Source: Daily_Mail
Sir Alex Ferguson 25 years at Manchester United: What made him the best ever
Sir Alex Ferguson completes 25 years as manager of Manchester United on Sunday. In that time, United have gone from 26 years without a league title to winning 37 major trophies. The 12-time title winner has influenced the lives and careers of players, managers and rivals. Here, a host of them reveal their personal stories about Fergie, providing an insight into what has made him the greatest club manager of all time. [LNB]ALEX McLEISH (Ex-Aberdeen defender)[LNB]One pre-season with Aberdeen, Fergie decided we would have a game of cricket and that he would bat first. He was bowled in the first over - the stumps went flying. Alex stood there and just said: 'That's not out. In this game, you can't be out in the first over.' So, we had to re-instate him. He was soon run out and we saw the bat launched about 30 yards as the inevitable tantrum followed. But that wasn't the best of it. In the second innings, one of the young boys, a lad called Stevie Cowan, got him out, caught and bowled. The gaffer raised his bat and pointed to wee Stevie, saying: 'You see these grounds, you can start running around them.' The game finished, Sir Alex forgot he was there and two hours later Stevie came in dripping with sweat and saying: 'Getting him out was worth every bloody step!'[LNB] MICHEL PLATINI (French midfield legend, now UEFA president)[LNB] Sir Alex is a great collector of medals. His personal collection, which dates back to the start of his coaching career, is probably one of the most prestigious in the world of football. He treasures all his medals with pride. And yet there was no trace of his victory in 1983, when Aberdeen beat Real Madrid to lift the European Cup-Winners' Cup. Sir Alex mentioned it to me one day in Nyon. I was struck by his emotion and promised myself then and there that I would complete my friend's collection. Some months later, on the night of the 2011 Champions League final against Barcelona, I surprised him with that very medal, 28 years after his victory in Sweden. An unconditional football lover and as passionate now as he always was, Sir Alex was thrilled to bits and couldn't hide his delight - further evidence, if any were needed, that this man, with his unyielding devotion to the game and that glint in his eyes, is one of football's true champions.[LNB] DAVID MOYES (Everton manager)[LNB] When I was at Preston, Alex rang me out of the blue one afternoon to discuss a 14-year-old we had at the club. If I'm honest, I wasn't even sure of the boy's name but Alex knew all about him and was keen for him to go to United's academy. I found that a real eye-opener. With everything he had going on at first- team level and all the pressure that accompanies it, to be able to know such precise details of a young kid showed his attention to detail.[LNB] MIKE DUXBURY (played in Fergie's first United game v Oxford, Nov 8, 1986) [LNB] Alex always loved a quiz and I remember one coach trip when Viv Anderson challenged him to name five England internationals with an 'x' in their name. He got Lee and Kerry Dixon, Graham Rix and Graeme Le Saux, but just couldn't get the fifth. There I was, sat right next to him on the coach thinking: 'Thanks boss, that's just great!'[LNB] Legends: Ferguson with Sir Matt Busby[LNB] PETER DAVENPORT (also played in first United match) [LNB] He'd flown down on the Thursday night and taken over on the Friday morning. You could tell he was nervous. Before the Oxford game, Alex went through the team and said 'Up front, it's Frank and Nigel . . .' Bryan Robson said: 'Nigel who?' Fergie pointed at me. He'd got me mixed up with Nigel Davenport, the old actor from Howards' Way. We all had a good laugh and it kind of broke the ice in a way. You could tell it meant a lot to him to be manager of Manchester United. He'd broken the Rangers-Celtic domination in Scotland and he was determined to break the Liverpool-Everton domination in England. You could tell he knew it was a huge job and a huge task. When I was playing for Sunderland in the 1992 FA Cup Final against Liverpool, I got a phone call at the team hotel on the morning of the game and it was Fergie. We hadn't spoken in three years, but he just said 'look, I just want to wish you all the best.' He took the time out to phone me and I really appreciated that. My roommate, Gordon Armstrong, thought it was a wind-up. [LNB] ALAN PARDEW (Newcastle manager)[LNB] You should not underestimate the work Sir Alex does for the League Managers Association on behalf of managers out of work. It is a lonely time. You don't just get shuffled over into the corner, he makes you feel like you are in the thick of it; in his office, watching him close up, and then standing with him on the training ground. We then went into the Manchester United canteen and I was hoping for a sausage roll, but he told me to have porridge. I went for the sugar, he insisted on salt; told me it was good for me. You don't argue with Sir Alex. He knows, but I'm not sure about the porridge with salt! It's a Scottish tradition, apparently. Twenty-five years tell you that it works for him.