The Sir Alex Ferguson Challenge

It's back! This was one of the most popular challenges last year with the retirement of Sir Alex Ferguson from football after 27 years at the helm at Old Trafford. Many supporters have never known another United manager and most agree that there will never be another quite like Fergie as the Red Devils begin the search for the person charged with the unenviable task of succeeding the most successful manager in British football history.

That's where you come in....

Your challenge is to equal Sir Alex's trophy haul, there are several ways you can do this;

The Easy Way: - Start with the now manager-less Manchester United and continue the Red Devils's dominance of English football for another quarter of a century.

The Moderate Way: - Begin with a mid table English club who haven't won a league title in over 25 years and turn them into world beaters, developing several generations of new superstars along the way.

The Fergie Way: - Beginning in Scottish Division one, take charge of any side for a season (SAF started at East Stirlingshire) You do not need to win a trophy here, eventually move on to a bigger first division club (SAF: St. Mirren) and guide them to promotion. Eventually take over at an SPL side that is not a part of the Old Firm (SAF: Aberdeen), emulating the great man here will be the toughest part of the challenge, particularly in Europe (You'll be going for the Europa League instead of the now defunct Cup winners cup) Finally, after checking of Scotland you can move South of the border, taking on a fallen giant side from the Premiership (SAF: Manchester United) and guiding them to the staggering haul of silverware that Mr. Ferguson has amassed in the last 27 years.


-Start with professional footballer set as your experience level.
-You may manage the Scottish national side during the course of your career as Sir Alex did briefly.
-Remember, Fergie's rule #1, No player is bigger than the club! if some prima donna starts acting up, give him the boot.
-If you manage to win the treble, you earn the right to nickname yourself 'Sir'

Scoring system

10 Points - Scottish First Division
15 Points - Scottish League Cup
15 Points - Englih Community Shield
20 Points - Scottish FA Cup
30 Points - Scottish Premier League
30 Points - English League Cup
40 Points - European Super Cup
45 Points - FIFA World Club Cup
70 Points - Europa League
70 Points - English FA Cup
100 Points - English Premiership
150 Points - UEFA European Championship (ONLY if won with Scotland)
150 Points - UEFA Champions League
150 Points - FIFA World Cup (ONLY if won with Scotland)

5 points - per Manger of the Month award
25 points - Have a Player win domestic player of the season award
25 points - Have a player finish highest scorer in your league
40 points - Have a player who you have brought through your academy win domestic player of the season award
40 points - Have a player who you have brought through your academy finish highest scorer in your league.
75 points - Manager of the year award.
80 points - Have a player win World player of the year award
100 points - Have a player who you have brought through your academy win World player of the season award

Bonus points

5 points - For every game won after the fourth minute of stoppage time (Fergie Time)
5 points - Beat a side managed by Gordon Strachan
5 points - Beat a side managed by Kenny Dalgleish
5 points - Beat a side managed by Arsne Wenger
5 points - Beat a side managed by Jose Mourinho
5 points - Pick up a touch line ban for criticising the referee but still win your game in the stands.
15 points - Stay in the game so long you have a son (ala Darren Ferguson)
100 points - Win the Champions League in stoppage time
100 points - Enter the Managerial hall of fame in both Scotland & England
150 points - Enter Worldwide hall of fame.
150 points - If playing as a side other than Man United, surpass United's record 20 league titles.

Good luck to all who are up for such a monster of a challenge, I highly doubt anyone will complete it but the honour of having the highest points haul by the time of FM15's release is still to be had. Good luck and remember the referee is always wrong! (unless the decisions in your favour )

Good to see this challenge back Rick!

Any chance I can use my current Berwick Rangers save for this challenge? Already won division two and now competing for Division One! So I've just started further behind and with sunday league rep

Yes mate.

Will probably give this a go at some stage Rick!!

yeah sounds like a challenge when I get it on Christmas Day

instead of having to win the europa league could the club world championships count

Europa or CL only I'm afraid. In real life it was the Cup winners cup he won with Aberdeen. obviously that competition is now defunct and the Europa is the closest thing to it.

i have a problem i just finished my first season with airdrie who are are a part time club but i won promotion do i have to leave to keep the challenge going or can i turn this team into my st mirren?

this is my first club and is the equivalent of fergusons east sterling

You don't have to leave if you can collect the silverware with Airdrie.

ok cool thats good

anyone got any feed back that has done or started this challenge?

It is extremely difficult, possibly the hardest of all the mainstay challenges on these boards, mainly due to the sheer time you must dedicate to it. Very rewarding once you actually start winning trophy's but it can be disheartening looking at the task before then. Basically if you struggle to get long term saves going I would steer clear. If you are a really serious FM addict who can stick with it then you'll find it immensely rewarding I think.

I recommend Cowdenbeath or Dumbarton as starter clubs, they are both amongst the lowlier clubs in the Scottish Championship, however they both have decent squads with a couple of good young players who you can develop.

I'd argue that Livingston / Hamilton are equally places to go to also. Dundee is too easy and you will blitz the league with them.

My save has just come to an end, one that has been the same since pre release version of fm14, and of which it was in scotland although not anyone else but the ol'mighty gers. I dont think ill be starting a long term save in scotland this time round but i am keen on hearing of anyone thats tried this challenge.