Sir Alex Ferguson’s first words as Manchester United manager after being appointed in 1986

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It has been exactly 39 years since Manchester United welcomed Sir Alex Ferguson as the club’s new manager.

Ron Atkinson was sacked as Manchester United manager following a poor start to the 1986/87 season and, according to The Mirror, it was Sir Bobby Charlton who convinced chairman Martin Edwards that Sir Alex Ferguson should be his replacement.

Ferguson went on to spend an astonishing 26 years as United boss, winning 38 trophies, including a record-breaking 13 Premier League titles.

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On this day, 39 years ago, Ferguson was announced as United’s new boss, and his first words as manager still ring true today.

What Sir Alex Ferguson said about joining Man United

Ferguson earned a knighthood for his work at Manchester United, and he is globally recognised as the best manager of all time.

Incredibly, Ferguson was tipped to fail at United with newspapers publishing images of the United badge cracked after his appointment. Other reports said Ferguson was “under more pressure than anyone else in the league”.

As per United’s website, these were Ferguson’s first words after accepting the job: “Manchester United are the only club in the world I would have left Aberdeen to join.

“I’m looking forward to a tremendous challenge. Everything has happened so fast that I’m slightly bewildered.

”I recall the late Jock Stein once telling me that the biggest mistake he made was to turn down the Manchester United job.

“And I made sure that I wouldn’t do the same, but it will be a great wrench to leave Aberdeen.

”After eight years of working with everyone at Pittodrie, I can’t begin to express the sadness I feel. It has been an unforgettable experience.“

Sir Alex Ferguson survived sack scare at Man United

Ferguson stepped into a troubled United team midway through the season and was tasked with bringing the club back to the top of English football.

But just four years into his time as United manager, Ferguson found himself on the brink of being sacked.

In January 1990, Ferguson’s United sat 15th in the league table and there was speculation about the Scot being sacked.

READ MORE: Sir Alex Ferguson once claimed he only managed four ‘world-class’ players in his Man United career

A crucial Mark Robins goal in an FA Cup tie against Nottingham Forest reportedly saved Ferguson from the sack, and United went on to win the competition later that year.

Ferguson never looked back from that moment. He went on to win a further four FA Cup trophies as part of his 38-trophy haul as United boss.