[LNB] ARCHIE KNOX (Former assistant who shared a house with Sir Alex near Manchester, below) [LNB] We'd never seen the house before, but we took it. Alex dived up the stairs and got the best room. On a Sunday morning, I'd go and get the papers and the rolls, the bacon and eggs and he'd make the breakfast. One day, I'm reading a paper when there's this almighty explosion. I thought the kitchen had been blown up. So I run through and here's Alex waving his arms and flapping at the fire and the smoke. There was one of these old cookers with the grill on top. He'd left a big box of Swan matches on top and they caught fire. What a bang! That could have been the end of the United thing before it got started.[LNB] Best of enemies: Former Newcastle boss Kevin Keegan (left) playfully getting to grips with Ferguson[LNB] GRAHAM POLL (Former World Cup referee)[LNB] After coming home from the 2006 World Cup, rumours spread that I might retire. Sir Alex phoned and told me never to quit on a negative. I continued for a season but when I considered my future again, in April of 2007, he called again, saying: 'I can't call you every year . . .' This time I told him I was retiring because: 'I'm just not enjoying refereeing any more.' He said: 'Well, f*** off then; I told Roy (Keane) the same when he was moping around here. If you're no longer enjoying something, then you've got to move on.'[LNB] FABIO CAPELLO (England manager, left)[LNB] I remember meeting Sir Alex in Rome. When we were eating lunch and having a coffee, he said to me: 'Fabio, I've done something really crazy. I've bought a young player for €54million - his name is Wayne Rooney. I must be mad. If he's not a good player then they'll kill me.' He found himself a really, really good player.[LNB] DARREN FERGUSON (Peterborough manager and son)[LNB] Dad came into the bedroom I shared with my twin brother, Jason, in Aberdeen and just said: 'I'm going to Manchester United.' We were 14 at the time and it was a job he just couldn't turn down. Winning the FA Cup in 1990 against Crystal Palace was the big changing point. It meant he could build what he wanted, it bought him time. After the 1-0 win in the replay, my brother, who worked at Sky at the time, said he was going to the toilet and, two minutes later, he had managed to get past security and turned up on the Wembley pitch. My dad had to go down and say: 'That's my son!' Typical Jason. But it was such a great night because the whole family knew how hard he had worked and we just felt something had changed. [LNB]BRYAN ROBSON (Ex-United captain)[LNB]Gary Pallister had a beast of a first half against Norwich. At half-time, Fergie tore into him, saying: 'You're a disgrace, Pallister. You're coming off, you'll be lucky to play again for this club.' So Pally started stripping off and was sat there disconsolate in just his jockstrap. Meanwhile, his assistant Archie Knox had taken Fergie into the shower room to talk to him. He was still talking when the buzzer went to let us know the second half was about to start. Fergie came storming out and said: 'Pallister, you're not getting away with it that easily. Get your kit on and get out there.' There was a mad panic as Pally scrambled around the dressing-room floor trying to find his kit![LNB] You never lose it! Fergie shows off his skills[LNB] PHIL NEVILLE (Ex-United defender)[LNB] The night I left United in August 2005 had the potential to be really uncomfortable. I didn't want to hear the news and I don't think Sir Alex relished the idea of telling me. He called me to his house and I was apprehensive. What followed was the best piece of man-management I have witnessed. The more he was letting me down, the more he was building me up. I was terrified of Sir Alex when I was coming through the ranks, but that evening he made me feel a million dollars.[LNB] JOHN TERRY (Chelsea and England captain)[LNB] I was 14 when Sir Alex invited my family and me to watch Manchester United play West Ham at Upton Park. We watched the game from the directors' box and I'll never forget how Sir Alex introduced us to the team at the pre-match meal. He sat me down between Paul Ince and Eric Cantona and told them to take care of me and make sure I got the autographs and photos I wanted. I'd been travelling up to train at United with David Beckham. I'll never forget how well he treated my family that day.