Chapter 48: The Beginning of Class 92
"The story of Manchester United's Class of '92 is a legendary inspirational drama in the world of football. The person who directed this scene was Manchester United manager Ferguson. ”
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Ferguson was quick to shoot, and the effect of recruiting youth training seedlings was immediate.
Ferguson attached great importance to youth training, and directly blew a strong tornado in English football. In addition to his own recruitment, Ferguson's youth training work started very quickly and effectively, and the work model he identified was rapidly promoted and implemented. One of the most pivotal networks in United's youth system, scouting networks dedicated to community and school football, was rapidly built and expanded by Ferguson. Scouts affiliated with Manchester United, managers of community teams all over the country, institutions engaged in youth football training, coaches of football teams in various schools... They have received news that Manchester United clubs are recruiting players extensively.
Many of the young players were thrilled, and they came to United's training base in Cliff through various routes. Some of the younger players who are no longer in the junior echelon have also been recommended to Ferguson. For the thirsty Ferguson, he welcomes all the players who come to Manchester United for trial training.
Now Manchester United has the confidence to explore and search for all English football teenagers.
At the end of 1986, Ferguson signed Giggs;
In May 1988, Ferguson signed Beckham;
In June 1988, lee-sharp was bought;
The addition of these three players is already the top of the English youth academy.
At the time, United did not have the class of 92 and the generation of 92, and Lee Sharp was eventually kicked out of the class of 92 for leaving the team early. For Manchester United fans, Ryan Giggs' addition in 1986 was the earliest beginning of this saga.
After Giggs joined Manchester United, Gary Neville, who would later become the Red Devils captain.
Gary Neville was born on 18 February 1975 in Burleigh, Greater Manchester, and is a native of Manchester. Gary has been a Manchester United fan since he was a child, and was taken by his family to watch Manchester United matches when he learned to speak. In his words, "I will only love one team in my life, and that is Manchester United!" ”
Gary came from a sports family, loved sports since childhood, and began playing football very early. He became a Manchester United caddy at the age of 6 and made his appearance in Manchester United matches.
Gary's younger brother, Phil Neville, was born on January 21, 1977, and both brothers are athletically savvy and highly athletically gifted. Relatively speaking, Phil's body grew up very fast, he always played football with children older than him in school, he showed talent at an early age, and it was easy to learn anything. Phil has flexible feet and is able to hit the ball with his left hand and throw the ball with his right hand when playing cricket. For football, Gary thinks he has a chance to be a player, but he thinks it's a foregone conclusion for Phil. Gary said: "I'm still competing fiercely for entry into the County; he's already playing for england's junior teams at all levels, wearing a glossy sports jacket and heading south to Wembley, being a real human apex. ”
Gary said: "There are teams that want me, but they are begging for Phil to join. That's the difference in talent. ”
Compared to the ordinary feeling of self in football, Gary is very good in cricket, an aggressive batsman who can hit the ball hard. At the age of 13, Gary entered the Greenmont first team of the Bolton Regional League, competing with adults. Gary's record is enough to be selected for the Lankan County Under-14 team and the England North Junior Team, and he was selected as the number three batsman. Gary has reached the level of a professional in cricket, but Phil is even better. He was named to the Lancashire Under-13, 14 and 15 teams and was able to easily stand out from a team with Andrew Flientov. At the age of 15, Phil joined the Lancashire Second Team and was already playing in the senior team. If he hadn't chosen football, Phil would have played for the England national cricket team at all levels.
Choose soccer, or cricket? That's a problem.
It wasn't a problem for Gary, who, like thousands of kids, dreamed of becoming a footballer, the next Brian Robson.
For Phil, too, it's the same.
After Ferguson took charge of Manchester United in 1986, United quickly rolled out a football training programme for the local community. United lowered the age requirement to 11 and Gary was lucky enough to be picked.
As recently as 1986, Gary joined Ferguson's Manchester United. The moment he received the manchester United acceptance letter, Gary Jr. was so excited that it was like getting a golden ticket to the chocolate factory. Gary, who has always believed that he is not talented enough in football, has very consciously practiced his skills, trained his body hard, and tried to seize all the time to practice and strive to stay in The Manchester United system.
Gary's diligence is well known in The Manchester United training camp, and the fear of failure has always spurred him on, and the desire for progress has always inspired him. This silent and short guy will constantly find various projects to practice, and if he feels that his left foot skills need to be improved, he will practice alone against the wall for an hour. One day after completing his strength exercises, he stayed on the training ground at The Cliff (United's Cliff base at the time) and practiced passing against a large brick wall. Left foot, right foot, left foot, left, right, left, right, kicked hundreds of times. The other Manchester United apprentices watched Gary practice hard and began giving him the nickname "Activist".
Even if he felt a little ridiculed, Gary didn't think so and tried to persevere. Under Harrison's positive guidance, almost all Manchester United apprentices have joined Gary.
Gary, who practiced in groups every day, were desperate to improve and eager to play for Manchester United.
