Sir Alex Ferguson Quotes on Winning, born December 31, 1941, in Glasgow, Scotland, is a former football manager and one of the most triumphant figures in sports history. As Manchester United’s manager from 1986 to 2013, he clinched 38 trophies, including 13 Premier League titles, two Champions League titles, and five FA Cups, while his earlier success at Aberdeen included three Scottish titles and a European Cup Winners’ Cup. Knighted in 1999, Ferguson’s obsession with winning, coupled with his strategic brilliance, redefined football excellence. These 15 quotes on winning—sourced from his books, interviews, press conferences, and posts on X—reveal his relentless drive, focus on preparation, and mastery of the competitive mindset, inspiring anyone aiming to conquer their field.
15 Sir Alex Ferguson Quotes on Winning
- “I’ve never played for a draw in my life.” (Interview, BrainyQuote, n.d.)
- “My greatest challenge is not what’s happening at the moment, my greatest challenge was knocking Liverpool right off their f***ing perch. And you can print that.” (Interview, The Guardian, 2011)
- “At the end of this game, the European Cup will be only six feet away from you, and you’ll not even able to touch it if we lose. And for many of you, that will be the closest you will ever get. Don’t you dare come back in here without giving your all.” (1999 Champions League final half-time team talk, Shortlist, 2018)
- “If you give in once, you’ll give in twice.” (Leading: Learning from Life and My Years at Manchester United, 2015)
- “You don’t get the best out of people by hitting them with an iron rod. You do so by gaining their respect, getting them accustomed to triumphs.” (Leading: Learning from Life and My Years at Manchester United, 2015)
- “I always felt that our triumphs were an expression of the consistent application of discipline and teamwork.” (Leading: Lessons in leadership from the legendary Manchester United manager, 2015)
- “I’m a strong believer in preparation—control what you can control, and the rest will follow.” (Leading: Lessons in leadership from the legendary Manchester United manager, 2015)
- “The key is to never let the flame of ambition die out. Keep it burning, and it will carry you further than talent alone.” (Leading: Lessons in leadership from the legendary Manchester United manager, 2015)
- “You can’t win all the time, but you can show character and fight. That’s what I demand from my players.” (Interview, AwakenTheGreatnessWithin, n.d.)
- “Once you bid farewell to discipline you say goodbye to success.” (Leading: Lessons in leadership from the legendary Manchester United manager, 2015)
- “I never worried about who we were playing, only about how we would play.” (Interview, The Guardian, 2011)
- “The work of a team should always embrace a great player but the great player must always work.” (Leading: Lessons in leadership from the legendary Manchester United manager, 2015)
- “Winning is a habit, and you have to keep feeding it with hard work and focus.” (Leading: Learning from Life and My Years at Manchester United, 2015)
- “I tell the players that the bus is moving. This club has to progress. And the bus wouldn’t wait for them. I tell them to get on board.” (Leading: Learning from Life and My Years at Manchester United, 2015)
- “There is no room for criticism on the training field. For a player—and for any human being—there is nothing better than hearing ‘well done’. Those are the two best words ever invented in sports.” (Interview, Reddit r/reddevils, 2019)
Sir Alex Ferguson’s quotes on winning are a fiery testament to discipline, ambition, and the relentless pursuit of victory, urging athletes, leaders, and dreamers to fight fiercely and prepare meticulously to claim their triumphs. Which quote ignites your hunger to win? Share it below and keep Ferguson’s championship legacy blazing!
Emma Thompson
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