<Tr> <Th> 1986--2013 </Th> <Td_colspan="3"> Manchester United </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td_colspan="4"> * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only </Td> </Tr> <P> Sir Alexander Chapman Ferguson CBE (born 31 December 1941) is a Scottish former football manager and player who managed Manchester United from 1986 to 2013 . He is regarded to be one of the greatest and most successful managers of all time . </P> <P> Ferguson played as a forward for several Scottish clubs, including Dunfermline Athletic and Rangers . While playing for Dunfermline, he was the top goalscorer in the Scottish league in the 1965--66 season . Towards the end of his playing career he also worked as a coach, then started his managerial career with East Stirlingshire and St Mirren . Ferguson then enjoyed a highly successful period as manager of Aberdeen, winning three Scottish league championships, four Scottish Cups and the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup in 1983 . He briefly managed Scotland following the death of Jock Stein, taking the team to the 1986 World Cup . </P>

When did sir alex ferguson join man utd