The legendary Red Devils coach: The road to success

Chapter 184 The Boys in the Youth Training Camp

Some people grow old, some people grow up.

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In addition to buying and selling players and bidding farewell to retiring veterans, Ferguson promoted a large number of youth players to the reserve team this summer. He found that there were too many promising talents among them.

Ferguson has always adhered to this team-building philosophy: to build a strong team, it is necessary to introduce foreign players, but also to base it on the players of the youth training team. In the summer of 1991, Ferguson intensively signed formal contracts with the youth team players he personally introduced. Under Ferguson's attention, the number of young players given professional contracts by the Red Devils far exceeded that of normal times. This is certainly not Ferguson's relaxation of standards, but his emphasis on youth training and investment in young people have paid off, and a large number of good seedlings have begun to emerge.

Before the summer of 1991, the most eye-catching new star of the Red Devils was not Giggs, but Lee Sharpe. Sharpe was introduced as a first-team player of the right age at the beginning. He played for the team directly after joining the Red Devils in 1988. He was not yet years old when he played his first official game for the Red Devils. Lee Sharpe grew up at an amazing speed, with delicate skills, bold ideas, fast speed and strong impact. He soon became a sharp winger. At the same time as him, Lee Martin, Robins, Blackmore and other young players gradually became the team's rotation main force.

李-夏普之后，就是吉格斯。吉格斯在1990年11月29日正式得到红魔的工作合同，那正是吉格斯17岁生日。而到了1991年3月2日，还不足18岁的吉格斯就首次在英甲联赛中亮相，在红魔2比0击败埃弗顿的比赛替补埃尔文出场，完成了处子秀。

Giggs's appearance as a substitute was not long. Although fierce confrontations were everywhere on the field and the fouls against Giggs were even more rough and direct, Giggs was very brave and completed a light pass as soon as he came on the field, which aroused cheers from the fans. In the following time, he flew up and down the left road, dribbling the ball flexibly and easily, and was not panicked at all when facing the defenders who made tackles. His performance was very outstanding.

In the Manchester derby on May 1991, 5, Giggs got the chance to start and played the whole game. He seized the opportunity to show his talent and was unstoppable on the left wing. Not only did he successfully dribble past the defense many times, but he also made many good passes and created many chances. Not only that, he also scored the only goal that decided the outcome, helping the Red Devils beat Manchester City 4-1, and he immediately became the darling of the Red Devils fans.

On his 1991th birthday in 17, David Beckham also got his first official professional contract. Others who got contracts that year included David Simmons, Gary Neville, Paul Scholes, Nicky Butt, Chris Casper, Keith Gillespie, John O'Kane, Ben Torley... The Red Devils signed official professional contracts with so many people at once, which was also a huge move by Ferguson.

These players are all the seedlings discovered by Ferguson since he took office. They have been tried out by Ferguson himself and trained by the Red Devils youth training system. These young players are luckier than their predecessors because Ferguson has invested a lot of effort in the youth training system and provided them with resources far beyond the general club echelon. They have received the best training.

The media had already noticed youngsters like Sharp, Martin and Giggs, calling them "Ferguson's fledglings". After the Red Devils youth team won the FA Cup in 92, the media called the winning group of players "Red Devils 92 Generation", and looked forward to their growth and achievements.

The Red Devils' youth training camp is not just a football training school, but more like a big family, a big family that builds the Red Devils style and inherits the Red Devils tradition. Here, young players receive technical, physical and team training, learn the history of the Red Devils, and are inspired to identify with and inherit the Red Devils spirit.

In this process, some youth training players are like awakening the blood of the Red Devils and truly become qualified Red Devils. Gary Neville later said in his autobiography, "I have been a Red Devils fan since I was a child, and I have always wanted to grow up to be a real Red Devils player. When you are a child, something will hold you tightly, giving you passion and ideals. For me, that is the Red Devils. The Red Devils club has made my life. This team, like my family, is a permanent wealth in my life. The most amazing thing is that my brother is there."

The Red Devils are like a big family, which is the most profound impression left by the Ferguson era. Ferguson is known as the "Hairdryer". He often yells at players and is frightening. But he is a different person in the youth training camp. He is patient and gentle. He is always willing to listen to the players' troubles, find solutions for them, give them advice, and guide them to the right path in life.

Ferguson is involved in youth training and has put in a lot of effort. He personally supervises and arranges projects, and decides how to train these kids and how to encourage them to focus on football. Ferguson's office has a French window facing the training base. During his office hours, he always takes time to watch the young people run and play the game with great enthusiasm, which makes him feel happy.

Ferguson created a special folder for each young player, recording his observations, analysis and comments, as well as many subtle feelings. Lee Sharpe, the most daring player at the time, once sneaked a peek at these notes, and was shocked by the words in them. Ferguson's notes said, "I watched Lee Sharpe rushing to open up channels on the wing and showing his brilliance in the front court. I knew a superstar would rise in my hands. I had to find a way to make him run more, drink less, shoot more, and fool around less..."

