United piled on the pressure in the early stages but Reading goalkeeper Adam Federici kept them at bay with smart saves from Tom Cleverley and Ashley Young.

CNN: STORY HIGHLIGHTS

Ferguson's 26-year reign stretches beyond those of all coaches in the history of the NBA or NHL. In baseball and the NFL, meanwhile, only four men have stuck around a single team longer: The Philadelphia Athletics' Connie Mack, the New York (baseball) Giants' John McGraw, the Dallas Cowboys' Tom Landry, and the Green Bay Packers' Curly Lambeau.

WSJ: Some Lavish Praise for Alex Ferguson��Manchester United

"He has earned the respect of our players, having played against us when he was in Green Bay and against us when he was in Philadelphia, " coach Tom Coughlin said.

WSJ: Giants give WR Victor Cruz 1st-round tender

"Green Bay is a conservative place, straight out of The Millionaire Next Door, " says Tom Macco, a local stockbroker for Edward Jones.

FORBES: Digital Rules