[LNB] LADY ELSIE ROBSON (Widow of Sir Bobby Robson)[LNB] I was very impressed by the way Sir Alex spoke at Bob's memorial service at Durham Cathedral. To make a speech as powerful as that - and without notes - was just incredible. What I remember most about it was when he said Bob had remained true to his pit village roots and that he hadn't changed. Well, that's something that can also be said of Sir Alex. Sir Alex and my husband were always in contact and Alex was very quick to help when we launched our cancer charity and continues to do so now. www.sirbobbyrobsonfoundation.org.uk [LNB]JAAP STAM (Ex-United defender)[LNB] I will always be thankful to Sir Alex but I will never forget the way it ended. I had written a book that was serialised in an English paper. I went to see Ferguson in his office, where he reassured me. Later in the week, though, he called me and asked me to meet him in a parking lot. He got in my car and told me he had agreed a deal with Lazio and was bringing another defender in (Laurent Blanc) and that I would be on the bench if I stayed. The Nevilles and Beckham all called me and told me not to go, but Ferguson knew I wasn't going to accept being on the bench. [LNB] LEE MARTIN (His goal won the 1990 FA Cup final replay)[LNB] I was at left back and standing right next to where Sir Alex was on the bench. All of a sudden, with about an hour gone, I heard a shout coming from him saying: 'Get forward'. So I put my head down, ran towards the box and got on the end of a brilliant ball from Neil Webb to score what turned out to be the winner. Afterwards, we were all celebrating in the dressing room and the manager came over to me and said: 'When I shouted about getting forward, I wasn't talking to you!'[LNB] DAVE JONES (Took his Southampton side to Old Trafford in 1999 after being accused of child abuse. He was later cleared)[LNB] Alex invited me into his room and said he wanted to walk out of the tunnel shoulder to shoulder with me. This was a magnificent gesture of support. The game was a cracker, and finished 3-3. At the final whistle I walked over to Alex for the customary handshake. He put his arm round my shoulder and whispered in my ear: 'You can f***ing well walk back to the dressing room on your own!'[LNB]When we arrived at the ground, Sir Alex invited me in to his room for a cup of tea. "I'll be there is a few minutes, Sir Alex," I replied. Having briefed my players, I made my way to Sir Alex's room and we shook hands. "You called me Sir Alex earlier," he said, looking embarrassed. "Come on, David," he added, "you've known me long enough" He paused. "Just call me Sir!" Then, to my astonishment, Sir Alex said he wanted to walk out of the tunnel shoulder to shoulder with me. This was a magnificent gesture of support. As we walked out, the place erupted as it always does. The response I got was wonderful and Sir Alex's gesture had played a big part. The game itself was a cracker. Matt Le Tissier scored twice and Marian Pahars got the other in a 3-3 draw. At the final whistle I walked over to Sir Alex for the customary handshake. He put his arm round my shoulder and whispered in my ear: "You can f***ing well walk back to the dressing room on your own!" Classic Fergie. [LNB] STEVE BRUCE (Ex-United captain)[LNB]I had a pretty unspectacular record when playing my first game for a new club. I had been knocked out on my debut for Gillingham and scored an own goal for Norwich. I kept up my record for United, giving away a penalty and having my nose broken at Portsmouth! We won 2-1 but Alex wasnot happy. He sat us down and explained in fairly explicit terms - without ever losing control - that the performance he had just seen was not good enough. But as we stood up to get showered, he patted me on the back and nodded his head as if to say: 'Well done.' I would have gone out and played another 90 minutes for him there and then.[LNB] With honours: Ferguson with his wife Cathy after receiving a CBE at Buckingham Palace[LNB]DAVID PLEAT (Ex-Tottenham manager)[LNB] One of my earliest memories of Alex is going abroad with him and some other managers to see an international game. For dinner he wore the most immaculate white dinner jacket. But what struck me was his socialism, his intelligence and knowledge of things like history and politics. He has always been a great friend of other, lower managers. But he does that because he knows that when he wants to buy a player from them he will get him! That's Alex, always thinking.[LNB] JOHN MOTSON (BBC commentator)[LNB] It was October 1980, Aberdeen versus Liverpool in the European Cup, and I went to Pittodrie to cover the game for the BBC. I'd heard all about this chap called Ferguson, so I rang him up. He asked me where I was staying and, when I reached the hotel, he was waiting there for me! It showed me he was a man who was well organised and wanted to get on. He gave me a run-down of his Aberdeen team, with Strachan, Miller, McLeish and Leighton, to help with my commentary. [LNB] ANDY TOWNSEND (Rep of Ireland World Cup captain)[LNB] My Villa side were 3-0 up at half-time on the first day of the 1995-96 season in the game which prompted Alan Hansen to say: 'You won't win anything with kids'. You had to pass the away dressing room to get to the home one. The door was open and Fergie was giving Steve Bruce the full, turbo-charged hairdryer from six inches in front of him. They were both bright red. It was fascinating to observe. [LNB] Special time: Fergie has enjoyed unparalleled success at United [LNB]PAUL NICHOLLS (Champion trainer for National Hunt horses owned by Sir Alex, headed by What A Friend)[LNB] After going out to Bayern Munich in the Champions League in 2010, Sir Alex asked us up for a drink. Spirits were rock bottom but as we left around midnight, I put my arm around him and said: 'Don't worry. Tomorrow's another day.' What A Friend was running at the first day of the Aintree Grand National meeting and all afternoon Scousers kept chanting (Bayern Munich winger) Arjen Robben's name to wind up Sir Alex. But then What A Friend battled home under Ruby Walsh to land the Totesport Bowl Chase. In 24 hours, he was transformed from the low of defeat to such a high.