TRIBUTES

Steve Bruce

'From time to time myself, Mark Hughes, Bryan Robson and Gordon Strachan are all linked with United and asked if one of us will become United manager one day. If you've had an association with the club for 10 years that speculation does tend to happen because of your connections. Whether it happens, who knows?

'But I do think Sir Alex will be at Manchester United for a lot longer yet. He takes charge of his 1,000th game at the club this week which is a magnificent achievement and he has a fantastic record and still has a great desire and hunger to succeed.”

Arsène Wenger

It is a fantastic achievement. No matter about the differences we have, you have to think it's a fantastic achievement. I think for what he has done the overriding feeling I have for him is respect.

Fabio Capello

Ferguson is a historic figure in the English game. He's done great things and he is still enjoying great results. He's been there for 18 years, a truly impressive run even for a great coach like him. I think it's impossible to achieve such figures in Italy because here it's better to change after four or five years. In England the manager is more identified with the club and the relation between Ferguson and United is the perfect example of this.
 

Jose Mourinho

A thousand games at the same club is incredible, incredible, fantastic. You must be a top manager and love football, and the club must love him and the players must love him because when you are so many years in the club, if the players don't like you they cannot bear to see you when you arrive in the morning. [But] 1,000 games [for me] - naah. I will be in the Algarve before then. At 55, Algarve for sure.

Marcello Lippi

Italy coach and former European Cup-winner at Juventus

Ferguson is not only a great coach but also a friend, who has all my respect. It's been a great pleasure to meet him many times in cup competitions. He's already in the history of English football and I can only wish him to continue for many years. Now he's working with a younger squad but I'm sure he will be successful as he has always been in this long 18 years with United in which he has rewritten the history of the club.

Bobby McCulley
East Stirlingshire forward

He terrified us. I'd never been afraid of anyone before but he was such a frightening bastard from the start. Everything was focused towards his goals. Time didn't matter to him; he never wore a watch. If he wanted something done he'd stay as late as it took or come in early. He always joined in with us in training and would have us playing in the dark until his five-a-side team won. He was ferocious, elbowing and kicking.

Tony Fitzpatrick

St Mirren captain and then manager

He made me captain at just 17 and was always fantastic with me. I've heard all about his reputation now but he never threw teacups at me or anyone else but he had a very young team and it wasn't necessary. He is one of those people with an aura about him - you could just feel it. I think he's one of those great figures we see running through history; he's definitely got the gift of leadership.

Alex McLeish

Rangers manager and former Aberdeen centre-half
 

He's a leader of men. That's what he does best and it wouldn't have mattered where or when he managed a club like United, he would have been successful. He just gave players so much belief and even when we played Real Madrid in that Cup-Winners' Cup final he wasn't fazed at all and made sure we weren't either. His enormous mental strength is unquestionable.

Bryan Robson

He's had an incredible impact. It's not just having 1,000 games, it's the standards that he's set, and not just with United but with Aberdeen. It doesn't surprise me because he lives and breathes for football. With the amount of hours he spends in the office in the training ground, his life revolves around football.

 

Peter Schmeichel

You have to earn his respect, but it's clear what he wants. He doesn't care how you live your life as long as you give him consistent levels of effort and performance. Do that, and he trusts you. Fergie could be so aggressive, yet once he'd got a problem out into the open, it was gone. There are thousands of better coaches. Coaching isn't Fergie's strength. But management? The handling of men? There's nobody better.

Sir Bobby Charlton

He feels he has to put in an incredible effort to sustain success and that enthusiasm rubs off on everyone. He's a born winner and second is not good enough. At the highest level, nobody compares to him.

Martin O'Neill

When people talk about modern-day managers it is my own belief that he is the greatest in the game. I have the utmost admiration for him and I speak for every manager in European football.