Two years later, Gary's younger brother Phil Neville also joined the United Junior Team. Like Phil, Nicky Bart and Paul Scholes have joined United.
That is to say, the teenagers of Manchester United's Class of '92 joined the team between 1986 and 1988. In addition to these famous stars, there are also Savage, Ben Thornley, Gillespi, John O'Kahn, Casper... The teenagers' first contracts with Manchester United were signed by Ferguson himself. From the moment he signed Giggs, Ferguson chose to sign players on their birthdays as much as possible, which they will never forget.
On Beckham's birthday, Ferguson sent him a 6-year contract in addition to cake; on Gillespie's birthday, Ferguson invited the whole family to watch the game and send them a contract; on Fletcher's 16th birthday, Ferguson signed a contract with him after celebrating... There are many, many more such stories.
Scholes joined Manchester United and was also Ferguson's proud work.
Born on 16 November 1974 in Salford, Scholes was frail, suffered from asthma at birth, and had mild albinism. Scholes' parents were worried about whether he could survive, but the tenacious Paul did not bow to the disease, he not only defeated the disease, grew up healthy, but also showed extraordinary talent in football. The players of bondri park youth team still remember this skinny boy magically, this small striker who seems to fall down as soon as the wind blows, passing like a ghost, shooting like a vegetable.
Soon, Scholes's superb football talent spread widely in Salford football circles, and everyone said that this kid was simply a football freak!
Ferguson later recalled, "Someone bragged to me that there was a kid who scored more than 70 goals a season, and my first reaction was that it was impossible, and the second reaction was still disbelief. ”
Ferguson sent scouts to find out what magic this skinny, "pale" skin, little yellow haired child had. As a result, the scouts were shocked after only watching Scholes play, and under the chain reaction, Manchester United youth coach Harrison was equally shocked. Recalling the situation, he said: "We had that feeling of being alive, Scholes showed a football talent that was completely out of proportion to his age, excellent technique at his feet, very precise dribbling of the ball, and a straightforward style of play. His mind will always be able to find the most efficient, easiest and fastest goal route, and achieve it through the simplest movements. It's not the style of the English, it's a freak. But I'm sure he can succeed — if he can be a little bit healthier and stronger, or if he can be sure of not getting hurt by injuries. ”
Harrison said in an incredulous tone, "I don't know where his soccer intelligence came from, I reckon he has an alien head." ”
Eager for talent, Ferguson was overjoyed and immediately decided to sign a contract with Scholes.
Ferguson later said, "One Giggs was enough to surprise me, and the arrival of Bart and Scholes made me laugh out loud when I slept." ”
Ferguson was the only concern for Scholes' body. He was so skinny that he didn't know if he could get stronger when he grew up and develop enough to compete in the game.
Not only the 92 generation, Ferguson is also like a treasure to other football seedlings.
He had personally driven to Edinburgh to convince Fletcher's parents; he had given 14-year-old Joe Cole a Manchester United shirt with his name and number 10, with a note attached to it that read: "When you play for Manchester United, this will be what you look like." He once invited Terry to give Terry a red Manchester United shirt to the then 12-year-old Terry. That shirt has been kept by Terry and will not be discarded after becoming Chelsea captain.
Ferguson was keen for Terry to be a part of Manchester United, although in the end he did not have a chance with the Blues captain. Even if Ferguson can't get the player he wants most every time, at least he always tries his best.
Even players such as Alain Smith and Bower, who later joined other teams, Ferguson tried to recruit when they were teenagers and invited them to Manchester United for trial training. They have also received special blessings and gifts from Ferguson on their birthdays.
Ferguson values youth training and insists that the team should be based on a youth team, rather than simply buying players, which is the core root of his continued success.
Ferguson attaches great importance to every detail, with the care of a hair, and knows every player very well, even the junior team children who have just got off the bus and have homework in their backpacks on their shoulders. Throughout the Uk, no head coach of a giant team has invested so much energy in youth training like Ferguson, and no famous coach can really be good to the children from the heart like Ferguson, really consider from the perspective of cultivating their growth, and carefully and properly do everything.
Years later, Maguire revealed a story when he joined Manchester United. In the 2011 FA Youth Cup final, Maguire, who was playing for Sheffield United at the age of 17, met Manchester United in the final, where they lost 4-1 to Manchester United. Maguire was a key player for Sheffield United in that game, but he was injured in the match and was diagnosed with a concussion after the game and had to be hospitalized. After the game, Ferguson arranged for United staff to give him a first-team autographed shirt and personally called him to express his condolences. In the days that followed, Ferguson called to encourage the young defender to cheer up. Ferguson admired Maguire's calmness and confidence, praising him for his consistent and outstanding performances in the game. He gave Maguire a lot of important advice on the phone, telling him that he would succeed.
Maguire was very happy, he said: "I couldn't imagine that it was Ferguson on the other end of the phone, he cared so much about me, I felt warm and happy." For me, that's something I'll never forget. Manchester United are really great, Ferguson is really good. ”