“Only true champions come out and show their worth after defeat – and I expect us to do that”  – Alex Ferguson, long-time Manager for the Manchester United football club

My travels have me in London today, which gave me the inspiration for this week’s quote and leadership message.  After a weekend of watching soccer matches (or football as the rest of the world calls it), I think it is fitting to feature one of the most successful managers in soccer – Alex Ferguson – for my weekly leadership message.  Tonight Alex Ferguson will lead his Manchester United team on the field for a game against Aston Villa, and a win will clench their 20^th Premiere League championship.

First, a little about Manchester United (or “Man-U” as they are referred to here).  As soccer goes, Man-U is probably one of the most storied franchises in the world.  Founded in 1878, the club/team has more titles/championships than any other soccer franchise in the UK, including a record 19 league titles, 11 FA Cups, four league cups, and a dozen other titles including FIFA and UEFA World Cup championships.  They are one of the wealthiest and widely supported soccer clubs in the world, recently valued at over $3 billion ($1.2 billion higher than the next most valuable sports team). Continue reading →