Some of football's biggest names have paid tribute to Sir Alex
Ferguson, who marks 20 years as manager of Manchester United on 6
November.
Ferguson's achievements during his time with the club have drawn
acclaim from past and present players, managers and pundits
alike.
MANCHESTER UNITED PLAYERS
PAST AND PRESENT
"The thing is, you can't imagine life at United without him. One
day it will happen, we are all aware of that, and when it does it
will be a great shame because of what he has achieved here. But it
won't be soon, because he is still desperate to win trophies"
Midfielder Paul Scholes
"It wouldn't surprise me if he carried on for five to 10 years
longer. Why should he leave? He's as determined as ever. It's a
continual challenge at this club, that will keep him young"
Captain Gary Neville
"His determination to be the best is constantly on show - even when
we're watching The Weakest Link in our hotel he wants to win. He's
a one-off and will rightly go down as the greatest ever
manager"
Defender John O'Shea
"For him to keep going is remarkable. He stands out with his will
to win, he knows football, he knows his players and he knows his
own club inside-out"
Former United captain Roy Keane
"He is a man with a mission, Manchester United through and through.
I'd say his drive was more important to our success than anything
else"
Former United midfielder David Beckham in his 2003
autobiography, My Side
"He expected standards to be high and if you didn't reach those
standards or you let them slip he would be quick to remind you. He
is a fantastic man-manager and great to work under"
Ex-United defender Denis Irwin
PREMIERSHIP
MANAGERS
"When you think that the average life of a manager is one year and
seven days, and somebody has done 20, it is a remarkable
achievement. I feel we had some heated times - but time will settle
things and there is a respect there now"
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger
"I once rang him up and was on for 10 minutes about players and he
told me about every player, their strengths and their weaknesses. I
put the phone down and I said 'I bet he even knows the Dunfermline
groundsman' so I rang him back and said 'Hey Alex, I forgot to ask
you about the Dunfermline groundsman' and, by God, he did know his
name and where he came from!"
Sheffield United's Neil Warnock
"I believe that Sir Alex is number one in England and one of the
top two or three in the world. I have found him a nice person, you
can talk to him without any problems
Liverpool's Rafael Benitez
"I know the pressure he has had to endure over such a long period,
so for him to keep driving himself forward and driving his team
forward is a fantastic achievement"
Blackburn's Mark Hughes
"You have to hold your hands up and say Sir Alex is the number one.
He has been at the top for 20 years. His desire is unstinting, his
passion and will to win fierce"
Wigan's Paul Jewell
"He is a shining light for any young manager who wants to progress.
He is probably second to none for what he has done but you can
still see that burning ambition in his eyes"
Manchester City's Stuart Pearce
"For what he knew was going to be a massive occasion, to change a
player he had previously shown a massive allegiance to, showed that
cold, cutting edge that all top managers need"
Reading's Steve Coppell on Ferguson dropping Jim
Leighton ahead of the 1990 FA Cup final replay against Coppell's
Crystal Palace
"He is the standard bearer for everyone in terms of management. You
have to be a very special character to have that amount of success
at a club like Manchester United"
Middlesbrough's Gareth Southgate
"Sir Alex is someone I have a great deal of respect for, and
someone I would look to emulate one day. If I could match his
record it would be fantastic"
Watford's Adrian Boothroyd
"Sir Alex is someone I certainly look up to because he is the one
who wins things. He epitomises everything you need in football -
stability and continuity, and United believed in him"
Everton's David Moyes
"I'll tell you why he's stayed in the game so long - he just loves
it so much. It gets in your blood and you take the job home with
you. He's a fantastic character, a top-class manager and a good
man"
Portsmouth's Harry Redknapp
"At the end of United's Treble-winning season in 1999, we were
having a cup of tea at the training ground and he was already
talking about what was needed for the season after. That's how he's
been so successful!"
England manager and ex-United assistant boss Steve
McClaren
