The legendary former Red Devils manager can only guarantee one player who would definitely make his all-time team.
Former Irish left-back Denis Irwin is the only player Sir Alex Ferguson can guarantee would make his dream Manchester United line-up.
November 6 marks the 35th anniversary of Ferguson’s appointment as manager. The Scot replaced Ron Atkinson and embarked on an incredible 1,500 game spell in charge, from 1986 to 2013.
Over the course of his time, Ferguson coached many formidable talents including Cristiano Ronaldo, David Beckham, and Eric Cantona – to name a few.
📅 35 Years Ago Today:
👔 Sir Alex Ferguson was appointed @ManUtd manager.
🏟 1,500 Games
✅ 895 Wins
🤝 338 Draws
❌ 267 Defeats
🏆 38 Trophies🐐 The Best Ever. pic.twitter.com/wvq0Xqpyr5
— SPORF (@Sporf) November 6, 2021
So it’s perhaps of no surprise that even he cannot decide which of these star-studded names would make his ultimate Red Devils XI.
Speaking to the Sunday World back in 2013, Ferguson said: “People ask you: ‘Who is your best Man United team?’ and it’s absolutely impossible.”
Who would start in the attack?
Ferguson continued: “It is absolutely impossible. You look at the strikers I had, going back to [Brian] McClair, [Mark] Hughes, [Andy] Cole, [Eric] Cantona, [Ruud] van Nistelrooy, [Louis] Saha, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, [Dwight] Yorke, Teddy Sheringham,” Ferguson continued.
“Then to the present players – Wayne Rooney, [Robin] van Persie, Chicharito [Javier Hernandez]. How do you pick out of that? Cantona and somebody else maybe?”
Midfield?
“The midfield was probably a bit easier because you have [Roy] Keane, [Bryan] Robson and [Paul] Scholes – they were fantastic players – and [David] Beckham, [Cristiano] Ronaldo and [Ryan] Giggs,” the Scottish coach added.
Dennis Irwin, the one man Ferguson would pick
“Honestly, I would say Denis Irwin would be the one certainty to get in the team. At Highbury in one game, he had a bad pass back in the last minute and [Dennis] Bergkamp came in and scored. After the game the press said: ‘You must be disappointed in that pass back.’ I said: ‘Well, one mistake in 10 years isn’t bad.’ He was an unbelievable player.”
Born 31st October 1965, Mr consistency, Denis Irwin. Always an 8 out of 10, the signing from Oldham in 1990, stayed at Utd for 12 years playing 529 games scoring 33 goals. He is by far the best full back I have seen play. He left United in 2002 joining Wolves on a free transfer pic.twitter.com/Obwd6vl0lr
— Paul English (@paulenglish1961) October 31, 2021
Manchester United hope to mark Ferguson’s anniversary by beating Manchester City in the derby on Saturday. For match details and betting tips, check out the link here.
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