Sir Alex Ferguson was blown away by ‘power and confidence’ that he saw from one ‘fantastic’ former Man Utd star

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Sir Alex Ferguson has waxed lyrical about the phenomenal impact of one former Manchester United star during his legendary reign at Old Trafford.

The 82-year-old Manchester United legend left the Red Devils in 2013 after he secured the Premier League club’s last league title in the 2012-13 season.

Sir Alex Ferguson created an enduring legacy at the Red Devils, with the revered Scotsman considered one of the best managers of all time.

The legendary former United manager first arrived at Old Trafford in 1986 after he left Aberdeen and succeeded Ron Atkinson at the Premier League club.

Ferguson weathered a tough start to life at United before he ushered in a period of dominance over England football with the Red Devils.

The Aberdeen legend led United to all 13 of their Premier League titles and two Champions League trophies, including an iconic treble feat in the 1998-99 season.

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Ferguson talks up former Man Utd star

Speaking to Rangers legend Ally McCoist, Sir Alex Ferguson opened up about his final season at Old Trafford with Manchester United.

The Red Devils had missed out on the Premier League title in the 2011-12 campaign on the final day of the season to rivals Manchester City.

Ferguson entered the 2012 summer transfer window and made a statement of intent by signing Robin van Persie from United’s rivals Arsenal in a £24m move.

Robin van Persie had a sensational impact in the 2012-13 campaign, with the Dutchman scoring an impressive 26 times in 38 Premier League appearances.

United would beat Manchester City to the title in the 2012-13 season by 11 points and Robin van Persie took home the Premier League Golden Boot award.

“I always said when I got to January – what I did every January 1st, I wrote down every year where our opponents’ games could be won or lost and I put us down to win by 10 points,” Ferguson told Ally McCoist on Ally’s Social Club, as per The Daily Mirror.

“The team was playing really well and I thought we’d do that. But I think it was 11 points.

“They did really well, the team did really well and Van Persie was fantastic – his goals, his thrust in the game, his power and confidence.”

READ MORE: Man Utd legend David Beckham names ‘one of the hardest trainers’ he played alongside, he was a human cheat code

Ferguson on retiring after Premier League title win

Robin van Persie’s influence after Ferguson’s retirement waned and the 41-year-old former United striker’s run at Old Trafford was curtailed by injuries.

The ex-Arsenal and United star played under David Moyes and Louis van Gaal at the Red Devils before he left for Turkish side Fenerbahce in 2015.

Ferguson revealed that he wanted to retire and spend more time with his late wife Lady Cathy Ferguson, who died in 2023, after her sister had passed away.

“Cathy’s sister had died in the previous October and she was lost,” he said.

“She was definitely lost so at Christmas I said to her ‘Look, I’m going to retire at the end of the season.’

“I knew by her reaction that she was delighted because she was on her own. She had given her life to me, everything to me.

“[She was] looking after me because of my job… bringing the kids up. When I said I was going to retire, she was delighted and I knew that. I could tell by her body language.”