6 ultimate outspoken Alex Ferguson quotes you need to read

The Manchester United manager in his own words

27 years, 49 trophies – including 13 premier titles – and over 1,498 games at Manchester United, with 894 wins, 337 draws and 267 defeats.

Sir Alex Ferguson has undeniably had the most successful managerial career in football. The 71-year-old is famous for his feuds, be it kicking a stray boot in anger hitting David Beckham just above the eye or “vowing to never speak to the BBC”.

So in honour of one of our greatest sporting legends, here’s our pick of some of his most quotable quotes:

1. On the boot-kicking incident that left David Beckham needing stitches above his eye

“It was a freakish incident. If I tried it 100 or a million times it couldn’t happen again. If I could I would have carried on playing.”

2. On the media

“I don’t give any of you credibility. You talk about wanting to have an association with people here, and you wonder why I don’t get on with you?

“But you’re a f****** embarrassment. One of these days the door is going to be shut on you permanently.”

3. On Ryan Giggs

“I remember the first time I saw him. He was 13 and just floated over the ground like a cocker spaniel chasing a piece of silver paper in the wind.”

4. On his former charges as managers

“It can be difficult to pinpoint who would make it as a manager. For instance, nobody here thought Mark Hughes would become a manager, never in a million years, and we all thought Bryan Robson was a certainty to be a top manager.”

5. On Old Trafford

“The crowd were dead. It was like a funeral out there.”

6. During the 2002-2003 title race between Arsenal and United

“In the tunnel, Wenger was criticising my players, calling them cheats, so I told him to leave them alone and behave himself. He ran at me with his hands raised saying ‘What do you want to do about it?’

“To not apologise for the behaviour of the players to another manager is unthinkable. It’s a disgrace, but I don’t expect Wenger to ever apologise…he’s that type of person.”

AND ALSO…

“It’s getting tickly now – squeaky-bum time, I call it.”

What are your favourite Fergie quotes? Let us know in comments below and tweet us @LondonlovesBiz…