THERE was a surprising name at the top of the European Football Club rankings in April 1984 – Aberdeen.
Formed in 1903, the Dons are one of a handful of clubs that have never been relegated. Although they were competitive, it wasn’t until David Halliday became manager in 1937 that Aberdeen began to win trophies - the Scottish Cup in 1947, followed by the league title in 1955.
However, the proceeding years were barren, with the two Glasgow clubs, Rangers and Celtic, dominating Scottish football.
Enter Alex Ferguson. The now legendary Scottish manager jumped at the chance to join Aberdeen in June 1978, having just been dismissed by St Mirren – the only club ever to sack him.
The first player to greet Ferguson on his arrival at Pittodrie was Dons midfielder John McMaster.
“Before Sir Alex arrived at Aberdeen, there was a mentality within the whole set-up that we were quite happy to be legends by finishing as runners-up in the league and reaching cup semi-finals,” says McMaster in his newly released autobiography McMaster & Commander.
“In some ways this view was shared by the supporters. I personally think that at that time Aberdeen FC would have been viewed as a club that did enough to get by.
“But getting by wasn’t good enough for Sir Alex. He set about taking this sleeping giant of a club forward and was determined to turn us into a global, world-class football team.
“In the boss’s first year in charge we reached the 1979 League Cup final where we lost to Rangers. After the game we travelled to Perth for the runners-up banquet that the club laid on for us.
This story is from the May - June 2023 edition of Late Tackle Football Magazine.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the May - June 2023 edition of Late Tackle Football Magazine.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
EURO 96 AN ALMOST PERFECT SUMMER
TOM GREEN RECALLS A TOURNAMENT WHICH CAPTURED THE ENTIRE COUNTRY'S IMAGINATION
GROUP GAMES
SAM SHEPPEY LOOKS AT HOW ENGLAND HAVE FARED AGAINST THEIR UPCOMING EURO 2024 FOES IN THE PAST
THE INCREDIBLE RISE OF KOBBIE MAINOO
CALLUM HUMPHREY HOW THE YOUNG MIDFIELDER HAS BLOSSOMED AT MANCHESTER UNITED AND COULD DO THE SAME FOR ENGLAND THIS SUMMER
GERMANY EYE FRESH SUMMER FAIRYTALE
KIT HOLDEN TAKES A LOOK AT THE PROSPECTS OF THE EURO 2024 HOSTS
PROGRAMME PERIL
JAKE GUNTON ON THE BATTLE FOR A FOOTBALL INSTITUTION TO STAY RELEVANT IN THE MODERN AGE
ENGLAND EXPECTS
ROBERT J WILSON ON THE THREE LIONS' BID FOR GLORY AFTER PREVIOUS EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP DISAPPOINTMENTS
PASSING THE BATON
NOTTS COUNTY FAN IAN KIRKE REFLECTS ON AN UNFORGETTABLE DAY AT MEADOW LANE...
CHEEKY CHARLIE
TOM GREEN LOOKS AT THE LIFE AND TIMES OF CHARLIE MITTEN, WHO WENT FROM BURMA TO BOGOTA VIA OLD TRAFFORD
HAPPY WITH OUR LOT
WATFORD FAN JONNY BRICK IS QUITE CONTENT WITH HIS TEAM NEVER GOING UP AND NEVER GOING DOWN...
JAMES RODRIGUEZ TEN YEARS ON
DANIEL MOFFAT LOOKS AT THE CAREER OF THE COLOMBIA STAR