When Sir Alex Ferguson announced his retirement, one would have probably expected him to take up some administrative work in the football industry, embark on a long vacation or spend quality time with his family and friends.
But the former Manchester United manager had other plans. Ferguson, a Scot who was brought up in Glasgow, has accepted a long-term teaching position in Executive Education at Harvard Business School. He will present lectures to senior executives from around the world as part of the new "The Business of Entertainment, Media and Sports" program, effective May 7-10, 2014.
"I'm delighted to have the opportunity and privilege to contribute to such a respected center of excellence," Ferguson said in a statement. "The time I have already spent at Harvard has been a stimulating experience and I look forward to developing my relationship and activities with the students, faculty and friends of the Harvard Business School community."
The 72-year-old British soccer manager, well known for his volcanic temper, retired last summer after leading Manchester United for 26 years. Deemed the most successful manager in the history of British football, Ferguson won 49 trophies in 39 years and was knighted in 1999. He led the Manchester United to win 13 league championships and two UEFA Champions League titles.
"We look forward to welcoming Sir Alex Ferguson on the HBS campus to share his remarkable leadership journey, and contribute to our Executive Education participants' ability to make a profound difference in the world," said HBS professor Anita Elberse.
Ferguson's appointment at the Ivy League School comes less than seven months after his enormously successful methods of maintaining authority were included in the October 2013 edition of Harvard Business Review.
"You can't ever lose control," Ferguson said in the article. "And if any players want to take me on, to challenge my authority and control, I deal with them," Bloomberg reports.
The former manager of the English football (soccer) club was part of a series of interviews with Elberse in 2012, highlighting key elements required on the football field including "Match the method to the moment" and "Rely on the power of observation," the Guardian reports.
Manchester United face Hull City in their last game of the Barclays Premier League season at Old Trafford May.6. The club is convinced Ferguson will be able to juggle both the roles perfectly - duties as a teacher at HBS and as club director and ambassador.
At the club, Ferguson was known for shaping the careers of David Beckham and Cristiano Ronaldo. His team is famously known to win games in the last minute, known as "Fergie Time."
Besides having a successful stint with the Manchester United, Ferguson is also remembered for his halftime outbursts dubbed "the hairdryer." He once threw a soccer shoe at Beckham's head that left a cut on the player's face.
