Curious, maybe, for a mere career decision to be our #1 Badass moment, but think about its ramifications: In the summer of 2001, Sir Alex announced his plan to retire at the end of the 2001/02 season. It was a decision that proved to have disastrous consequences, as United struggled mightliy in the following months—so much so that Fergie reversed his plans halfway through the season. Since then, he's proven that despite being in his 60s, he still has the thirst and hunger for the fight, guiding the team to three out of the last four titles and a Champions League trophy to boot. Players come and go, but Sir Alex has been the biggest single factor in United's continued success. What would the last 10 years have looked liked without him?