[LNB] MARTIN KEOWN (Former England and Arsenal defender)[LNB] It was 1989, I was leaving Arsenal and I went up to see Alex Ferguson. I was keen to move there, even though the offer was half as much as another I had. I said to Ferguson: 'It's not about the money - let's go and have a look at the famous pitch.' What followed was a surreal moment, as he brought out a huge bunch of keys and tried to work out which one would let us into the ground. We couldn't get in for ages. Eventually I asked him for his advice about which club to join, expecting him to say: 'Don't worry, we'll sort out the money - come and play for me.' But instead he talked about how important family was and I got the impression he didn't want me. Maybe I was wrong but I missed out on a lot more league titles![LNB] VIV ANDERSON (Fergie's first United signing)[LNB] My first game was a pre-season friendly at Hartlepool. We had Turner, Moran, McGrath, Duxbury, Strachan, Robson, Whiteside, Olsen and Hughes in the side, and by half-time we were 5-0 down! That's the first time we saw the hairdryer. He went around each of us individually telling us what he thought of us and the veins in his neck were sticking out. Welcome to Manchester United![LNB] NIGEL CLOUGH (Derby manager)[LNB] I was in charge at Burton Albion in November 2005 and Sir Alex very kindly brought his team to open our new stadium. It was in the midst of United's great rivalry with Chelsea and Jose Mourinho. My son, Wills, has always been a closet Chelsea fan and he was under strict instructions not to mention this at any time to Mr Ferguson. Sir Alex met Wills and asked him which team he followed. Wills initially fell silent and refused to answer, sticking rigidly to the party line we had agreed. But, his cover was blown by his younger sister Helena, who blurted out: 'Chelsea, he supports Chelsea.' Sir Alex looked suitably unimpressed![LNB] All smiles: Ferguson enjoys a joke with Nigel Clough at Burton Albion in 2005[LNB]DAVE BASSETT (Former Wimbledon and Sheffield United manager) [LNB]You might not expect a fellow manager to know what it's like to be on the end of the Fergie hairdryer treatment - but believe me, I do. I've always got on with Alex but there was one time he went raving mad at me - all over a misunderstanding. It was before my Sheffield United side played at home to Manchester United in the FA Cup in January 1995. Before the game the press boys had asked me whether we could put Alex's players under pressure a bit and maybe even intimidate them. I said: "Are you f***ing joking? Look, they've got Keane, Hughes, Scholes, Cantona - not to mention Steve Bruce. They're not exactly a bunch of wimps, are they?" At the time I thought I was being flattering. But the headlines before the game said I'd described them as "hard men." When Alex phoned me in the morning I thought he was wanting tickets. Then he went absolutely mad. He was ranting and raving and, strange to say of me, I couldn't get a word in edgeways. He said I'd accused his team of being dirty and that I was playing mind games. I tried to explain but he was seething and put the phone down. United beat us and Alex came into my office for a drink after the game. By then he'd calmed down. I was able to explain that I was being complimentary in that he had players who could battle as well as play. He was as good as gold after that. Alex was good enough to present me with a trophy after I'd achieved 1,000 games as a manager. His career has been phenomenal and we will never see the likes of him again.[LNB]JIMMY ARMFIELD (Former England captain) [LNB]I always remember the days when I shared a cup of tea with Alex and his assistant Archie Knox after Manchester United's Friday training sessions at the Cliff. This was early in Alex's time at Old Trafford. He's always enjoyed a good yarn and loves swapping stories about football. Many of them would be about his time in Scottish football. One of his favourites was about a coach he'd known when he started as a player, which was roughly the same time as me. This man used to come out onto the training ground wearing wellies and with his dog in tow. He would keep throwing the ball for his dog to fetch it - and only then did he get on to discussing football with his players![LNB] Rivalry: Ferguson and Sven-Goran Eriksson shared some heated discussions over Wayne Rooney[LNB]MICK McCARTHY (Wolves manager) [LNB]I had been confirmed in my first job at Millwall for a couple of days when I was working through a pile of paperwork. One of the first faxes I had received was from Sir Alex. I know I'm not the only one to have done so. But when someone like that takes time out to wish you all the best, it does give you a lift. This, after all, was my first experience of football management. It meant a great deal. I half-feared the worst when, during the pre-match build up to one of our games last season, I joked beforehand that I was sick and tired of tasting the 'unlucky wine,' that he served up in his office after matches at Old Trafford. Whenever you went in afterwards, he would be there to greet you with his hand outstretched. 