pearce as the player he was. (on Manchester City)
• There are members of the London press who seek to antagonise me, deliberately.
• I don't like losing but I've mellowed. I maybe have a short fuse but it goes away quicker now.
• They (the press) have a hatred of Manchester United.
• The credit to them, the better team won and there's nothing we can do about that now.
• Promise is one thing. Fulfilling that promise is quite another.
• I'm-A-God-Look-At-Me.

Alex Ferguson Quotes About Winning

Manchester United might not win Premier League every year, but we'd always be up there competing for it every year. — Alex Ferguson

Liverpool can play for only five minutes and win the game, that is the way they are. They pump the ball into the box and with good set-piece delivery they keep you under pressure. — Alex Ferguson

There has been a lot of expectation on Manchester City and with the spending they have done they have to win something. Sometimes you have a noisy neighbor and have to live with it. — Alex Ferguson

You are responsible to each other because when you win a game of football, you only need eight players to perform well. — Alex Ferguson

Attack wins you games, defence wins you titles. — Alex Ferguson

We once went 13 games without winning. There's always pressure here. Winning is always important here. How do you handle yourself and compose yourself is important. (on Manchester United) — Alex Ferguson

Jose understands winning and losing are twins in a way. When you win you don't gloat and when you lose you don't go bananas. — Alex Ferguson

The most important thing in a game like that is to win it. — Alex Ferguson

Alex Ferguson Quotes About Fans

I understand the intensity of the supporters. I wonder how they could turn up for work on Monday morning after we lost 5-1 to Manchester City. — Alex Ferguson

You have to put all the criticism of this club down to jealousy. United have produced more players who have played for their country, more world-class players and more players who have won European Footballer of the Year than any other team in this country, so we must be doing something right. — Alex Ferguson

I'm a Pele fan from way back when I was a kid, and then there was always this thing later about Pele and Maradona. I was young and impressionable as a kid but it was always Pele for me. — Alex Ferguson

Alex Ferguson Quotes About Ronaldo

I have nothing but praise for the boy. He is easily the best player in the world. His contribution as a goal threat is unbelievable. His stats are incredible. Strikes at goal, attempts on goal, raids into the penalty box, headers. It is all there. Absolutely astounding. — Alex Ferguson

Ronaldo could play for Millwall, QPR, Doncaster Rovers or anyone and he'd score a hat-trick. I'm not sure Messi could do it. Ronaldo's got two feet, he's quick, he's good in the air and he's brave, though Messi's brave too of course. I just think Messi is a Barcelona player. — Alex Ferguson

He's such a great threat because of his power and pace. (on Cristiano Ronaldo) — Alex Ferguson

He is improving all the time. He is only 21 and who knows what he is capable of. (on Cristiano Ronaldo) — Alex Ferguson

As with every young player these days, Ronaldo is 18. — Alex Ferguson

Alex Ferguson Quotes About Inspiring

It was the most emphatic display of selflessness I have seen on a football field. Pounding over every blade of grass, competing as if he would rather die of exhaustion than lose, he inspired all around him. — Alex Ferguson

All they can talk about is Manchester United. — Alex Ferguson

That lad must have been born offside. — Alex Ferguson

If ever there was one player, anywhere in the world, that was made for Manchester United, it was Cantona. He swaggered in, stuck his chest out, raised his head and surveyed everything as though he was asking: 'I'm Cantona. How big are you? Are you big enough for me?' — Alex Ferguson

Everest in his slippers. That's what he was like. — Alex Ferguson

To not apologize for the behavior of the players to another manager is unthinkable. It's a disgrace, but I don't expect Wenger to ever apologize...he's that type of person. — Alex Ferguson

David Beckham is Britain's finest striker of a football not because of God-given talent but because he practises with a relentless application that the vast majority of less gifted players wouldn't contemplate. — Alex Ferguson

I think Rafael Benítez was an angry man. He must have been disturbed for some reason. I think you have got to cut through the venom of it and hopefully he'll reflect and understand what he said was absolutely ridiculous. — Alex Ferguson

He was taking 30 seconds to book a player. He was needing a rest. It was ridiculous. — Alex Ferguson

The pace of the game demanded a referee who was fit. It is an indictment of our game. You see referees abroad who are as fit as butcher's dogs. We have some who are fit. He wasn't fit. — Alex Ferguson

Alex Ferguson Quotes About Football

You start with what you believe in. I believe in building a football club rather than building a football team. — Alex Ferguson

Players know that they can trust me which is really important. They know that I had the ability to adapt to change, and they have seen that many times over the years. I think these are important parts of being in control of footballers. — Alex Ferguson

Sometimes in football you have to hold your hand up and say, yeah, they're better than us. — Alex Ferguson

The lads really ran their socks into the ground. — Alex Ferguson

Football, bloody hell! — Alex Ferguson

In England, it's a rare thing to see a player smoking but, all in all, I prefer that to an alcoholic. The relationship with alcohol is a real problem in English football and, in the short term, it's much more harmful to a sportsman. It weakens the body, which becomes more susceptible to injury. — Alex Ferguson

