The legendary Red Devils coach: The road to success

Chapter 142 Rivals, Enemies, and Friends

"When you die and are buried, you only need four friends to carry the coffin."

—Ferguson

Dalglish resigned, and the media went to interview Ferguson, but was turned away. Ferguson rolled his eyes, refused to cooperate, and refused to answer all questions.

Your arch-rival left proudly after winning the championship, without even giving you a chance for revenge. Do you want Ferguson to say something nice about it?

For Ferguson, the grudge between the Red Devils and Manchester United lies not only between the teams and their fans, but also between the head coaches.

Before joining Liverpool in 1976, Dalglish played for Celtic and was a Catholic. When Ferguson was young, he was a center forward for Rangers and was a Protestant. The team background and religious conflicts made the two rivals and enemies from the beginning, and they could never be friends. Before Ferguson became the boss of Old Trafford in 1986, he served as an assistant to the famous coach Stan in the Scottish national team. At that time, Dalglish was also a superstar in the Scottish national team, but the two never spoke to each other.

When Ferguson coached Manchester United in 1986, Dalglish was already a player and manager of Liverpool, and both were very successful. From then until Ferguson retired from Manchester United in May 2013, Liverpool experienced a humiliating journey. Not only did the club fail to prevent the rise and revival of Ferguson's team, but it also failed to win the league championship after changing 5 managers. During this process, Dalglish once again served as Liverpool's manager. In these 10 years, Ferguson and Dalglish performed an extraordinary story from enemies to opponents, from enemies to friends. Dalglish's career perfectly filled the background board for Ferguson to build the Red Devils dynasty.

The King of Anfield vs. the Godfather of Old Trafford, Catholic vs. Protestant, Ferguson and Dalglish have a grudge that lasts for more than 30 years. The competition between the two of them is so fierce and the contradiction is so sharp that it runs through the player era and the coach era, becoming a classic fragment in the magnificent history of English or Scottish football.

Ferguson is nine years older than Dalglish, and both were once Scottish stars, but Dalglish's achievements in his playing career are beyond Ferguson's reach. Dalglish was once considered the greatest Scottish star of all time, while Ferguson was only a minor player at Rangers at his peak.

The two Scots had known each other since the 1960s, when they were both players and had no personal grudges. Dalglish's later recollections were somewhat tender, "I lived opposite Iborocks at the time and had a good relationship with Miller, a young Glasgow player. I knew Ferguson at the time, and he was a very famous striker with a high transfer fee (Rangers spent the high price of £6.5 at the time to bring him from Dunfermline, and his weekly salary doubled to £80). I remember Ferguson had a big car and often gave Miller and me a ride into the city."

The earliest encounter between the two? Dalglish still remembers that it was the "Old Brand Derby" in 1969. At that time, Ferguson was 27 years old and still a first-line starter, while Dalglish was an 18-year-old young man who was assigned to play as a defender to mark Ferguson. Dalglish said: "I was bullied in that position and was "educated" in various ways. I was violated by that guy with all kinds of rough moves, and sometimes he even blamed me. What I need is to learn lessons and keep improving. My deepest memory is Ferguson's elbow, which often swung in front of my eyes, but my performance was very stable and he didn't cause any trouble. I remember that we won 2-0 that game, but I also read Ferguson's memories, saying that he scored a goal. I can't remember it clearly, but there is no doubt that we beat them."

Ferguson recalled this encounter: "Kenny used the kind of close defense of man-to-man marking, sticking to you like a slug, making people extremely uncomfortable. I warned him, 'You will need a doctor', and of course I would not be polite to him. He listened silently, looked at me, and then moved away from me, but made a silent flying tackle. My action was also very tough, and he must have tasted the taste. Kenny is a great player. People always forget that the most important quality of a great player is courage. He is as brave as a lion. He dares to be kicked by anyone and dares to fight back."

