Highlights in the career of Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson who will retire at the end of the season:
1941 — Born Dec. 31 in Govan, Scotland.
1957 — Begins playing career at Scottish club Queen's Park.
1966 — Marries Cathy.
1974 — Ends six-club playing career and takes charge of Scottish club East Stirling.
1978 — Becomes manager of Aberdeen in Scottish top division, winning Scottish league for the first time in 1981.
1983 — Wins European Cup Winners' Cup with victory over Real Madrid in final, and becomes Officer of the Order of the British Empire.
1985 — Takes temporary charge of Scotland's national team after death of manager Jock Stein on Sept. 10.
1986 — Coaches Scotland at World Cup, where team failed to advance from group.
1986 — Becomes Manchester United manager as replacement for the fired Ron Atkinson. Leaves Aberdeen with three Scottish titles, four Scottish Cups, one League Cup, a European Cup Winners' Cup and a European Super Cup.
1990 — Wins first trophy at United, the FA Cup after a replay against Crystal Palace in the final.
1991 — Wins European Cup Winners' Cup after beating Barcelona 2-1 in final.
1992 — Signs French forward Eric Cantona.
1993 — Wins United's first English title since 1967 and voted Manager of the Year.
1994 — Retains English title and also wins FA Cup.
1995 — Made Commander of the Order of the British Empire.
1996 — Wins Premier League again, this time with youngsters in his team such as David Beckham, Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes and Gary Neville known as "Fergie's Fledglings."
1999 — Wins a historic Premier League-FA Cup-Champions League treble, after winning European Cup for the first time thanks to late goals by Teddy Sheringham and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in a 2-1 win over Bayern Munich; Becomes a knight; Wins Intercontinental Cup
2001 - Breaks British transfer record to sign Argentina midfielder Juan Sebastian Veron for 28 million pounds.
2002 — Decides to stay on at United after announcing decision to retire at the end of the season. Admits decision to make announcement public was an "absolute disaster."
2003 — Launches legal action against then-United shareholder John Magnier over ownership of race horse Rock of Gibraltar; Reportedly kicks football boot into face of Beckham, causing injury to midfielder's face. Beckham sold to Real Madrid that summer; Signs Cristiano Ronaldo from Sporting Lisbon.
2004 — Has pacemaker fitted.
2007 — Denies Chelsea a third straight English title by winning Premier League with United for ninth time.
2008 — Wins Champions League for the second time with victory in a penalty shootout over Chelsea, following 1-1 draw; Wins Club World Cup.
2009 — Given four-match touchline ban for comments criticizing fitness of referee Alan Wiley.
2010 — Wins fourth and final League Cup.
2011 — United names north stand at Old Trafford as the Sir Alex Ferguson Stand.
2013 — Reclaims Premier League title from Manchester City, winning it for 13th time.
2013 — Announces retirement from Manchester United
AP
Further reading
United hope to appoint Moyes by end of the week
Sam Wallace: What next for United after Ferguson?
His best XI during his reign
His 13 titles remembered
Season-by-season guide
Players pay tribute
Ferguson’s statement in full
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