Ferguson did not directly lead the training of the youth team, but he attached much more importance to youth training than other clubs. He not only specially arranged Harrison as the head coach of the youth team, but also required all Red Devils coaches to actively cooperate. Some project coaches also needed to participate in the training subjects. After appointing Kidd as an assistant coach, he specifically asked him to be the coordinator between himself and the youth team. Ferguson also asked some old players, such as Robson, to take the initiative to guide the young players to play football and teach them some experience and skills.

The Red Devils family not only has a head of the family, but also a bunch of elders to educate and train. This is the luxury of the Red Devils, and it is also one of the secrets of the Red Devils youth training success. Robson is deeply loved by young people, and enjoys a unique honor in the hearts of children. He is a magical captain like a leader. He also likes young people very much and always patiently helps young people grow. Not only Robson, but also Bruce and other big brothers will take the initiative to provide for young players. Bruce also likes to invite young players to dinner at home. Not only that, they have also become a bridge for communication between young players and coaches, understand their needs, and help them express their hidden ideas, especially when young players ask for new contracts, they also take the initiative to help young people understand the terms and safeguard their legitimate interests. .

Gary Neville said: "I still remember that Robson and McClair often appeared at our training ground to teach us how to play football. They would also take us out for a stroll, just like the boss of the community with a group of followers hanging out on the streets of Manchester. We were excited and nervous, feeling that we had the boss's protection and could walk sideways throughout Manchester. Many young players will be nervous when meeting the coach because they are facing a super big man. At this time, the help of the old players is indispensable, and they will also let you know how to communicate with the coach. When I signed my first contract, Robson took the initiative to help and interpret the terms for me; and McClair helped me, Butt and Scholes to get the second contract. I don't know if all clubs are like this, but this is the case here."

Robson and other big guys are not only patient enough to help the little guys solve their problems. One day after Giggs got his first professional contract, Robson and a few other old guys said to Giggs: "Hey, Ryan, congratulations on getting your first contract in your life. We have good news for you, that is, every player who signs for the first time and plays 25 games for the team will get a car as a gift from the boss. You should go to the boss as soon as possible, otherwise the good car may be taken by someone else."

Is there such a good thing? Giggs ran to Ferguson to ask for a car, and Ferguson was stunned.

"I was scolded so hard that I was humiliated! Looking back now, the first thing that comes into my mind is the old man's red face. He was full of anger and stared at me fiercely. Obviously, he was really angry." Giggs recalled, "When I was playing football, Robson never made fun of me. He was always like a big brother, so I trusted him very much."

Giggs recounted his experience of being deceived. He said: "Robusson and others drove cars given by the club sponsors, and I was very envious. At the beginning, I asked him if everyone had this and if I could have it too? As a result, Robson said, 'Yes, I think you should go to the head coach and tell him that you have played 25 games and you don't give me a car?'"

Giggs said: "So I went to the head coach and said: 'BOSS, you see I have played 25 games now, I think I have been quite recognized. How about giving me a club car? Halfway through, I saw his face change, knowing that something bad was going to happen. The boss started to scold me, 'Club car? You won't even get a bicycle! Train hard, play hard, what do you want?! Get out of this office, or I'll throw you out!'"

When Giggs walked out of the office, he found his teammates outside laughing until their stomachs hurt. "When I opened the door, half of my teammates were outside. They had been eavesdropping to see what would happen to me. I became the laughing stock of the locker room that day and for a long time."

After Gary became the captain, he also took on the role that Robson played back then. Gary said, "Boss (Ferguson) still personally inquires about the contracts of all young players, and he still looks forward to the emergence of new talents. Boss has always firmly established the foundation of the team with youth players, and this is a principle that will never change. I have handled many youth team contracts with him, and from Robson to me, I have seen the inheritance from generation to generation, which makes us more like a family."

Gary has been a Manchester United fan since he was a child. He made his debut in the Manchester United youth training camp when he was young. He and his brother Phil are very honored. As for Phil having to leave the Manchester United midway, Gary feels that he, Scholes and Giggs are the happiest. Gary said: "I have always wanted to play for the Manchester United team, and I was lucky enough to do it in the end. I think this is the most beautiful story, and all of this is the best arrangement of the boss (Ferguson)."

Getting a contract with the Red Devils is only the first step for a youth player. They still need to work hard to reach the Red Devils' standards. Even though Giggs is so talented, he couldn't believe that the Red Devils' standards were so high at first. He trained at Manchester City for some time and could complete various projects very easily, but he found that he had to work hard at the Red Devils. Giggs said: "During the first Christmas holiday after I signed with the Red Devils, I went to Cliff for training. After the first training session with the first team, I was exhausted. Everyone I met was incredibly good. They trained hard day after day to reach the Red Devils' standards. I remember there was a teammate named Raphael Burke. His talent was the best in England at the time. At the age of 14, no one could grab his ball. He also successfully entered the Red Devils youth team, but then he gave up his efforts and disappeared early."

Yes, the young players of the Red Devils have Ferguson's special attention, have unique conditions, and have resources far beyond others, but everything requires them to put in more effort on their own to be able to meet Ferguson's requirements.