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BARCELONA, May 27 (Reuters) - It was typical of Alex Ferguson that in the hour of his greatest and most emotional triumph his first thoughts turned to his family, his friends and his predecessors.
He has always turned to them for inspiration and support. 'They are the people I am thinking of. I am so proud - of my heritage, the club, my players and my family and all that they have given me.
'This is the greatest night of my life,' he said after Manchester United's tumultuous European Cup win over Bayern Munich.
'Tonight it is Matt Busby's birthday and I am thinking of him,' Ferguson said, reflecting on his late predecessor who lifted the same cup in 1968. 'He will be doing a lot of kicking up there.'
The 57-year-old Scot danced with his players, hugged and kissed each member of his squad and waved to the crowds, revelling in the fulfilment of his fervent ambitions on a warm Catalan night.
And he made sure suspended captain Roy Keane was not left out, bringing him on to the pitch to join the team's celebrations after lifting the giant trophy.
'I felt for him,' Ferguson said. 'I watched him and it was tough for him. To play in a night like that is something very, very special.'
Manchester United's heart-stopping, last-gasp 2-1 victory over Bayern put Ferguson alongside the legendary Busby, architect of the club's only previous win the competition, and confirmed his status as the outstanding - and luckiest - manager in European and world club soccer.
Yet Ferguson was not ready even to consider his own position in soccer's hall of fame. Instead he wanted to reflect on the others who meant so much to him: the family that raised him and gave him his fiercely-protected sense of values, his humility in deference to Busby's inheritance at Old Trafford and his ferocious sense of loyalty to his players, friends and staff at Manchester United.
Proud, single-minded almost to the point of rudeness, ruthlessly ambitious, yet charming and mild-mannered away from his desk or the training ground, Ferguson is the archetypal successful manager - a combination of humble family man, driven perfectionist, team orchestrator and benevolent dictator - who has now collected 28 major trophies as a coach since he began his career with Aberdeen in 1978.
With Aberdeen, a club he transformed from mediocrity to Champions, he won three Scottish League titles, four Scottish FA Cups, one League Cup, one European Cup Winners' Cup and one European Super Cup.
Since arriving at Old Trafford to revitalise an ailing Manchester United in 1986, he endured four unsuccessful seasons before breaking through in 1990.
Five league titles have followed, four FA Cup triumphs, one League Cup win, five domestic Charity Shield successes, one European Cup Winners' Cup win and one European Super Cup win before Wednesday's tumult in the Nou Camp.
Proud as he is of his achievements, he carries his wealth and success lightly - apart from a passion for horse-racing - along with the gritty determination inherent in his Glaswegian nature.
'My inner drive has always been to stay in the game I love and to try and succeed in the proper manner. I have been so lucky to work in something I love so much,' he said.
'I always tell my players to enjoy every minute of it as if it will not last. That is how it is. I have grown up to be that way. To work and to graft for everything, but to do it all in the right way.'
As a player Ferguson was no more than ordinary. He was a striker for eight Scottish clubs, including Glasgow Rangers, but never enjoyed the success that has come since he hung up his boots.
But that sense of unfulfilled ambition has fired him since and been transferred into the bellies of his players, as they demonstrated on Wednesday night.
'When I left Aberdeen and came to Manchester United I didn't really change myself. I wanted to work hard, to win, to do well and to stay in the game and enjoy some success. That feeling has never changed,' he said.
'It's not down to me, it's down to the players. They have been fantastic this season. And it is the whole club, all the staff, who do the work, not just me.
'But now we have come this far, we are prepared to go on and do the rest.'
