Ferguson's record

1941: Born December 31st in Govan, Glasgow.

1957: Joined Queens Park as amateur while apprentice toolmaker.

1960: Joined St Johnstone as part-timer.

1964: Joined Dunfermline as full-time professional.

1967: Moved to Rangers for £65,000.

1969: Joined Falkirk, for £20,000.

1973: Joined Ayr as part-timer while running his Glasgow pub.

1974: Appointed manager of East Stirling in September, but moved to St Mirren three months later.

1978: Sacked by St Mirren after a row and appointed boss at Aberdeen.

1980: First managerial honour when Aberdeen win championship.

1982: Aberdeen win the Scottish Cup beating Rangers 4-1.

1983: Aberdeen retain Scottish Cup and defeat Real Madrid 2-1 to win European Cup Winners' Cup.

1984: Aberdeen win League and Cup double beating Celtic 2-1 in the Cup final. Ferguson awarded OBE.

1985: Appointed caretaker manager of Scotland following death of Jock Stein.

1986: Scotland bow out of Mexico World Cup after first round. Ferguson leaves Aberdeen to take over at Manchester United.

1990: United beat Crystal Palace 1-0 in FA Cup final replay.

1991: United beat Barcelona 2-1 to win Cup Winners' Cup.

1992: European Super Cup arrives at Old Trafford as United beat Red Star Belgrade, while first League Cup triumph booked with 1-0 defeat of Nottingham Forest.

1993: Old Trafford's 26-year wait for title is ended as United finish 10 points clear of Aston Villa.

1994: United become sixth team to complete championship and FA Cup Double.

1995: United finish runners-up in the league and the FA Cup.

1996: United become the first club ever to complete the championship and FA Cup Double twice, overcoming one-time runaway leaders Newcastle in the Premiership and then beating Liverpool 1-0 at Wembley.

1997: United are beaten in European Cup semi-final by Borussia Dortmund. Pain eased by fourth championship in five seasons.

1998: Most disappointing season in recent years with no trophies won.

1999: Ferguson's greatest year. Leads United to the Treble - Champions' Cup, Premiership and FA Cup. Signs a new deal keeping him at Old Trafford until 2002; becomes a knight; Testimonial match played in his honour at Old Trafford; United win Toyota Cup, defeating Brazilian side Palmeiras 1-0, to become first British club to win the Inter-Continental Cup.

2000: Guides United to a sixth Premiership title.

2001: United take their seventh championship in nine years. Ferguson becomes the first manager to win three successive titles with the same team. Club announce that Ferguson will be retained as a consultant when his current deal as manager runs out.

2002: February 5th - United release a statement confirming they are in talks with Ferguson about staying on as manager.