Undoubtedly one of the greatest managers of all time, Sir Alex Ferguson enjoyed a 27-year reign as Manchester United manager from his appointment in 1986. Man United were in a slump at the time of Ferguson’s arrival, certainly in comparison to the standards of some of their prior teams.
Ferguson, as such, endured a tough start to life at Old Trafford, struggling for consistency in his early years at the helm. Rumours about the Scot’s future at Man United circulated for a time but in 1990, Ferguson won his first piece of silverware as manager of the Red Devils by lifting the FA Cup. It would turn out to be the first of a staggering amount.
Just as the Premier League was being founded in the early 1990s, Ferguson was establishing the foundations of a team that would become entirely dominant. Smart signings, combined with exceptional youth academy talents, meant that Man United won the first-ever Premier League campaign.
Ferguson, throughout his career, would win an unprecedented 13 Premier League titles, a record that no current Premier League manager comes close to. The Scot also won two Champions Leagues with the Red Devils and their first, in 1999, was part of the first-ever European treble won by an English side.
The winner of nine domestic cups alongside his aforementioned success, amongst other honours, Ferguson’s last trophy was the 2012/13 Premier League, calling time on his career when that campaign came to an end. Such was Ferguson’s impact that, despite their stature as a club, Man United are yet to have a manager that has maintained the Scot’s level of success in the 12 years since Ferguson’s retirement.
Never afraid to be outspoken with his opinions on the game, Ferguson once revealed, when speaking to the Guardian as per SPORTbible, which pair of players he would have loved to manage at the same time during his stint in charge of the Red Devils.
Ferguson Would’ve ‘Loved’ Managing This Duo
Alex Ferguson
Manager of the club for almost three decades, Ferguson worked with a number of incredible talents. From youth academy graduates like David Beckham and Ryan Giggs to explosive attackers like Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo, Ferguson’s position as Man United manager allowed him to coach some of the world’s greatest players. Such was the Scot’s own capabilities that Ferguson only improved the players that he worked with.
For all the incredible players he had at his disposal, Ferguson once detailed which duo he, hypothetically, would have enjoyed managing at the same time, saying:
“I would love to have Denis Law along with Ruud Van Nistelrooy.”
Now seeking his next chapter as a manager after a failed stint with Leicester City, Ruud Van Nistelrooy first arrived in England in 2001, having been signed by Man United after establishing himself with PSV. The Dutch forward spent five seasons playing for the Red Devils and remains one of the deadliest strikers ever seen in the Premier League, netting 150 goals for the club in all competitions.
An incredible goalscorer, Van Nistelrooy would have, in a hypothetical world, started in attack alongside Denis Law for Ferguson, who admitted to having wanted to manage him.
A Ballon d’Or winner, Law spent over a decade with Man United and the Scottish international, one of Scotland’s greatest talents ever, played a crucial part in helping the club win two First Division titles and the 1967/68 European Cup.
With an eye-watering goal tally of 237, Law is still fondly remembered by Man United fans, part of the “United Trinity” alongside George Best and Bobby Charlton. Had Law and Van Nistelrooy played in the same era, particularly under Ferguson’s guidance, it is terrifying to think of just how many goals that duo would score.
( All stats are fromTransfermarktand are correct as of 21/08/2025 )