Hail to the Hairdryer

Alex "Football? Bloody hell" Ferguson. Photograph: Phil Cole/Getty

Given the omnipotence of Manchester United's global brand these days, it is hard to conceive the mess that Alex Ferguson inherited when he gave up an easy life at Aberdeen to venture south in November 1986. On his first day, half the first-team squad were nursing king-sized hangovers after an overzealous farewell to the previous manager Ron Atkinson; the bus driver used to sit in the dugout for matches; Graeme Hogg played centre-half; in his first game, Ferguson’s side were humbled by Oxford.