Guardiola named top coach - Ferguson receives special award from Blatter
Posted Tuesday, January 10, 2012 by skysports.com
Sir Alex Ferguson: Honoured to receive lifetime achievement award
Longevity
Ferguson may have lost out to Guardiola in the Coach of the Year category, but his phenomenal record was recognised with a special lifetime achievement award.
The 70-year-old Scot was presented with the prize for services to football by FIFA president Sepp Blatter at the Ballon d'Or gala.
Blatter said: "Elite football is all about results and winning and there is no one better at it than him.
"His first major success came at Aberdeen in 1983 but what is absolutely extraordinary is that in a world in which coaches are expected to produce instant results or be changed, his longevity is a shining example of what can be achieved through stability, continuity, investment in development and especially in trust and confidence in the personality himself.
"He has earned a knighthood from Her Majesty the Queen for services to the game. This exceptional personality in football has been managing the same club for 25 years - can you imagine that today?"
Honour
Ferguson himself, who turned 70 on New Year's Eve, praised Manchester United for sharing his vision of the game.
He said: "It is an honour for me in the twilight of my life and very, very much appreciated.
"I have been a very, very lucky manager to have had so many good players who have shared my vision and passion, and that's what makes Manchester United such a special club.
"They retain the courage to play, the courage to try and win. You don't always win in football - sometimes you lose but we always try to win."
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