SIR Alex Ferguson has landed yet another title, but this time no-one had to kick a ball in anger.

The former Manchester United manager's memoir has become the fastest-selling non-fiction book since records began.

His eagerly awaited tome, called simply My Autobiography, has echoed his managerial success with Manchester United by becoming a champion in the publishing world, selling 115,547 copies in a week.

According to The Bookseller, the Scot's volume pips previous record holder Delia Smith, whose 1999 cooking book sold 112,000 copies in its first week.

That means the 71-year-old ­football management legend's hardback book - which has a cover price of £25 - has notched up the biggest first-week sale for a non-fiction title since official records began 15 years ago.

It also surpasses the first week sales of the autobiography of friend and former prime minister Tony Blair, whose memoirs -published in 2010 - shifted 20% fewer copies.

In total, £1.4 million was spent on copies of the Govan-born icon's book last week, accounting for almost five pence in every pound spent on a book.

My Autobiography easily tops this week's Official UK Top 50 ahead of former number one, rock legend Morrissey's Autobiography, which sold 26,248 copies, and comedian David Walliams's Demon Dentist, which sold 25,808. Only Fools and Horses star David Jason's memoir, My Life, and Helen Fielding's Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy complete the top five.

Assisted by the launch of Sir Alex's book, £30.7m was spent on printed books in the UK last week, up 5.9% (£1.7m) week on week and up 1.8% (£0.5m) on the same week last year. It was the first week of year on year growth in the market in five months -since the week ending May 25, 2013.

Sales of Sir Alex's book were boosted by a series of promotional launch revelations about its contents which underlined the uncompromising and candid nature of the firebrand manager.

He divulged that he was approached twice by the English Football Association to take over the national side, first in 1999 prior to the appointment of Kevin Keegan and then in 2001 before Sven Goran Eriksson was given the job. And it took him just ten seconds to reject the opportunity explaining that he could not have returned to Glasgow.

"There was no way I could contemplate taking the England job," he said. "Can you imagine me doing that? A Scotsman?"

In his book, Sir Alex described the job as a "bed of nails".

Sir Alex resigned as United manager in April after 27 years at the club and the 71-year-old talked of the influence his wife, Cathy, had on his career and his decision to retire.

The book is dedicated to "Bridget, Cathy's sister, rock and best friend".

The death of Bridget proved the catalyst for his retirement as he decided he should spend more time with his grief-stricken wife.

The book also details his rows with players, most notably David Beckham and Roy Keane. He said Beckham's marriage to Victoria, then in the Spice Girls, had adversely affected his career and that Keane had to leave after criticising his fellow players.

Sir Alex who retired after guiding Manchester United to 13 Premier League titles, five FA Cups, four League Cups and two Champions League crowns, also maintained that Wayne Rooney had asked for a move, an assertion Rooney has repeatedly denied. He said he was a big admirer of Rooney's natural ability but had concerns about his fitness.