- Sir Alex Ferguson enjoyed a brilliant career during his 27 years at Man United.
- But the Scot said only one player was guaranteed a place in his all-time XI.
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Sir Alex Ferguson gave a surprising answer when he named the only player who would be guaranteed to feature in his greatest team of all time during his time at Man United.
In almost three decades at the helm, the Scot presided over multiple clearly successful eras at the club, winning the Premier League 13 times and lifting the Champions League twice.
During that time, some of the most legendary names in English football history plied their trade at Old Trafford, including players such as Eric Cantona, Cristiano Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney, Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes.
After finishing his managerial career on a high in 2013 by leading United to what remains their most recent league title, Ferguson was asked to name the best XI of his time at the club.
And while he admitted that several legendary names immediately came to mind, it was a more surprising player who, he insisted, was the only certainty for a place on the team.
Sir Alex Ferguson revealed that only one Man United player would be a guarantee for his all-time XI.
The Scot managed some of the best players in United’s history in his 27 years at Old Trafford.
“It is absolutely impossible.” He told the Sunday World.
“If you look at the forwards I had, from (Brian) McClair, (Mark) Hughes, (Andy) Cole, Cantona, (Ruud) van Nistelrooy, (Louis) Saha, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, (Dwight) Yorke, Teddy Sheringham.
“Then to the current players: Wayne Rooney, (Robin) van Persie, Chicharito (Javier Hernández). How do you distinguish yourself from that? Cantona and maybe someone else?
“The midfield was probably a bit easier because you’ve got (Roy) Keane, (Bryan) Robson and Scholes (were fantastic players) and (David) Beckham, Ronaldo and (Ryan) Giggs.”
However, in his autobiography, Ferguson insisted that there was a guaranteed place at full-back for Denis Irwin.
“Honestly, I would say Denis Irwin would be the only certainty to make the team. I called him an eight out of 10.
“In a Highbury game, he had a bad pass in the last minute and (Dennis) Bergkamp came in and scored.
But while Ferguson named several former United stars as possible inclusions in the squad
He insisted that only Denis Irwin would be a “certainty” to be among his greatest players of all time.
“After the game, the press said, ‘You must be disappointed about that return pass.’ I said, ‘Well, one mistake in 10 years isn’t bad.’ He was an incredible player.”
After joining United from Oldham in June 1990, Irwin would become one of the most decorated players in Irish football history, winning 18 trophies in 12 seasons at the club.