'Unlucky,' he'd say in his first breath, 'wine?' in his second. When Wolves ended Manchester United's 29-match unbeaten run last season, he came in to see me and said: 'Well done you'd better give me a glass of that unlucky wine...'[LNB]SVEN-GORAN ERIKSSON (Former England manager) [LNB]My relationship with Sir Alex Ferguson has not always been a smooth one, as he and I both know well. How would I describe my attempts to persuade Alex that Wayne Rooney's metatarsal injury had healed enough for him to play for me in the group stages of the 2006 World Cup - or in any stage of the 2006 World Cup for that matter? "Ouch" might be one way to put it! They were big discussions that I had with him, at that time. Difficult discussions. Alex is world-class at defending his interests at Manchester United. He would sell his life for that club, and that is an enormous strength. But it wasn't always easy to be philosophical from our World Cup base in the Black Forest when I was trying to persuade him that playing Rooney in the tournament was no risk. In the end, it became a clash. I'll never forget the day when we were in the middle of a phone conversation one minute, and the next minute the line had gone dead! Alex had sought some expert opinion to support his case. It was a professor of orthopaedic surgery who United used and who said that Rooney should not play until after the group stages. That wasn't the view of my fitness coach, Ivan Carminati, or the doctor of the England team, whose advice I went with. It was quite a disagreement.[LNB]TONY PULIS (Stoke City manager) [LNB]We'd just got promoted when my phone rang, and it was Alex, telling me all about what to expect in the Premier League. He said: 'You will find it difficult, because it is a massive step up. But the most important thing, Tone, is make your ground a fortress. Win your home games, because going away in this league is very tough.' It was quite unsolicited. I didn't go begging for help. He just rang me up and offered me all sorts of advice, because he wanted to help. That says everything about him. He is a fantastic fella, and he always has time for you. He never ever doesn't return your call. It may be a day later, depending what he's got on, but if you leave a message, he gets back to you, without fail. You don't want to cross him, because he can be a really difficult character if you do that. But as a person, from my experience, he couldn't be more helpful. Nothing is too much trouble, and he has been very generous with me in many ways. You can speak to people throughout football, and they will tell you the same. He is very competitive when it comes to those directly challenging him at the top, but below that level, if he's got five minutes, it's yours. He would never walk away from helping you.[LNB]PETER REID (Former Manchester City manager)[LNB]I remember the 1-1 draw at Old Trafford when I was City manager, in April 1992. Neil Pointon was sent off for a tackle on Ryan Giggs, and when I went into the post-match press conference, someone said: 'Alex has just been in and said Pointon tried to maim him.' I just said: 'Hold it right there.' I shot out of the room and made straight for Alex's office. I said: 'Eh, did you just tell the press one of my players set out to maim Ryan Giggs?' He looked horrified and said: 'That's come out the wrong way. Let me sort it out.' With that, he headed straight for the press room, even though he'd already been in once, and put everyone right. He made sure everyone had his quotes absolutely spot-on. A couple of minutes later, he was back in his office, and we were having a glass of wine. Job done. That's how he is.[LNB] Making a meal of it: Fergie dines with his old Manchester City counterpart Peter Reid in 1992[LNB]GIOVANNI TRAPATTONI (Republic Of Ireland manager) [LNB]Alex is the living history of Manchester United. He is a great man, with a great mentality and great attitude. We have had many battles and like me, he is a winner. I like him because he always takes every opportunity to win. When I think of my age, I think of him as well. As long as you have the enthusiasm and health, you can work in football. We are a little bit the same. I congratulate him on his 25 years as manager of Manchester.