On This Day: Man Utd legend Ferguson was born; Cruyff won his 2nd Ballon d'Or

Hi all, welcome to All Football's On This Day! Let's find out what happened today (December 31st) in football history. If you have more stories and news that happened on this day in history, please post them in the comment area and share them with AFers!

On this day in 1941, former Man Utd manager Sir Alex Ferguson was born

Sir Alexander Ferguson is a Scottish manager who managed Manchester United from 1986 to 2013. He is regarded to be one of the greatest and most successful managers of all time.

During his 26 years with Manchester United he won 38 trophies, including 13 Premier League titles, five FA Cups, and two Champions League titles. He was knighted in the 1999 Queen's Birthday Honours list, for his services to the game. Ferguson is the longest serving manager of Manchester United, having overtaken Sir Matt Busby's record on 19 December 2010. He retired from management at the end of the 2012–13 season, having won the Premier League in his final season.

On this day in 1973, Cruyff won his second Ballon d'Or

He began the calendar year in the middle of his ninth season with Ajax and led them to a treble consisting of European Super Cup, their sixth Eredivisie title, and their third consecutive European Cup. Then, in the summer of 1973, he moved to Barcelona.

Internationally, Cruyff's Netherlands team had qualified for the 1974 World Cup, edging Belgium out at the top of the group on goal differential.

On this day in 2016, Marcos Alonso became the only player to win first 14 starts for EPL club

He started his career with Real Madrid, but went on to make his name with Bolton and later with Fiorentina. His success at the latter club led Chelsea to sign him for an estimated £24 million in 2016.

On this day in 2014, Chris Hughton became Brighton manager

On this day in 2014: 21st in the Championship, struggling to stay up. Chris Hughton arrives wearing an invisible cape. 

December 31st 2018: 4 years on, Brighton in second season in the Premier League and sit 13th in the table. 

On this day in 1972, French keeper Coupet born

Coupet signed his first professional contract with Saint-Étienne in 1993. He made only one appearance for the club that first season, but established himself as a regular starter the following year. Despite his promising performances, Les Verts were relegated at the end of the 1995-96 season, prompting his move to rivals Lyon in December 1996.

At Lyon, Coupet anchored a defense that saw steady improvement in the club's final league position every year, culminating in their league title at the end of the 2001-02 season--the first in an unprecedented seven consecutive Ligue 1 titles. 

Coupet never enjoyed a long run as France's first-choice keeper, falling behind Fabien Barthez earlier in his career, then behind Hugo Lloris and Steve Mandanda later. Nevertheless, he earned a total of 34 caps, including a starting run during Euro 2008.

He retired in 2011 after finishing his career at Paris Saint-Germain.

On this day in 1921, the oldest footballer Mariano born

A right back, Mariano started playing for his local club, Goiandira Esporte Clube, in 1973 when he was 52 years old. He was still playing there in 2008 when, at the age of 87, the Guinness Book of World Records listed him as the world's oldest footballer.

A farmer who walks 10 kilometers every morning, Mariano rejected suggestions that he was too old to continue, saying "as long as I have legs, I will play." And even though sidelined at times by injuries, including a dislocated shoulder and surgeries to his neck and back, he continued to play until he passed away in March 2015 at the age of 93.