Manchester United icon Sir Alex Ferguson has been appointed as a lifetime member of Eintracht Frankfurt, a prominent Bundesliga club. Ferguson’s affiliation with Frankfurt traces back to 1979 when, as manager of Aberdeen, he encountered them in a UEFA Cup tie, ultimately succumbing to a 2-1 aggregate defeat.
The recent encounter between Frankfurt and Aberdeen in the group stage of the Europa Conference League prompted a visit from representatives of the German club to Ferguson prior to their clash at Pittodrie, where Aberdeen emerged victorious with a 2-0 scoreline in December.
This significant development sees the esteemed former manager being honored as a lifelong member of Frankfurt, a status announced by the club. Reflecting on his past encounters with Frankfurt, Ferguson shared insights in an interview featured on Frankfurt’s official website, reminiscing about his managerial tenure at Aberdeen.
“Frankfurt exhibited superior prowess, although we salvaged the first leg with an equalizer,” Ferguson remarked. “Our visit to Frankfurt ended in a 1-0 defeat, with Bernd Holzenbein securing the decisive goal that led to our elimination from the competition.”
Furthermore, Ferguson imparted a valuable lesson learned from his experiences abroad, particularly emphasizing the importance of discipline among players post-match. As a proud Scotsman and former manager of the Scotland national team, Ferguson eagerly anticipates the forthcoming Euro 2024, where Scotland is scheduled to face host nation Germany in the opening fixture.
Addressing Scotland’s prospects against Germany, Ferguson expressed skepticism, jesting, “No chance!” He elaborated on Scotland’s strengths, highlighting the quality of midfielders and full-backs while acknowledging historical challenges in the striker position.
Reflecting on the fervent support of Scottish fans, Ferguson recounted a memorable anecdote from the 1990 World Cup, underscoring the unique cultural elements and passionate support synonymous with Scottish football. Despite his reluctance to don traditional Scottish attire during the European Championships, Ferguson eagerly anticipates the tournament and the spirited atmosphere it promises.