Sir Alex Ferguson will probably not look back too fondly on 2012, having seen his Manchester United team eliminated in the group phase of the UEFA Champions League, beaten by Athletic Bilbao in the round of 16 of the UEFA Europa League and surrender their Premier League title to neighbours Manchester City on goal difference. But United are United and Ferguson is Ferguson – two veritable institutions with a shared history stretching back 25 years, as evidenced by Robin van Persie’s decision to join them before the start of the 2012/13 season.
Saturday 7 January 2012
Kongresshaus, Zurich
Alex FERGUSON
The Other Finalists
Pep GUARDIOLABefore taking a one-year sabbatical from the game, the Catalan coach did not enjoy the same success in 2012 as he had done in previous years, although he did manage to add the Copa del Rey to his glittering array of trophies. He won 13 trophies in total, three more than Johan Cruyff.
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Jose MOURINHOThe Portuguese coach’s second season at Real Madrid saw his team crowned Spanish league champions for the first time since 2008. The figures speak for themselves: 100 points won, 121 goals scored and a nine-point margin over Barça.
The Other Finalists
Bruno BINISemi-finalists at the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2011™, Les Bleues continued their excellent run of form at the Olympic Football Tournament by again finishing fourth, a few months after their success at the Cyprus Cup. The credit for this new consistency in reaching the semi-finals of major competitions must go to Bruno Bini, who has been coach of the French women’s national team since February 2007.
Norio SASAKIHaving led his team to success at the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2011™ against USA, Norio Sasaki’s Japan lost the rematch 2-1 in the Olympic final in London. However, four years after finishing fourth in Beijing, Japan have confirmed their emergence as a force to be reckoned with under the leadership of their coach, who has held the post since 2007.
