by Grant Wahl

How do you go from being a washout as an MLS general manager to being the best-connected American in European soccer? It's a question worth pondering when you're watching TV on a Saturday morning, and the camera shows Sir Alex Ferguson at a Manchester United game, and the guy sitting next to him is ... wait ... is that Charlie Stillitano?!? The guy from New Jersey? The old MetroStars GM?

So you look into doing a story, and suddenly unexpected things start happening. Out of the blue, Sir Alex calls you on the phone one day to talk about Charlie. ("Holy cow," you say, scrambling for your notebook.) "You earn trust by your behavior with people," Sir Alex says. "We first met through Manchester United and he was doing the tours. I've got a million Charlie stories. He invites you over for dinner when he's at home, and it's a long day of humor, fun and good food. When Charlie goes into a room, he exudes that personality, and you say to yourself, 'Christ almighty, that guy, he can talk!' A lovely guy."

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Source: http://www.si.com/