LONDON , England ( CNN ) -- Having won 24 trophies in 23 seasons , Alex Ferguson has established himself as the most successful manager in British football history . Sir Alex Ferguson : English football 's most successful manager with 24 titles . But the 67-year-old Manchester United manager , who has brought 10 league titles to the Red Devils in his time there , established his name in football long before he moved to the Old Trafford club in 1986 . Born Alexander Chapman Ferguson in Glasgow on New Year 's Eve 1941 , Ferguson started his playing career as an amateur at Scottish side Queen 's Park when he was just 16 , while working as an apprentice tool-worker at the local shipyards . His first move as a player was to St Johnstone , where he secured his big break . Ferguson scored a hat-trick in an unlikely win against top side Rangers and in the summer of 1964 Dunfermline Athletic offered him his first professional contract . Ferguson went on to score 66 goals for Dunfermline before a move to Rangers . In 1969 he was blamed for a goal through which Rangers lost the Scottish Cup Final . He eventually left and ended his playing career with stints at Falkirk and Ayr United . At just 32 , Ferguson secured his first coaching contract with East Stirlingshire . He managed to bring an improvement in the team 's results and soon moved to St. Mirren -- where he would enjoy his first major success . Ferguson brought the struggling second division team into the top flight , where they claimed the first division title in 1977 . Aberdeen was the next challenge for Ferguson -- and it was here that he established himself as a world-class manager . See top moments from Ferguson 's management career » . In 1980 he claimed the Scottish league crown with Aberdeen -- the first time in 15 years it had not been won by Rangers or Celtic . Success continued , and in the 1982-83 season he remarkably took Aberdeen to European Cup Winners ' Cup glory , beating Spanish giants Real Madrid 2-1 in the final . Ferguson joined Manchester United in 1986 where , in his 23 years at the club , he has won the Premier League 10 times , the FA Cup five times , the European Champions League twice and the FIFA Club World Cup once . Despite some low points -- particularly in late 1989 , when many believed he might be sacked after a terrible start to the season -- Ferguson has managed a team which has enjoyed consistent success through a period of rapid change in football . He has also nurtured players like David Beckham and Cristiano Ronaldo , bringing them to the top of their game . His success has not gone unnoticed off the field either . He has won the World Soccer Magazine World Manager of the Year accolade on four occasions and was knighted by Queen Elizabeth in 1999 , following his induction as both an Officer and Commander of the Order of the British Empire . On a personal note , he has been married to wife Cathy since 1966 and they have three sons . Darren is the current manager of English third-tier club Peterborough . At 67 , it is not certain how much longer Alex Ferguson has left in the game and has hinted in recent years that he might step down . But , as he steers his team towards potentially another Premier League title this season , there is no doubting how he will be remembered : one of the greatest football managers ever .
Alex Ferguson is the most successful manager in English football . Born in 1941 , Ferguson has played and managed football at top levels . Players he has nurtured include David Beckham and Cristiano Ronaldo . He has hinted in recent years he may step down soon -- but keeps winning titles .