A former player who Sir Alex Ferguson tried to sign has waxed lyrical about the impact that the “loyal” former Manchester United manager has had on him.
Sir Alex Ferguson is considered one of the best managers of all time after his long-lasting impact with Manchester United in England and with Aberdeen in Scotland.
The 82-year-old Scot enjoyed incredible success with Aberdeen, including lifting the European Cup Winners’ Cup in 1983 with a famous win over Real Madrid.
Ferguson’s exploits in Scotland caught the eye of former United chairman Martin Edwards, who brought the former Aberdeen boss to Old Trafford in 1986.
The former United manager, who succeeded Ron Atkinson in the Old Trafford dugout, ushered in a period of dominance for the Red Devils in English football.
Ferguson engineered all 13 of United’s Premier League title wins, including leading the Red Devils to an iconic treble win in the famous 1998-99 season.
The iconic Scotsman bowed out of Old Trafford in 2013 after he secured United’s last Premier League title in the 2012-13 season.
Ferguson’s influence on manager
Former Everton star Duncan Ferguson took his first steps into management in 2023 after he was appointed manager of Forest Green Rovers.
However, Duncan Ferguson endured an ill-fated spell at Forest Green Rovers and left after less than six months in charge, having managed only one win in 18 matches.
The 52-year-old former Scotland striker bounced back and took charge of Scottish League One side Inverness only months after his exit from Forest Green Rovers.
During his time in charge of Inverness, Ferguson oversaw the Scottish side’s demotion from the Scottish Championship after suffering defeat in the play-offs.
Ferguson, who previously served as interim manager for Everton, opened up about his relationship with Manchester United legend Sir Alex Ferguson.
“I am friends with Sir Alex. He is a great man, a legend of the game. He’s the king,” he said at his press conference on Thursday, as per The Press and Journal.
“I feel very privileged to regard him as a friend. It’s great he is supporting me, as he has supported other managers up and down the country.
“Back in the day, around about 1996 I think, he tried to sign me while I was at Everton. I got injured and it stopped that transfer.
“I was an Everton man and I loved the club, but Sir Alex is God, isn’t he? Let’s be fair. He’s football royalty, a great man.”
Ferguson’s introduction to Man Utd legend
Sir Alex has close ties with Inverness and the legendary former United manager recently helped clear £3m of historic debts that the club had faced.
The Aberdeen legend also urged Inverness to stick with Duncan Ferguson and backed the former Forest Green Rovers boss in his current role at Caley Thistle.
Ferguson revealed that he built a closer connection to Sir Alex after an introduction from former England and West Ham manager Sam Allardyce.
“I got closer to him, really, through big Sam Allardyce. Sam introduced me to him, and it went from there,” Ferguson continued.
“I can’t speak any more highly of him. He’s the greatest. He’s helped me through my career as a manager and he is always there for advice.
“He is always there for anybody that knows him. He’s a loyal, straight-talking man and I’ll always lean on these guys, like Sir Alex, like big Sam, I’m very fortunate to have those friends.
“He has offered to help Caley Thistle! Does he have a player?”
Receive a digest of our best United content each week direct to your mailbox
