A football hero or just a hothead?

His detractors say he is a bullying despot and responsible for some of the worst acts of gamesmanship football has ever seen. His supporters stress his loyalty and talk of his many unpublicised acts of generosity.

But if there's disagreement over the character of Sir Alex Ferguson, there can be no disputing the impact the volatile Scot has had on our national game. As he marks 20 years in charge at Manchester United, his team is playing as well as it ever has. Since taking over the relegation-threatened sleeping giant of English football in November 1986, Ferguson has won 17 trophies, including eight Premiership titles, five FA Cups and the Champions League.

During his tenure, United have been transformed from a mere football club into a multi-million pound global brand, valued last year at £774m. The story could so

He is as famed for his ‘hairdryer treatment’ as his trophies – neil clark on the legacy of Sir Alex Ferguson

easily have turned out differently. In the light of his success, it's easy to forget just how barren Ferguson's first years at Old Trafford were.

Three years after his appointment, United were still threatened by relegation and supporters were calling for Ferguson's head. Had United lost their Third Round FA Cup tie at Nottingham Forest in January 1990, it seems certain he would have been sacked. As it was, his side clung on to a 1-0 victory and in May beat Crystal Palace to win the Cup.

In November 1992, United lay only 10th in the Premiership; once again the knives were being sharpened. Then came Ferguson's lucky break. In one of the worst managerial decisions in English football history, Leeds manager Howard Wilkinson sold his temperamental striker Eric Cantona to his club's bitter rivals.

United never looked back. Inspired by the gifted Frenchman, United

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