Sir Alex Ferguson snubbed ‘not world class’ Wayne Rooney and Sir David Beckham in Man Utd record
Manchester United legend Sir Alex Ferguson gave a very interesting answer when addressing the question of the world class players he managed at Old Trafford
Sir Alex Ferguson once snubbed Wayne Rooney and Sir David Beckham when it came to listing the world class players he coached at Manchester United.
The legendary Scottish manager’s Red Devils dominated the Premier League for more than two decades, racking up 13 top flight titles along with two Champions Leagues, five FA Cups, four League Cups, the European Cup Winners’ Cup, European Super Cup, Intercontinental Cup and Club World Cup. So it’s safe to say he knows a good player when he sees one – and what makes a footballer truly special.
However, while his squads boasted some of the biggest and best names in English football, including the likes of Rooney, Beckham, Roy Keane and Bryan Robson, none were branded world class by Sir Alex, who turns 84 today, Wednesday, December 31. Only four players under his stewardship during that glittering era were awarded that title by the big man.
In his book ‘Leading’, released in 2015, Sir Alex gave a run-down of the stars he coached. “If you read the papers or listen to the television commentators, we seem to be awash with ‘world class’ footballers,” he wrote.
“I don’t mean to demean or criticise any of the great or very good footballers who played for me during my 26-year career at United, but there were only four who were world class: [Eric] Cantona, [Ryan] Giggs, [Cristiano] Ronaldo and [Paul] Scholes.
“And of the four Cristiano was like an ornament on the top of a Christmas tree.”
Leaving out the likes of Rooney and Beckham, as well as Rio Ferdinand and Peter Schmeichel, may have raised eyebrows, but Ferguson insisted they were just “great players”.
“But these players elevated themselves above all that,” he added. “The younger breed like Ryan and Scholes were just fantastic players and the thing about those two was longevity.
“Are there players who have played right through the whole of the Premier League and performed at the level they have? There are none, absolutely none. Of course Ronaldo was just a complete genius of a player.”
Interestingly enough, he gave a different answer when speaking to the Manchester United opus in 2006 – when Rooney, Keane and Schmeichel did make the cut.
He said: “In my time I’ve been blessed with several world class players. Peter Schmeichel was certainly one, and Ryan Giggs for me, definitely.
“Eric Cantona could have been even better, but for the parts of him you had to control. Wayne Rooney, that’s four. Then there’s Roy Keane, that’s five.
“And I think Cristiano Ronaldo is going to be. He’s playing in the hardest position, out wide, and never refuses to take the ball and attack players.
“And there’s an argument for Paul Scholes, the cleverest midfield player we’ve ever had.
“To work with such people has been an absolute pleasure. It’s fulfilled every aspiration.”
