Sir Alex Ferguson is to be honoured with a new statue outside Aberdeen’s Pittodrie stadium.
The bronze statue, which will be located at the Richard Donald Stand, will be the first of a series which is being planned to celebrate and honour the club’s heroes.
The piece is being created by sculptor Andy Edwards of Cornovii Edwards, based on a photograph of Ferguson taken at Easter Road in 1980, celebrating the Dons’ title win.
⭐⭐ “Sir Alex’s contribution to the Club was immense and it’s fitting that we honour him in this way."#StandFree
— Aberdeen FC (@AberdeenFC) July 29, 2021
Aberdeen chairman Dave Cormack said: “Sir Alex’s contribution to the club was immense and it’s fitting that we honour him in this way.
“His arrival at Pittodrie heralded the start of the most successful period in the club’s history and put Aberdeen firmly on the football map of Europe. The year after next marks the 40th anniversary of our European Cup Winners Cup triumph in Gothenburg, along with winning the European Super Cup, so while this honour is long overdue, it comes at a fitting time.
“We began exploring the idea of a series of statues to recognise those legends who have made a lasting impact on the club, over 18 months ago, but the process stalled due to the pandemic. It’s now very much back on our agenda and, when it came to deciding the subject of the first one, there was of course only one option, Sir Alex Ferguson.”
📍 Ullevi Stadium.
🇸🇪 A live announcement from the Chairman in Gothenburg. https://t.co/n1rBbMdamF
— Aberdeen FC (@AberdeenFC) July 29, 2021
The statue will be the latest honour for the most successful manager in British football history.
He was awarded the Freedom of the City of Aberdeen in 1999, and has had football parks and libraries named after him across the country.
Ferguson said: “I am thrilled and honoured by this recognition from Aberdeen Football Club, where I spent a fantastic and memorable part of my managerial career. I am particularly pleased with the image the Club has chosen to base the statue on and with the choice of sculptor whose recent work is incredibly lifelike. I can’t wait to see it!”
Andy and Cornovii Edwards have previously created lifelike, life‐size sculptures of The Beatles in Liverpool, as well as Sir David Attenborough, Sir Stanley Matthews and Muhammad Ali.
The statue is expected to be unveiled later this year, with the club and the AFC Heritage Trust planning more to follow.
The sculptures will be installed in a way that makes it possible for them to be relocated to the club’s new stadium.
Chris Gavin of AFC Heritage Trust said: “We are delighted to be involved with this project. Sir Alex is not only the greatest Aberdeen manager, but one of the great living Scots, known throughout the World for the top‐class boss that he is.”
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