As two famous Scottish footballers, despite the nine-year age difference, they also have a strange contrast. Although the two played for their old friends' two families and should be sworn enemies, their relationship was not that bad. Dalglish still had a certain respect for the elder Ferguson. Dalglish's father-in-law Huggins even taught Ferguson how to fry fish. Ferguson often went to Huggins' "Beechwood" bar with his wife Cathy to learn cooking skills and have a drink.

Dalglish joined Liverpool in 1976, first as a player, then as a player-coach, and later as head coach. Dalglish achieved brilliant success while playing for Liverpool, winning a total of 6 league titles, 1 FA Cup, 4 League Cups and 3 Champions League titles with Liverpool. He is a meritorious figure in the Liverpool Red Dynasty, and fans love to call him the "King of Liverpool".

At this time, Ferguson had experienced an extremely difficult career and reluctantly retired to become a football coach. Ferguson served as Stan's assistant in the Scottish national team, and his relationship with Dalglish, who had become the top star at the time, became very weak. The first real rift between them appeared during the national team period. In the 1986 World Cup finals, Ferguson temporarily took over as head coach and abandoned Dalglish's friend Alan Hansen. Dalglish then withdrew from the national team on the grounds of injury and surgery. Ferguson was very dissatisfied with this, and the grudge between the two was sown.

In the 1985-86 season, Dalglish took over as Liverpool coach, serving as both a player and a coach. However, his first coaching career saw him win the 1985-86 League Championship and the FA Cup, undoubtedly earning him the title of Coach of the Year.

Dalglish's second season as Liverpool manager coincided with Ferguson taking over Manchester United. Ferguson, who was known as the best young manager in the Scottish league, came to England with a passion for challenge and naturally wanted to challenge the league's hegemony.

The conflict between the two Scots broke out fiercely because of the Manchester derby. Ferguson defeated Liverpool twice at home and away, destroying Dalglish's dream of defending the title.

Dalglish was eager to fight back, but Liverpool still failed to defeat the Red Devils at Anfield on April 1988, 4, and the two sides only tied 4-3. Manchester United also had one player sent off during the game, but they survived the game with a small number of opponents. Ferguson was extremely angry after the game and directly said sarcastically, "Every team that comes to Anfield must be careful not to choke on vomit..."

Dalglish failed to defeat Ferguson in the Manchester derby, but Liverpool still had the last laugh that season, winning the league championship trophy again, with Manchester United far behind.

Throughout the 80s, Dalglish easily gained the upper hand. He even poached players from Manchester United, snatching Barnes and Beardsley, who were in Manchester United's sights. Ferguson always challenged his opponents in the Manchester derby, and his record was also very dazzling, but the team could never make a breakthrough and never overwhelmed Dalglish in the league.

In the 1989-90 season, Dalglish's Liverpool suffered the tragic "Hillsborough Disaster", which severely damaged Dalglish's soul and mind. At the end of the season, the league championship was snatched away. Ferguson was facing the biggest crisis of his career. He was almost fired because of the poor record and sluggish performance of the team. In the end, he managed to keep his position after going through various thrilling times.

Then came the 1990-91 season. Dalglish resigned as head coach after winning the championship, while Ferguson won the European Cup Winners' Cup and his coaching career in England began to show signs of hope.

At this time in the summer of 1991, Dalglish had coached Liverpool for seven seasons and won three league titles and two FA Cups, establishing his status as a famous coach. In contrast, Ferguson was still struggling and the league title was still out of reach.

After entering the Premier League era, Ferguson began to lead the Red Devils to rise, and his good time finally came. However, Dalglish lay dormant for many years, and Liverpool also lost its luster.

In the 1994-95 season, Dalglish suddenly rose in another Premier League team, breaking Manchester United's monopoly on the Premier League. He led Blackburn to win the Premier League title, defeating Ferguson again.

Dalglish was so powerful and arrogant that Ferguson was at a loss after being hit. No matter whether it was Manchester United vs. Liverpool or where Dalglish was, he was now Ferguson's enemy!

