Hall of Fame

Ferguson: My expectation was always to win

29 Mar 2023

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Legendary manager and his players explain the mentality that led Man Utd to 13 PL titles

As he joins the Premier League Hall of Fame, the competition’s most successful manager Sir Alex Ferguson says he set high standards at Manchester United and never allowed them to drop.

“I could lose my temper if we’d lose a game,” he admits in an exclusive video celebrating his induction. “You know why? They [the players] forgot the expectation. They forgot the very thing we worked every day for.

"When they didn’t reach that expectation, yeah, they got it.

“Your challenge for the league every year is your job. Putting that jersey on as a Man Utd player, that expectation is to win.”

👑 The greatest.

Sir Alex Ferguson has been inducted in the @PremierLeague Hall of Fame 👏#MUFC || #PL
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) March 29, 2023

With that drive to succeed, Ferguson won more than any manager in Premier League history, leading his club to 13 Premier League titles.

He is one of the first two Hall of Fame inductees of 2023, alongside former Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger.

Fans will be able to vote for three players to join them when the 15-man shortlist is announced at 10:00 BST on Thursday.

Vote for players to enter Hall of Fame
See: Ten Hag: Man Utd is Alex Ferguson

In addition to his array of titles, Ferguson also holds the Premier League records for the most wins (410), the most points won (1,752), the most awards for Manager of the Month (27) and Manager of the Season (11).

“Sir Alex was like an animal,” says former Man Utd defender Rio Ferdinand. “It was about constantly winning. Consistency. His appetite for the game, his appetite for rebuilding teams. This guy was relentless, year after year after year.

“He built a reputation for being really hard and direct, and a desire to win. You’d feel that immediately. You’d come to Man Utd, ‘Great, you’re here to win.' No more, no less.

“There was an insatiable desire to achieve something and be successful continuously at that football club. He was a born winner.”

Former United midfielder and 2022 Hall of Fame inductee Paul Scholes adds: “Until anyone gets close or goes past him, he’ll be the greatest manager the Premier League has ever seen.”