Manager with an eye for success

Once upon a time, Alex Ferguson appeared destined for a life as a toolmaker in the tough Govan district of Glasgow. Then he discovered planet football, and hasn't quite been back down on earth since.

Yesterday evening, the Manchester United supremo flew into Dublin with the wide smile on his face which has been there since last May. His principal engagement was to present the Taoiseach, Mr Bertie Ahern, with a copy of his recently published autobiography Managing My Life, but, as always, his principal interest was to talk football with whoever wanted to talk football.

With photo-opportunities pleasantly passed by, including a small group of the most fortunate young United supporters in Dublin, Ferguson stood in the comfortable surroundings of a Dublin airport hotel appearing genuinely honoured to hand over the specially signed copy to the Taoiseach.

"What a year to bring out the book," laughed the Taoiseach, a self-professed fan who, like the rest of them, watched in awe as United claimed the unique League, FA Cup and European Champions League treble at the end of last season.

"I'll be over in October, and I look forward to seeing you then," he added, before rushing off to catch a helicopter down to Kerry.

Ferguson then got down to the business of discussing his book, which he co-wrote with Sunday Times soccer writer Hugh McIlvanney. When Ferguson signed the contract to write the book, he already had a remarkable story to tell. The turn of events at the end of the season has made it one of the most eagerly awaited reads in the increasingly wide world of player or manager-penned insights into the game.

Already the book has attracted it's share of controversy for the way Ferguson reveals his association and separation from the people that help build him into one of the most successful managers of his generation. One of his first tasks on arriving from Aberdeen - breaking up a drinking school which had made United as much a social club as a football club - to the unshared enthusiasm from his deputy Brian Kidd over the decision to buy Dwight Yorke, Ferguson remains frank and honest throughout.

What most people wanted to hear yesterday, however, was how he could possibly repeat the heights of last season. "You can never repeat that," he said. "We had so much good fortune which helped, we didn't have too many injuries, and I was able to pick the team I wanted. What we want to do this year is to try and win the league, because in English football that is always so tight. They're all big games and if we can win again this year then it will still be a good season for us."

But it quickly becomes apparent that there is no loss of appetite even having reached the Holy Grail of the Champions League. "I want one more anyway," he added, "but the feeling of that occasion was incredible. The way we did it was just unbelievable. Afterwards I had to walk about the stadium on my own just to let it all sink in. I don't know how you rationalise these things, whether it's fate or whatever. But I suppose I'd like to get there and win it a bit easier next time."

On the more serious footballing matters, Ferguson admitted the money which has become the most powerful voice in the sport, is something you have to accept rather than try and understand.

"The British teams were catching up with the Italians and the Spanish in terms of salary and now they've probably accelerated ahead of them a bit. That does worry me but if we want to go forward then you are forced to keep up with the rest of Europe. As for the likes of Roy Keane, the money was never an issue. I've got the next six months to ensure that all doubts are erased from his mind and convince him that Manchester United is still the best place to play football. I'm delighted with his decision, because the last thing I wanted to hear was that he would leave at the end of the season."

The recent injury to both Keane and fellow Irishman Deis Irwin is something Ferguson appears to be getting used to. "Keane's hamstring is not a pull and he's such a good healer that he shouldn't be out for more than two weeks. Denis is a little more serious although not unexpected but we're lucky that we can afford to rest him.

" As for them playing for Ireland, I never have any problem about that. I've always co-operated with international managers, despite what other people might say. And I've said to Mick McCarthy that he will never have problems with me when it comes to the games that matter. "You know, I'm not sure if they'll even make it back in," he then joked.

He also cleared up his alleged comments about Robbie Keane not worth the £6 million, stating that for him, it was a waste of money for such a young player since he would be unable to give him first team football. And while his book will give a detailed insight into how he built his own team at United, it won't, he confirms, offer any secrets of his success. "It takes time, I can tell you that much. You can't just turn the key an open the door. You have to distill the winning attitude down to the younger players. The new generation mightn't have the same outlook but you can bring it into them, and that's something I work hard to do.

"It's important to stick by your beliefs and not jump from one idea to another. The Scottish thing probably helps as well, because we don't like going down to England and losing. You get something out of that. The working-class ethic is very strong in Scotland and I try to recreate that in my own family."