Manchester United have invited approximately 100 specially selected guests to Old Trafford for a private dinner this weekend to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Sir Alex Ferguson’s appointment as manager of the club.

The invitation-only event, reported by The Times, is expected to bring together former players, club officials, colleagues and other personalities who were part of Ferguson’s remarkable 26-and-a-half-year journey at the English club, blueprint reports.

The celebration marks four decades since Ferguson was appointed Manchester United manager on November 6, 1986, replacing Ron Atkinson following the club’s disappointing start to the 1986/1987 season.

The Scottish tactician went on to transform United into one of the most successful football institutions in the world, winning 38 major trophies during his time at Old Trafford.

Former Manchester United chief executive David Gill and ex-director Mike Edelson are among those expected to attend the dinner. Both played important roles in the club’s history, with Edelson involved in the process that brought Ferguson to Old Trafford.

According to reports, the gathering will provide an opportunity to celebrate Ferguson’s achievements and acknowledge the people who contributed to his successful reign.

How Ferguson arrived at Old Trafford

Ferguson’s appointment followed his impressive achievements with Aberdeen, where he had established himself as one of the leading managers in British football.

Before moving to England, he guided Aberdeen to three Scottish league titles, four Scottish Cups and the 1983 European Cup Winners’ Cup.

His Aberdeen side defeated Spanish giants Real Madrid in the final of the European Cup Winners’ Cup in 1983, while also winning the European Super Cup that year.

Those achievements attracted the attention of Manchester United, who were searching for a manager capable of restoring the club’s position among England’s leading sides.

Following Atkinson’s dismissal, United chairman Martin Edwards and other club officials moved quickly to secure Ferguson’s services.

The recruitment process involved an unusual attempt to contact the Aberdeen manager without immediately revealing the identity of the caller.

Edelson reportedly adopted a Scottish accent and pretended to be an agent to get through to Ferguson at Aberdeen.

The approach eventually led to a meeting between Ferguson and United officials at a motorway service station outside Glasgow, where discussions over his possible move to Old Trafford took place.

Ferguson accepted the offer and was officially appointed on November 6, 1986.

At the time, he described Manchester United as the only club he would have left Aberdeen to join, acknowledging the challenge of taking charge of a club with such a rich history and expectations.

A difficult beginning before historic success

Ferguson’s early years at Manchester United were far from successful.

His first match in charge ended in a 2-0 defeat to Oxford United, followed by a goalless draw against Norwich City.

United struggled for consistency during his first seasons, and the manager faced growing pressure to deliver silverware.

His first major trophy with the club came in 1990 when United defeated Crystal Palace in an FA Cup final replay at Wembley.

That victory proved an important turning point in his tenure, helping him retain his position and laying the foundation for the extraordinary success that followed.

United subsequently won the European Cup Winners’ Cup in 1991, before Ferguson guided the club to its first English league title in 26 years during the inaugural Premier League season in 1992/1993.

The championship marked the beginning of a period of domestic dominance that would define the club for more than two decades.

38 trophies and 13 Premier League titles

During his 26-and-a-half years in charge, Ferguson won 38 major trophies with Manchester United, including 13 Premier League titles, five FA Cups, four League Cups and two UEFA Champions League crowns.

His European triumphs came in 1999 and 2008.

The 1999 Champions League victory remains one of the most memorable moments in the club’s history, with United scoring twice in stoppage time to defeat Bayern Munich 2-1 in Barcelona.

The victory completed an unprecedented English treble, with United also winning the Premier League and FA Cup that season.

Nine years later, Ferguson guided another United team to European glory, defeating Chelsea on penalties in the 2008 Champions League final in Moscow.

His team also won the FIFA Club World Cup later that year.

Ferguson developed several generations of outstanding footballers, including David Beckham, Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes, Gary Neville, Roy Keane, Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo.

He was also instrumental in the development of the celebrated Class of ’92, a group of young players who became central to United’s success in the 1990s and early 2000s.

His ability to rebuild teams while maintaining a competitive culture became one of the defining features of his managerial career.

Retirement and an enduring legacy

Ferguson announced his retirement at the end of the 2012/2013 season after guiding Manchester United to their 20th English league title.

His final campaign ended with the club winning the Premier League by 11 points, with Robin van Persie emerging as a central figure in the title-winning team.

He left the managerial position after overseeing more than 1,500 matches for United, having established records that remain central to discussions about managerial success in English football.

Following his retirement, United appointed David Moyes as his successor, but the club struggled to reproduce the consistency and dominance achieved under Ferguson.

The legendary manager remained connected to the club as a global ambassador and continued attending matches at Old Trafford.

His ambassadorial role was brought to an end in 2025 as part of changes introduced under the club’s minority owner, Sir Jim Ratcliffe.

Despite the changes, Ferguson has continued to attract respect from supporters and former players, with his influence remaining an important part of Manchester United’s identity.

Carrick pays tribute to former manager

The anniversary has also provided an opportunity for current United manager Michael Carrick to reflect on Ferguson’s influence.

Carrick, who played under the Scot for seven years after joining United from Tottenham Hotspur in 2006, said the former manager had a significant impact on him as a footballer and individual.

He expressed confidence that United could eventually reproduce the sustained success achieved under Ferguson, but stressed that rebuilding a winning team would require consistency, patience and a clear direction.

Carrick also acknowledged the difficulty of matching the achievements of a manager who won 13 Premier League titles and two Champions League trophies during his time at Old Trafford.

The anniversary celebration comes as United prepare for their Premier League meeting with Aston Villa on Sunday, November 8.

The club’s decision to honour Ferguson with a gathering of former colleagues and personalities from across his career reflects the lasting significance of his contribution to Manchester United.

Forty years after his arrival, Ferguson’s record remains a defining chapter in the history of the club and English football.