Sir Alex Ferguson’s all-time XI: Wayne Rooney or Eric Cantona, Jaap Stam or Nemanja Vidic? Find out who makes team here
Legendary Scot's side made up exclusively of Man United players, despite winning Cup Winners' Cup with Aberdeen
IN THE first part of our legendary managers’ XIs, we take a look at Sir Alex Ferguson.
The legendary Scot has been in charge at East Sterlingshire, St Mirren and Aberdeen.
Though, his all-time XI will likely be compiled exclusively of Manchester United players.
Keep up to date with ALL the Manchester United news, gossip, transfers and goals on our club page plus fixtures, results and live match commentary
Ferguson won the Premier League 13 times, the Champions League twice, the Cup Winners’ Cup twice and the FA Cup five times in a stunning managerial career.
But who gets in his best-ever team?
Goalkeeper
Peter Schmeichel
THE Great Dane was the foundation for Ferguson’s early success.
Schmeichel was signed for just £500,000 and is generally considered one of the best goalkeepers of all-time.
He just beat off Edwin van der Sar, while David De Gea was another contender — but only spent two seasons under the Scot.
Honourable mentions go to Fabien Barthez and Tim Howard who both won the PFA Goalkeeper of the Year awards in their first seasons.
Defence
Gary Neville
PROBABLY the easiest pick of the bunch.
Neville was a stalwart and ever-present for over ten years and never had his place challenged.
Paul Parker and Wes Brown are the only other realistic contenders.
Rio Ferdinand
A REALLY classy defender, whose off-field attitude probably cost him the recognition he truly deserved.
Ferdinand captained United to Champions League success in 2008.
He beat off plenty of competition, but was one of Fergie’s best buys of the 2000s.
Nemanja Vidic
NOBODY thought United would replace Steve Bruce and Gary Pallister — and the same was said about Jaap Stam and Ronny Johnsen.
But Fergie did it. And some.
Vidic just pips Stam, who won a league title in all three seasons at Old Trafford.
The Serb was immense and became club captain.
Patrice Evra
UNLIKE the right full-back slot, this was the hardest pick of the bunch.
Denis Irwin would have been a popular choice — and the Irishman never let United down.
However, he never reached the levels Evra did.
While Irwin was solid for ten years, the Frenchman was absolutely world class — the best on the planet in his position for two years from 2007 to 2009 — and therefore gets the nod.
Midfield
David Beckham
THE set-piece specialist’s inclusion means a big name misses out — but one always would.
With Beckham on the pitch, United always had a better chance of scoring.
He was the best crosser of the ball in the world and his two corners won the Champions League in 1999.
Roy Keane
BRYAN ROBSON didn’t win enough under Fergie to warrant a place in this team — despite his unquestionable ability.
Keane may not get on with the Scot now, but together they were almost unstoppable.
The Irishman had extremely high standards, and demanded the same from his team-mats.
Honourable mentions go to Paul Ince and Gordon Strachan, was nominated for the Ballon d’Or whilst playing under Fergie in 1983.
Paul Scholes
ALMOST too good, in the sense United never truly realised his value until it was too late.
Maybe not through assists or goals, but Scholes would be responsible for most of his side’s goals on the pitch through his intelligent movement.
And he was a leader. Not in the vocal sense like Keane, but he would take the ball the relieve pressure on his team and trusted his own ability.
Would get in most teams.
Cristiano Ronaldo
YES, Ryan Giggs does not get in this team.
The Welshman was brilliant for 24 years in a United shirt — but Ronaldo was from another planet.
He is the greatest player to grace the Premier League, and probably English football.
Ronaldo took United to another level and was the spearhead of Fergie’s best and most exciting team.
Forwards
Eric Cantona
WAYNE ROONEY could become United’s record goal scorer and his immense contribution should always be remembered.
But he is just pipped by the enigmatic Frenchman.
Cantona changed the culture and United — and arguably English football.
Fergie’s most important signing and one of the biggest in the club’s history.
Ruud van Nistelrooy
ANDY COLE, Dwight Yorke, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer — the list of great strikers under Fergie is endless.
But Van Nistelrooy is arguably the best natural goal scorer in Premier League history.
He was the main man in arguably the club’s worst title-winning team — his goals pushed United over the line in 2003.
An honourable mention goes to Robin van Persie was another of Fergie’s most important signings, but just one year together means he doesn’t make the team.