Stiles certainly saw something in Sir Alex that reminded him of his long-time manager, Sir Matt Busby.
Around the three-year anniversary of Ferguson’s appointment, the team was struggling and it was only the FA Cup triumph at the end of that 1989/90 season that went a long way to silencing the critics and building the foundation for the unprecedented success that would follow.
At a time when some were quick to doubt the boss, Stiles had this to say on the matter. “I’ve heard so much rot talked since I came back, five months ago,” he said. “But the people doing the talking will be proved wrong, mark my words.
“Don’t forget that, when Sir Matt was manager, we had bad times as well. I can remember being beat six or seven times at Old Trafford in my time but we went on to win everything there was.
“Sir Alex is like Sir Matt in the way he runs the club. He is getting the structures right and realises that we must get kids from our own system. That’s where myself and Brian Kidd come in. We’re looking after the 11 to 16-year-olds and, hopefully, the new Bests and Charltons will come out of what we are doing.