Ferguson withstood the impact of Dalglish and led Manchester United to rebuild quickly. Ferguson fought back from the brink of death in the next season and led the new team to win the league and FA Cup titles, which was really a relief. After defeating Manchester United to win the Premier League title, Dalglish did not stay in Blackburn for a long time. But he was not successful when he coached Newcastle United afterwards, and his reputation, which was highly praised in his coaching career, was greatly damaged. Later, he coached the Scottish giants Celtic, but the strength and quality had greatly dropped a level. When Dalglish was at Celtic, he also defeated Aberdeen and won the League Cup, which was a distant response to Ferguson's success that year.

In the more than ten years since Dalglish left Liverpool, Ferguson has led Manchester United to an absolute conquest of the Premier League. The brilliant achievements he has achieved, the legendary records he has created, and the dynasty he has established have shocked all the media and earned the respect of the entire world of football.

After 1999, Ferguson's Manchester United had become unstoppable. After the legendary achievement of the treble, Ferguson led the team to sweep the Premier League and Europe, reaching the Champions League final four times, winning the Champions League twice, and achieving two consecutive league titles, becoming the most successful club in England, and he himself became the undisputed best coach in the Premier League.

Dalglish certainly couldn't have cared less about it, but in fact he was powerless. During his unemployment, he was invited to become a TV commentator. At this time, he was jealous of Manchester United and Ferguson and even encouraged the media to attack Ferguson.

Ferguson was so angry that he famously said in an interview: "When you die, you only need four friends to carry your coffin."

Everyone in Scotland knew what this meant. Ferguson's voice was silencing, and he and Dalglish broke up.

Ferguson and Dalglish are both strong-willed, sharp-tongued, and extremely eager to win. Being in two rival clubs, they became natural derby rivals. They are almost two sides of the same mirror, equally tough and stubborn, and equally possessing the persistence and courage of the Scottish. But they are so hostile and hateful that when Ferguson said his "greatest wish", Dalglish said, "It is sad to look up to others' glory. It is really impossible for a summer insect to talk about ice!"

时间到了2011年1月8日，达格利什重回利物浦接过霍奇森的教鞭。达格利什临时接手还是展现了能力，帮助利物浦迅速摆脱了困境，排名从霍奇森下课时的第12名上升到第6名。达格利什指挥利物浦取得了一系列胜利，客场1：0胜切尔西、主场3：1胜曼联、主场3：0胜曼城等，重新展现了强队本色。

When many Liverpool fans fantasized about Dalglish replicating "Ferguson's story at Manchester United", the reality was cruel and ruthless. Although Dalglish was ambitious and recruited new players in the summer of 2011 to continuously strengthen the team, his ability had been abandoned by the times. Before the start of the 2011-12 season, Liverpool had completely fallen behind in the league and could only watch Manchester United and Manchester City compete for the championship.

In the end, Dalglish only won the League Cup, which was not empty-handed at least, but he was completely unable to pose any threat to Ferguson's team.

Dalglish wanted to keep working hard, but Liverpool's boss no longer wanted to give him time. In the summer of 2012, Liverpool sacked Dalglish.

In any case, Dalglish will never be able to catch up with Ferguson's achievements. On Ferguson's side, the results and honors have surpassed his opponents, and he can also let go of the accumulated hatred and difficult knots.

In the summer of 2013, Ferguson retired as Manchester United manager - the era of the two Scots confronting each other was completely over.

At this time, Dalglish finally sang praises for his old rival Ferguson. He said, "Ferguson did a great job at Manchester United. He is the best coach in the Premier League era. I think he has surpassed Sir Matt Busby. When you recall where Manchester United was when he came, you will know what a great job he has done."

In 2017, Liverpool named the Centennial Stand the "Dalglish Stand" in recognition of Dalglish's contributions. Many celebrities were invited to the naming ceremony, including Manchester United's Ferguson and Sir Bobby Charlton, who attended and expressed their praise for Dalglish.

"The arrival of Sir Alex Ferguson and Sir Bobby Charlton is worth a thousand words," Dalglish said.