Legendary Manchester United Manager To Teach At HBS

Sir Alex Ferguson will teach exec ed courses at Harvard Business School

Sir Alex Ferguson will teach exec ed courses at Harvard Business School

Sir Alex Ferguson, the former legendary manager of Manchester United, the English football (soccer) club, has been appointed to a long-term teaching position in Executive Education by Harvard Business School. His role starts this spring when he will lecture to senior executives from around the world as part of the new “The Business of Entertainment, Media and Sports” program. Ferguson recently retired following 26 years of tenure at Manchester United. He is the most successful manager in the history of British football, winning 49 trophies in 39 years.

In 2012, HBS professor Anita Elberse had a unique opportunity to examine Ferguson’s management approach and develop an HBS case study called ‘Sir Alex Ferguson: Managing Manchester United.’ Since then she and Ferguson have collaborated on an analysis of his enormously successful methods, resulting in a popular Harvard Business Review article in October of 2013, and he has participated a number of Elberse’s classes. Ferguson’s partnership with HBS will enhance and extend the School’s portfolio of Executive Education offerings, thus furthering the HBS mission of educating leaders who make a difference in the world.

“I’m delighted to have the opportunity and privilege to contribute to such a respected center of excellence,” noted Ferguson in a statement. “The time I have already spent at Harvard has been a stimulating experience and I look forward to developing my relationship and activities with the students, faculty and friends of the Harvard Business School community.”

“We look forward to welcoming Sir Alex Ferguson on the HBS campus to share his remarkable leadership journey, and contribute to our Executive Education participants’ ability to make a profound difference in the world,” said HBS professor Anita Elberse. The program on “The Business of Entertainment, Media and Sports” will take place from May 7-10, 2014.

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