FERGUSON, Alex. Leading (Signed first edition)

With Michael Moritz. London: Hodder & Stoughton, 2015. First edition. Royal octavo. pp. 406. Publisher’s black cloth, spine titled in gilt; white photographic dust-jacket lettered in gold. A fine, bright copy in a near-fine jacket.. Signed “Alex Ferguson” in blue ink on the half-title. First edition, first printing, with full number line present. In very good condition.

Sir Alex Ferguson’s celebrated work on leadership, written in collaboration with Michael Moritz of Sequoia Capital. Leading distils the managerial philosophy that defined Ferguson’s 38-year career, most notably his unprecedented success at Manchester United. Rather than a conventional memoir, the book offers a structured analysis of decision-making, discipline, communication, talent development, organisational culture, and the psychology of elite performance. Drawing on episodes from the dressing room, boardroom, and training ground, Ferguson articulates the principles that underpinned his approach to winning and sustaining excellence. Widely regarded as one of the finest modern texts on leadership in sport and business alike.

Sir Alex Ferguson (b. 1941) is the most decorated manager in British football history: 13 Premier League titles, five FA Cups, two UEFA Champions League trophies, and a total of 49 major honours. His unparalleled longevity at Manchester United transformed the club into a global powerhouse. Leading emerged from his post-retirement collaboration with Michael Moritz—better known for backing Apple, Google, PayPal, and Airbnb—whose outsider’s perspective shaped the book’s analytical structure. The result blends sports strategy with corporate leadership theory, making it widely studied in MBA programmes and executive training courses. Signed first editions have become modern collectibles, appealing equally to football historians, leadership scholars, and Manchester United supporters.

[WR sport]