He is extremely controlling. Wants everything his way. What Beckham should wear, how he should cut his hair, how many days he should spend on his honeymoon, who should he marry and who should he not be with … Is this OK for you? And he would get away after physically assaulting him? For SAF, everything was always about himself.
Arsene Wenger on the other hand is so different. He only controlled what people ate (and that too, through education and not “enforcement”). I never hear any such stories about him. He too was a winner, wasn’t he? But completely different style of management.
Seems Ferguson controlled through fear while Arsene Wenger coached through love.
I think you’re 100% right that he was controlling but equally completely wrong about it always being about himself.
He was controlling because he cared - Beckham and other players were kids in an era where players were earning more and more than their counterparts and often away from home. Ferguson wanted them to not lose control, to have stable families to support them and be professional. He knew what could happen in his own playing career and the fall out from Rangers too.
In the documentary they said about how he contacted him directly after the red card and how he supported him. Would you not say that was love?
Fergie had his vices and he made mistakes with some players but by and large I think the way he handled players and the whole club was very positive and why so many players still think of him so highly.
Exactly. You just have to read any of the stories about what Cantona was allowed to get away with and you realise how ridiculous it is to say that he only cared about being able to control people.