Product Description

When Manchester United deposed Chelsea as Premiership
champions at the end of the 2006-07 season Sir Alex Ferguson described it
as the 'greatest achievement' of his twenty years in charge. A year earlier
his managerial career had reached its nadir amid speculation he would be
forced out of Old Trafford. He was taken to the limit over the Roy Keane
scandal, his volatile relationship with the media, the political fallout of
Malcolm Glazer's takeover and a miserable six-month run in which the team
were humbled in Europe, embarrassed by the Conference side Burton Albion
and barracked by their own fans. Ferguson, it is claimed, came close to
quitting. But the great man has used his inimitable managing skills and
bloody-minded determination to turn it around yet again and remind everyone
he is still the most formidable manager in the business. Written over the
course of two hugely eventful, diverse and controversial seasons, This Is
The One offers a unique, warts-and-all portrait of Ferguson from a
privileged behind-the-scenes position. As a football writer for the
(italics) Guardian, Daniel Taylor has been there from day one and seen
every side of Ferguson, from the flint-faced authoritarian to the kind,
quick-witted man with the heart the size of the Old Trafford trophy room.
Entertaining, revelatory, sometimes shocking but always affectionate, this
is the close-up look at one of the most talked-about figures in sport, in
good times and bad, and culminating in the glory of his ninth title win.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #110036 in Books
• Published on: 2007-07-25
• Original language: English
• Binding: Hardcover
• 343 pages

The Observer Sport Monthly, 02/07/2007
`Taylor offers a fine account of this fascinating period in [Ferguson's] career'

Synopsis
When Manchester United deposed Chelsea as Premiership champions at the end of the 2006-07 season Sir Alex Ferguson described it as the 'greatest achievement' of his twenty years in charge. A year earlier his managerial career had reached its nadir amid speculation he would be forced out of Old Trafford. He was taken to the limit over the Roy Keane scandal, his volatile relationship with the media, the political fallout of Malcolm Glazer's takeover and a miserable six-month run in which the team were humbled in Europe, embarrassed by the Conference side Burton Albion and barracked by their own fans. Ferguson, it is claimed, came close to quitting. But the great man has used his inimitable managing skills and bloody-minded determination to turn it around yet again and remind everyone he is still the most formidable manager in the business.Written over the course of two hugely eventful, diverse and controversial seasons, "This Is The One" offers a unique, warts-and-all portrait of Ferguson from a privileged behind-the-scenes position.

As a football writer for the (italics) "Guardian", Daniel Taylor has been there from day one and seen every side of Ferguson, from the flint-faced authoritarian to the kind, quick-witted man with the heart the size of the Old Trafford trophy room. Entertaining, revelatory, sometimes shocking but always affectionate, this is the close-up look at one of the most talked-about figures in sport, in good times and bad, and culminating in the glory of his ninth title win.

Customer Reviews

Unique view of Fergie
Yes, I'm a United supporter, so get that negative vote in if that floats your boat.
This is a view of Fergie over two seasons from the viewpoint of a press pack journalist. The view presented is mainly that of a man at press conferences and the struggle to get a man who does not trust the press to open up. Fergie is a complex individual who blows hot and cold, but this book is told in an honest and respectful manner.
The two seasons picked are interesting too, one where Fergie made a number of mistakes and the club was in transition and then the following one where it all came together and United got past Chelsea back to the top of the Premiership.
We are given glimpses of the players but only to put into context the mood of the club and how Fergie reflects it back.
Working with Fergie must be a challenge but this demonstrates the will and the drive of the man, and the power he holds within United.
Very interesting and showed me more of United's manager then I have ever seen before. Recommended.

It's more interesting when United lose!
Thoroughly enjoyable engrossing account of one of football's great managers, it is a fascinating insight as to the rise and fall of United over a period of transitional decline that eventually saw them usurp the billions of Roman Abramovich's Chelsea to be crowned English champions for the 16th time.
The book is laden with some hilarious anecdotes while Taylor's portrait of the tyrannical man he has to deal with weekly is commendably respectable, with no grudges held, thus making the book an unbiased account. A great journalistic viewpoint that complements the man in focus perfectly for one of the great and open football books.

Govan-er
A great insight into what makes Sir Alex tick.

Treat them mean and keep them kean appears to work for Sir Alex but no one else. Want to know why? read the book.

Up there with the best.