This Video of Sir Alex Ferguson Congratulating Ronaldo Will Make You Feel Things Again
Sir Alex Ferguson — the legendary manager of Manchester United and the man who made Cristiano Ronaldo a star — was in Paris this weekend to take in the Euro Cup final. For neutrals, the game was a bit of a bore. But Sir Alex is no neutral. In fact, he may just be one of Cristiano’s biggest fans.
After Portugal received their medals, Ferguson made his way to the aisle where the players would descend to the field. You can watch as he patiently waits for Ronaldo, first greeting United alum Nani (“Boss!” you hear the forward exclaim), then congratulating manager Fernando Santos.
There’s a brief moment where he mistakes Southampton centre-back Jose Fonte for his favoured one, reaching out and recoiling, wiping his brow in seeming relief that he hasn’t missed the world’s best (?) player.
Finally, though, Ronaldo appears, hobbling from the knee injury that took him from the final after just 25 minutes. The two embrace joyfully, and Ferguson mutters something in his ear — presumably along the lines of “Smashing job, m’boy,” because, well, that’s how old Scottish men speak, right?
But what truly makes the clip is the moment that follows the embrace, when Ronaldo leaves Fergie to join his teammates on the field. The coach reaches out for another touch, shuffling in place, his eyes full of pride and wonder. It’s a special moment between a coach and his player, especially considering the relationship between the two. Ronaldo has spoken in the past extensively about how Ferguson is like a second father to him.
There’s a lot of things going on here that, you know, just really makes you feel things. Real Things. Like, things I didn’t really know I had in me anymore. Stuff like — oh my god, how do I get my own dad, my actual real flesh-and-blood father, to look at me like that. What is GOOD ENOUGH for you????