[LNB]DION DUBLIN (Former Manchester United striker) [LNB]It was my Old Trafford debut and it lasted about 60 minutes. My left leg and left ankle sort of gave way on me from a tackle from behind. I am the reason why Man United have won all those trophies - its down to me, it really is. I break my leg and then they bring in this has-been called Cantona who just takes the world of football by storm. As soon as he came in it just took off. Players warmed to him. He had a touch of a genius, he could head it, he could tackle, left and right foot, the guy was an absolute genius. And I think that's what Man United needed. Ferguson looks after people like Cantona, people like Ronaldo. They're personalities that you can't just treat the same as you would treat me or you would treat Lee Sharpe or Gary Pallister. Because they're all different characters so some people need an arm round them, some people need the hairdryer. You know if you do that to Eric he would have just left. Do it to Ronaldo then he'd have just left. So you've got to know how to do that and Sir Alex is the best at it.[LNB]RYAN GIGGS (Manchester United midfielder)[LNB]The gaffer heard from someone else that Lee Sharpe and I had been out in Blackpool on a Monday night. He was so angry he drove straight to Sharpey's house. It was a new estate and there was no number on the door but that didn't put him off. He just kept knocking on door after door looking for Lee's place. Every wrong one made him more angry. When he knocked on the right one he was volcanic. He threw everyone out - some of them our non-footballing mates and girls who were nothing to do with him. Three apprentices upstairs hid in the wardrobe and never got caught. He was so angry I really thought he was going to hit Lee. [LNB] The master and his apprentice: Ferguson and Ryan Giggs bring home the European Cup in 2008[LNB] RIO FERDINAND (Manchester United defender) [LNB]Sir Alex has an incredible presence about him and when I signed for United I was still in awe of him. He lightened the mood at my press conference when he looked at my suit and said 'Bloody hell, are you going out after?' It was a magnificent suit - white linen with a thick black pinstripe. I later found out that if anyone wears any dodgy gear, the gaffer rips it out of them. He reckons he's a stylish dresser, which I'd better not comment on.[LNB]JOHN SIVEBAEK (Scorer of first goal of Fergie reign in a 1-0 win over QPR, Nov 22, 1986, after United had gone 213 minutes without a goal under the new manager) [LNB] IT WAS important for him to win his first game and important for me personally as well because it was the only goal I scored for United. I wanted to show him what I could do. We got a free-kick about 20 yards out in front of goal, and I hit it hard but bent it a bit like Beckham as well. I was delighted to score his and my first goal, and it meant a lot to him to get his first win at Old Trafford. He's the best manager I had and also the nicest. He was great to me while I was there even though I left after one year, and we have a great relationship. It was a big change from Ron Atkinson, The players could feel it from the first day. He had a different idea of how he wanted to play and train and we all realised that straightaway.[LNB]HOWARD WILKINSON (former Leeds and Sheffield Wednesday manager and president of the LMA) [LNB]We once had an LMA committee meeting and after we had a meal where the conversation drifted to which managers were the most disliked. Alex, as he was then, before the knighthood, was there and Jim Smith turned to him, looked him in the eye and said: 'I'll tell you who's the most hated manager in football, it's f***ing you!' For a split second Alex was taken aback and the room was silent, then everyone cracked out laughing and Jim said: 'Basically, you never let anyone else win anything.' Sir Alex is quite simply the best club manager there has ever been, given the time he's been at the top and the things he's done, and I can't see anyone in the future achieving as much. On top of which, he also takes his responsibilities towards the game very seriously.[LNB]KENNY DALGLISH (Liverpool manager) [LNB]There is nothing else I can say. He has always been the same. Whatever his virtues are now, they were the same when he was successful at Aberdeen. It was an achievement at Aberdeen to get in front of the Old Firm and you cannot under-estimate that achievement. It might not be significant here, but it is in Scotland. The first time I came across him, he gave me a lift into town. There were a crowd of us in Glasgow, young players who were attached to various clubs and one of the lads who was at Rangers we met and Fergie gave him and us a lift into town. I marked him in a game once - he couldn't breathe! I was a big centre back then. I must have shrunk. [LNB] 1986-2011: Picture special of Fergie through the years...Football... bloody hell! Great Ferguson quotes from over the last 25 yearsSchmeichel, Cantona, Ronaldo... Ferguson's best-ever signings at Old TraffordFerguson's trophy cabinet: All the major cups won in 25 glorious years[LNB] [LNB]