Lampard, for me, was a marvellous servant for Chelsea, but I didn't think of him as an elite international footballer. And I am one of the few who felt Gerrard was not a top, top player. — Alex Ferguson

Evolution happens. There's no football team in the world that has stayed together for time ever more. — Alex Ferguson

I tried it 100 or a million times it couldn't happen again. If I could, I would have carried on playing. — Alex Ferguson

I've got a temper if I need it. Nothing wrong with losing your temper, if it's for the right reasons. — Alex Ferguson

Alex Ferguson Quotes About Player

I think Paul Scholes is the best player in England. He's got the best skills, the best brain. No one can match him. There isn't a player of his mould anywhere in the world. Paul is irreplaceable. — Alex Ferguson

I used to have a saying that when a player is at his peak, he feels as though he can climb. — Alex Ferguson

Keeping players happy is not easy and I think anyone with a big squad will tell you that. — Alex Ferguson

I always said to the directors that the minute a player becomes more powerful than the manager of Manchester United, it's not Manchester United. You have lost control of the whole club. So I always made sure that I was in control. They always knew who the manager was. — Alex Ferguson

They had Jan Venegoor of...whatever you call him. — Alex Ferguson

The work of a team should always embrace a great player but the great player must always work. — Alex Ferguson

Sometimes you're not sure about a player. Sometimes you doubt. Sometimes you have to guess. Sometimes... you just know. — Alex Ferguson

Everyone remembers Stuart Pearce as a determined, aggressive player, who played with great heart and enthusiasm that gave him a great career in the game. — Alex Ferguson

It was our worst-ever day, the worst result in my history, ever. Even as a player I don't think I ever lost 6-1. — Alex Ferguson

Well he's only 20. Without question, he's the best youngest player I've seen in my time... If he keeps developing and matures ? goodness knows what he will become. At the moment he's a breathe of fresh air. (on Wayne Rooney) — Alex Ferguson

Alex Ferguson Quotes About Play

As long as there are games to play it is not over. — Alex Ferguson

David impresses by his example on the field. He never stops running, he plays with supreme confidence, he always tries his hardest and he scores important goals. (on David Beckham) — Alex Ferguson

Critics have always questioned whether players like Pele from the 50s could play today. Lionel Messi could play in the 1950s and the present day, as could Di Stefano, Pele, Maradona, Cruyff because they are all great players. Lionel Messi without question fits into that category. — Alex Ferguson

If we can play like that every week we'll get some level of consistency. — Alex Ferguson

Football management is such a pressurised thing - horseracing is a release. I'm also learning to play the piano - I'm quite determined - it's another release from the pressure of my job. — Alex Ferguson

Alex Ferguson Quotes About People

Distinguish between power and control, delegate, be decisive - and always remember people's first names. — Alex Ferguson

I feel sympathy for the working class lad. I've always championed about ticket prices and try to equate that to people's salaries. — Alex Ferguson

Myths grow all the time. If I was to listen to the number of times I've thrown teacups then we've gone through some crockery in this place. It's completely exaggerated, but I don't like people arguing back with me. — Alex Ferguson

I realized I was good at developing young people. Eventually I started to believe in young people. I think when you give a young person an opportunity, he always believes who gave him his first chance. You create a loyalty that lasts a lifetime. — Alex Ferguson

Alex Ferguson Famous Quotes And Sayings

They say it was Cesc Fabregas who threw the pizza at me but, to this day, I have no idea who the culprit was. — Alex Ferguson

Gianfranco Zola once sent Gary Pallister the wrong way to such an extent that he needed a ticket to get back in. — Alex Ferguson

I'm going to tell you the story about the geese which fly 5,000 miles from Canada to France. They fly in V-formation but the second ones don't fly. They're the subs for the first ones. And then the second ones take over - so it's teamwork. — Alex Ferguson

If my parents were still alive, they would be very proud. They gave me a good start in life, the values that have driven me, and the confidence to believe in myself. — Alex Ferguson

It's great news. The reality of negotiations today is that they take time. But these have always been conducted in a good spirit and we are very pleased with the outcome. We can now look forward to the future. — Alex Ferguson

The culmination of three trophies was the pinnacle of my career and it has been rewarded with a knighthood. — Alex Ferguson

When he's at the top of his game, there's not a team in the world that can handle Giggs' speed and penetration — Alex Ferguson

You are not going to be happy if you lose to a goal in the last minute. It is difficult to take and difficult to get out of your mind. — Alex Ferguson

Everywhere I go the coaches all tell me that Scholsey is the player they admire. But if they think they'll get him they're wasting their time! Paul is a Manc lad pure and simple. He loves the club and there's no chance of him leaving here. If ever he decided to go there would be a stampede, but he won't be going, he's here for life. — Alex Ferguson

I'm privileged to have followed Sir Matt because all you have to do is to try and maintain the standards that he set so many years ago. — Alex Ferguson

We are very focused this time and our preparation has been better. We maybe made one or two mistakes last time, but not this time. — Alex Ferguson

If Chelsea drop points, the cat's out in the open. And you know what cats are like - sometimes they don't come home. — Alex Ferguson

