31 December 1941

Sir Alex Ferguson

Alexander Chapman Ferguson was born in Govan, Glasgow on this day in 1941. After serving an apprenticeship in the shipyards he became a professional footballer, before going on to be the most successful British manager of all time. Although regarded as an ‘old school’ football man with the traditional working-class values of his generation, he is also a connoisseur of food and fine wines. And in an age of prima donna players with Alice bands and snoods, Sir Alex is not averse to a little pampering himself, as he showed in this 2008 interview from the Sunday Times Style magazine…

Ferguson: traditionalist with a taste for the finer things in life

THE LAST THING I BOUGHT

Sir Alex Ferguson

SOS Survival Cream, Elemis Time For Men

When I worked in the shipyards, we used to put sardine oil on our faces – not dubbin, or horse oil or any of that nonsense. I don’t know where that ridiculous idea came from; the newspapers have got lot to answer for.

Nowadays I use only Italian olive oil – any decent virgin press will do. Cathy normally makes me up a lovely little pack for away trips. Apart from that, it’s the usual things: exfoliating and moisturising. I like the Elemis range, and it has a nice fresh lavender smell.

It’s funny really, everyone goes on about the so-called differences between my generation and the Beckhams and Ronaldos, but we’re not really so very different. And at the end of the day, it’s all about football.

Picture: PA

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