|
Sir Alex Ferguson's explosive autobiography was released this week, looking back on his three decades in management. The former Manchester United boss revealed secrets from the Old Trafford dressing room and gave his view on a variety of issues in the Premier League.
But what did the top flight managers make of it, and will they be buying a copy? Sportsmail went to go and find out.
ANDRE VILLAS-BOAS
I'm not sure. Normally I like to read books from other managers who inspire me. I have read Sir Alex's autobiography before!
I will probably go through it, but you can read it quicker by reading everything that's already come out in the press; by reading the most important or speculative points. There is so much history with the manager that it is probably a great read.
Not sure: Andre Villas-Boas doesn't know if he'll read Sir Alex Ferguson's autobiography
MICHAEL LAUDRUP
What happened one day with Roy Keane or a boot in the head of Beckham and why that happened - that can't be the most interesting thing in a book about a manager's life for 25-26 years.
I don't know if I'll buy it. Maybe I can have it as a present for Christmas and June is my birthday. I think there is a book coming out about me, but that is not an autobiography. I think other people have done it five or six times with me.
I think that when you are part of a football team it is group. That means players, staff, manager and all that administration. You are a group and we always say, 'Okay we have to try to be a group', and then suddenly things come after that in books or in interviews. People sometimes start to talk about what happened there and he said this. And you think at that time we all agreed that it was a group and you see so many times people coming out saying what happened and what he did.
You can do it but I wouldn't do it so don't expect me in five or 10 years' time to talk about what really happened with that penalty at Wembley (when Nathan Dyer and Jonathan De Guzman had a spat) and did you say anything to the players and what he said back.
Headlines: Michael Laudrup refuses to believe Ferguson's dressing room revelations are the most interesting part the most interesting aspect of the book
At the moment you have that group and it should stay like that. People are always saying what happens in the dressing room stays in the dressing room. But you are asking me about a few headlines.
If we are talking about a guy like Ferguson, he has been manager for a lifetime and I am sure there is a lot of really good stuff in there talking about and explaining games, tactics, systems that everybody could learn from. But the headlines are all about these things, about one player and the other player who wanted to leave. The few headlines I saw yesterday, I refuse to believe that is the most interesting thing in that book.
STEVE CLARKE
I won't be reading it, probably not, I tend not to read too many football books.
The last one I picked up and tried to read was Pep Guardiola's - I think I got about halfway through and I haven't finished it. It's not something I do.
I've seen the headlines, so I think I've read all the juicy bits already!
Not fussed: Steve Clarke says he doesn't read football books and only got halfway through Pep Guardiola's
JOSE MOURINHO
You haven't let me read the book yet! It's like you don't want people to read the book, we've spoken and written about it too much. I want to buy the book and read it. I will try before the summer, if not in the summer.
Get round to it: Jose Mourinho will try and read a copy
MARK HUGHES
Well, Christmas is coming so someone's bound to buy it me. If it's from 1999 to now I wouldn't have thought he will talk about me too much.
But I don't have to read the book. I just pick up the phone and speak to him if I need to know anything.
Any book which is written by a football person or people in the public eye, there are always issues that have gone on in the past and those are the ones that people want to read about.
When you sign up for a book deal that's the pound of flesh and you have to give it the publishers.
That's the reason everybody has jumped on three or four incidents that have happened. Sir Alex would have known and understood that when he made the decision to write it.
Off the hook: Mark Hughes said he will ring Ferguson if there is something he wants to know
ARSENE WENGER
It's difficult for me to speak about the book, because I haven't read it yet. Pizzagate was a little bit of unrest in the tunnel area.
Mike Riley was the referee and he didn't have the best day, Rio Ferdinand shouldn't have been on the pitch after 20 minutes.
Yes it was aggressive, to lose after such a long undefeated run and the way we did was not acceptable. I will read the book, but I've not got time yet.
I hope he is right on both sides and he is usually a good judge. He obviously has good memories of the club.
I've no plans to write my own book, that might change. But I don't have that motivation at the moment.
The past is history and history needs to be written. It's good, it's a legacy of his career. But I can't talk about it too much as I've not read it yet.
I didn't see it! Arsene Wenger intends to read the book and said Ferguson is a good judgeI didn't see it! Arsene Wenger hasn't read the book yet but said Ferguson is a good judge
SAM ALLARDYCE
I got left out. I think obviously I'm looking forward to getting my free copy as he said he forgot to put me in it. I'm looking forward to reading it when it comes out. I'll be trotting down to the launch in London in November to see him more than anything else. He told me the publisher left me out, that's not too much of a great concern for me.
Left out! West Ham manager Sam Allardyce wasn't referenced in the autobiography
MARTIN JOL
I can't read it now because it's 400 pages and I haven't the time. But I will take it with me if I get a couple of weeks in summer when I go to my house in Spain.
Before you read books, if you know what is in them you will never read. After 20 pages you will decide whether to keep on reading or throw it in the corner.
I will get it. Especially if someone else buys it then I can try it. There are a few Dutch players, Van Nistelrooy, Jaap Stam, and for me it's an interesting book to read. But I have to wait.
Interesting: Martin Jol is looking forward to reading about the Dutch players Ferguson has managed
MALKY MACKAY
I've not read it yet but I will. I'm pretty sure there will be things other managers can learn. He will go down as probably the best British manager of all-time in history and I don't think that is an over-statement.
How can you not learn from someone like that in football with the amount he has done and the experiences he has had?
There are little things that anyone can take. You can always take things from other people – good or bad.
I'm not surprised (by the criticism) at all. I don't think he will be losing any sleep over it put it that way.
He has had enough on his plate and to be fair so I haven't spoken to him recently. He said managers should have full control of the team which is obviously what the manager should have.
Book-smart: Malky Mackay wants to take things and learn from reading
ApplesAndPears, Beautiful Yorkshire - England, 20 minutes ago
Can I put it in record that I won't be buying the book.