If you're going to be a footballer, be a great one.If you're going to have a dream, dream big. — Alex Ferguson

Her Majesty said she hoped I would have time for my horses - I own two and have shares in four. — Alex Ferguson

Go make your mistakes in the first team. You'll learn more in a month in the first team than you will in two years in the reserves. — Alex Ferguson

Pippo Inzaghi was born in an offside position. — Alex Ferguson

I'm no f****** talking to you. He's a f****** great player. Yous are f******* idiots. — Alex Ferguson

There was one or two offers that did come along during my time at United, but I always came back to this point; why would you leave United? Where is the bigger challenge? And the thing about challenges is, once you have won something, you can't live on that. Not at Manchester United - you have got to win the next one. And that's the challenge. Maintaining that consistency of winning which is a mentality that I have had. — Alex Ferguson

I think Sepp Blatter is in danger...or has reached a point now, where he is being mocked within the game. Whether he's getting too old, I don't know. But things can happen to people in power. Look at some of the despots in Africa... From a position of great power, he has uttered so many ridiculous statements that he is in danger of seriously damaging his credibility. — Alex Ferguson

It's a conflict of parallels. — Alex Ferguson

I always used to say to players at half-time, 'Be patient. The last fifteen minutes throw the kitchen sink at them. It's worth a gamble'. You are going to lose the game anyway. There is nothing better than when you get to that last fifteen minutes and you actually win the game late on. The fans are going out of the gates I gave it a try and it worked. — Alex Ferguson

Cole should be scoring from those distances, but I'm not going to single him out. — Alex Ferguson

At the last minute, from what I can gather, either Emmanuel Adebayor or his agent phoned us after they had agreed a deal with City and then did the same with Chelsea. He was desperate to get to either Chelsea or us. — Alex Ferguson

Sometimes you look in a field and you see a cow and you think it's a better cow than the one you've got in your own field. It's a fact. Right? And it never really works out that way. — Alex Ferguson

If I have my health I can carry on. There will be a point when I do quit but I have absolutely no idea when that is. — Alex Ferguson

Well, football is a hard game; there's no denying it. It's a game that can bring out the worst in you, at times. — Alex Ferguson

If he was an inch taller he'd be the best center half in Britain. His father is 6 ft 2 in - I'd check the milkman. — Alex Ferguson

Wayne is truly blessed. He doesn't just have ability, he has a fire inside him. — Alex Ferguson

The philosophy of a lot of European teams, even in home matches, is not to give a goal away. — Alex Ferguson

I think that fear does come into it in some respect in the sense of when I lost my temper I didn't hide behind a bush on it in respect to the times that I did lose my temper. But you know the quality that I had when I lost my temper, I never, ever brought it back again. — Alex Ferguson

Once you shake hands with the devil, you have to accept they are in control. — Alex Ferguson

He's a novice - he should keep his opinions to Japanese football — Alex Ferguson

Jose [Mourinho] was one of those guys on a surfboard who can stay longer on the wave than anyone else. — Alex Ferguson

I do believe in fate. — Alex Ferguson

If you were in a game of football always think you need maybe eight to win the game. Three can on an off day or semi off day but you always hard. And the players recognize that and they'll do that extra to make sure they get winning. The essence of the team is to understand and trust each other and to trust me. — Alex Ferguson

I never worried about teams who spend what they want to spend. It never bothered me. At the moment we have a lot of Middle Eastern owners, we have American owners of course, Russian owners. It never bothered me one bit. All I was concerned about was that we at United maintained our level of expectation, be competitive, be at the top part of the Premier League. — Alex Ferguson

I was doing all the coaching schools so that I'd be able to stay in the game, and I gave myself a chance by doing that. I was only an average player, could score a goal or two, that sort of thing, but I wasn't a Bobby Charlton or a Messi, or Ronaldo. There are very, very few really great players who have become great coaches. — Alex Ferguson

It's a horrible part of the game when you have to tell a player, probably somebody who has helped you win so much that his time is up. You treat them like family, and because they are your family it becomes even more hurting in the sense that you have got to say "well son, I'm sorry, you won't be a regular here, but you will still have a career elsewhere.' It's happened more than a few times but it is not an easy thing to handle. — Alex Ferguson

It was time for me to spend more time with my wife. I'm not saying I do spend more time with my wife, because she would throw me out of the house, but we have breakfast together. I never did. — Alex Ferguson

He has an awareness of what's happening around him on the edge of the box which is better than most players. As a kid he always had a knack of arriving in the penalty area just at the right time, but he's proving just as effective from outside the box because he's using his experience in the right way. It doesn't matter who I am thinking about bringing into my midfield, Paul Scholes will be included, as he would in any side in the world. — Alex Ferguson

Life Lessons by Alex Ferguson

1. Alex Ferguson's success as a coach was based on his ability to motivate and inspire his players to reach their full potential.
2. He also believed in a strong team ethos, and was willing to make tough decisions when necessary.
3. His commitment to excellence and dedication to his players serves as a reminder that hard work and dedication can lead to success.