Sir Alex Ferguson: Never Give In

A revealing and deeply personal documentary about the life of Sir Alex Ferguson, from his working-class roots in Glasgow through to his career as one of the greatest football managers of all time. While recovering from a traumatic brain haemorrhage in 2018, Sir Alex intimately recounts vivid details of his life and career to his son, including his legendary 26-year tenure as manager of Manchester United. Directed by Sir Alex’s son, Jason Ferguson, this is a deeply moving story about the extraordinary power of memory. On 5th May 2018, Sir Alex Ferguson collapsed on the floor of his family home near Manchester, he was suffering from a brain haemorrhage that required emergency surgery. He remembers nothing of that day. Jason was by his side for most of it and, in those first moments after it happened, he had no idea if his dad would survive. In the weeks and months that followed, Jason decided to test his dad’s memory and began to ask him questions about his life. And Alex remembered everything - every trophy, every defeat, and every player. On a personal level, he talked about his relationship with his own father and his upbringing in Govan, a tough neighbourhood in the shadow of Glasgow’s shipyards on the River Clyde. As a young man he was an apprentice toolmaker before he dedicated his life to football and went on to have a successful career as a prolific goal-scorer at several Scottish clubs, including the team he supported as a boy, Rangers. After moving from playing to management, Alex showed his ambition as an uncompromising manager, guiding Aberdeen to numerous trophies domestically as he broke the age-old monopoly of the Glasgow clubs, Celtic and Rangers. On the biggest stage, he delivered the European Cup Winners’ Cup, defeating Bayern Munich and Real Madrid en route. Following his success at Aberdeen he came south to Old Trafford. He arrived at a club sitting 19th in the league table and faced a testing few years as he rebuilt Manchester United from the bottom up, turning the club’s fortunes around and leading United to over two decades of consistent success. Although he developed a reputation for ruthlessness, he was also seen as a father figure by some of his young players. Under Ferguson’s guidance, Manchester United won a glittering array of trophies, including 13 Premier League titles, five FA Cups, and two UEFA Champions League titles. He has won more trophies than any other manager in the history of football. Alex Ferguson recounts all these career highlights while recovering from his brain surgery, with the love and support of his family. The film features candid interviews with Alex himself, his wife Cathy, his three sons, former colleagues and elite players including Eric Cantona, Ryan Giggs and Gordon Strachan, as well as the doctors who treated Alex after his brain haemorrhage. This is a film about the bond between a father and son, an exploration of leadership and mental toughness, and a celebration of one of football’s greatest careers.