Sir Alex Ferguson, the legendary manager of Manchester United, had a glittering 27-year career filled with remarkable successes. With 13 Premier League titles and two Champions League triumphs, it’s no surprise that he worked with some of the greatest players in the history of English football. When asked to name his all-time greatest team during his time at the club, Ferguson faced a challenging task.
The Scotsman admitted that it was “absolutely impossible” to choose from the array of talented strikers, naming Brian McClair, Mark Hughes, Andy Cole, Eric Cantona, Ruud van Nistelrooy, Louis Saha, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Dwight Yorke, and Teddy Sheringham as contenders. He also acknowledged the difficulty in selecting midfielders, but ultimately settled on Roy Keane, Bryan Robson, Paul Scholes, David Beckham, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Ryan Giggs as his dream midfield.
However, when it came to full-backs, there was only one player who was a certainty in Ferguson’s eyes: Denis Irwin. The manager recalled a match at Highbury where Irwin made a mistake that led to a goal, but he quickly defended the player, stating that “one mistake in 10 years isn’t bad.” Irwin, who joined United from Oldham in 1990, went on to have an illustrious career, winning 18 trophies during his 12 seasons at the club and becoming one of the most decorated Irish footballers of all time.
While Ferguson’s all-time XI may be difficult to narrow down, there’s no denying that he had the privilege of managing some of the greatest players to ever grace the pitch at Old Trafford.
- Sir Alex Ferguson oversaw a glittering era at Man United, winning numerous trophies.
- When asked about his all-time XI, he named a surprising player as the only certainty.
Who was the one player Sir Alex Ferguson guaranteed a spot for in his all-time Man United XI? The legendary manager, who spent 27 illustrious years at the helm of the club, had a surprising answer up his sleeve.
During his tenure, Ferguson guided United to an astonishing 13 Premier League titles and two Champions League triumphs. He managed some of the greatest players to ever grace the pitch, including iconic names such as Eric Cantona, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Wayne Rooney.
However, when it came to selecting his dream team, Ferguson faced a challenging task. In an interview, he admitted that it was nearly impossible to choose from the plethora of talented strikers and midfielders who had worn the United jersey. Names like Cantona, Rooney, and Ronaldo immediately sprang to mind, but it was a player in a different position who stood out as the only certainty.
Sir Alex Ferguson had a surprising answer when it came to his all-time Man United XI
Ferguson managed an array of talented players during his time at Old Trafford
Ferguson reflected on the abundance of striking options, mentioning renowned names such as Brian McClair, Mark Hughes, Andy Cole, Cantona, Ruud van Nistelrooy, Louis Saha, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Dwight Yorke, and Teddy Sheringham. He also acknowledged the midfield maestros he had at his disposal, including the likes of Roy Keane, Bryan Robson, Paul Scholes, David Beckham, Ronaldo, and Ryan Giggs.
However, it was in the full-back position that Ferguson found his one certainty. In his autobiography, he revealed that Denis Irwin was the only player guaranteed a spot in his all-time XI. Irwin, who joined United from Oldham in June 1990, became one of the most decorated players in Irish football history during his 12 seasons at the club.
Ferguson named several players as potential contenders for his team
Denis Irwin was the only player Ferguson considered a ‘certainty’ for his all-time XI
Ferguson recalled a match at Highbury where Irwin made a rare mistake, leading to a goal for the opposition. However, he quickly defended the player, stating that “one mistake in 10 years isn’t bad.” Irwin’s consistency and exceptional performances over a long period of time solidified his place in Ferguson’s dream team.
While the competition for spots in Ferguson’s all-time XI was fierce, the inclusion of Denis Irwin as the only certainty speaks volumes about the impact he had during his time at Manchester United.