There are so many admirable things about Sir Alex Ferguson. If you say he’s the greatest soccer manager ever, you’ll be right. What’s also true is how he single-handedly transformed Manchester United into a complete manager, not just the players. The legendary Scotsman was hands-on in all his dealings at the club, resulting in the club’s success.
Sir Alex Ferguson didn’t just dominate English football in his day. He went above and beyond to make Manchester United a team that all other European clubs dreaded playing so much for. In a recent event, the former Manchester United legend was handed a lifetime membership of Eintracht Frankfurt, leading to speculation that he may be returning to management with the German club.
Sir Alex Ferguson receives special honor from Eintracht Frankfurt
Sir Alex Ferguson is arguably the most revered man in the history of football. From his achievements at Manchester United to his incredible man-management skills to his infamous hair-dryer treatment, there’s no soccer fan, old or small, that doesn’t know or hasn’t learned about his greatness. Many great managers even admit he’s the greatest manager ever, with many always treating him with huge respect.
Surprisingly, the former United manager was pictured holding the shirt of Eintracht Frankfurt, leading many to wonder what his affiliation with the German club could be. However, it was later revealed that the Bundesliga club was honoring him with a lifetime membership, thanks to his contributions to the growth of global football. The German club sent delegates to present Sir Alex Ferguson with this honor.
The former Manchester United manager was pictured holding a scarf of the German club and also later posed with a customized jersey, with the club bestowing on him the No. 10 shirt. This move came on the back of Frankfurt’s visit to Scotland, where they faced Aberdeen in the UEFA Conference League. Aberdeen won the game 2-0, ensuring the German club left Scotland without taking anything from the game.
Sir Alex Ferguson’s encounters against Frankfurt
A man of Sir Alex Ferguson’s pedigree made a lot of enemies throughout his career as Manchester United’s manager, thanks to his overall success of two UEFA Champions League and 13 Premier League titles in his trophy-laden career. Despite never facing Frankfurt with Manchester United, Ferguson holds a special bond with the German club, which started from his early years as a young footballer back in Scotland.
The legendary manager recalled his first encounter with Frankfurt in the 1960 European Cup when they faced Ferguson’s beloved Rangers. He was just 17 at the time. “It was unbelievable,” Sir Alex Ferguson said. “In the away game, Frankfurt beat Rangers six to one. I was at the home game when they came to Ibrox, with 70,000 people in attendance. Rangers scored first, and you get hopeful thinking they could come back. They ended up losing six again,” Ferguson recalled.
He also went on to discuss Frankfurt’s most successful period before talking about how he’d like for them to win the Bundesliga someday. “Frankfurt’s most successful time was during my career at Aberde in the 70s and 80s. I always hope to see the underdog win. Bayern fans may not agree with that, but like all the neutral fans In Germany, I really hope someone else wins the league,” he added.
While Frankfurt may not challenge for the title this season, Sir Alex Ferguson’s wish may come true, considering how Xabi Alonso is leading an unlikely title charge in the Bundesliga with a strong 10-point lead over Bayer Munich. Leverkusen remain unbeaten in the league this season, playing 26 games and drawing just four.
