Sports
Alex Ferguson's 1986 Aberdeen departure recalled on its 40th anniversary
November 6, 2026 at 02:55 PM
Coverage
2 reports · 1 in Arabic, 1 in English · over 15 hours
Forty years after Alex Ferguson left Aberdeen for Manchester United, people involved in the 6 November 1986 announcement recounted how the move unfolded.
- Broadcaster Roddy Forsyth said he found Ferguson and United chairman Martin Edwards at an Aberdeen airport hotel and Ferguson confirmed he was the new manager.
- Ian Donald, Aberdeen's vice-chairman in 1986, said the club was losing "the best management team in Britain" overnight as Ferguson and his assistant departed.
- Willie Miller, the Aberdeen captain, said the players faced uncertainty after Ferguson left and that his methods would not be accepted by modern players.
- Aberdeen supporters interviewed at the Pittodrie Bar on the day said Ferguson was making a wrong move and would regret it.