Sir Alex Ferguson: Best in Europe

For many managers the achievement of 100 European victories would rank highly among their accomplishments but compared to all of Sir Alex Ferguson’s other triumphs the feat of recording such a tally would hang merely off the underside of his trophy cabinet.

His success as a manager is phenomenal and is reflected by the amount of silverware he has won during his 22-year stint at United. While he often receives huge amounts of criticism from opposition supporters and some members of the press for his 'mood swings', he is without question the best manager in Europe. And as Rafa Benitez so loudly drummed on about last season ‘it is fact’.

As well as the countless trophies he has with United, he has been acknowledged as manager of the year the most times in British football history and is the most successful domestic manager ever in England.

His current 22-year service to United is by far the longest of the managers around today and is second ever to the legendary Sir Matt Busby, whose statue stands outside Old Trafford.
Why is Sir Alex such a good manager? Well, only the players that have played under him can truly answer that question but it is clear the legacy of Fergie works.

The ‘my way or the highway’ approach, where no one player is bigger than the club, is often blamed for the departure of big-name players. The likes of David Beckham, Paul Ince, Paul McGrath, Jaap Stam and previous inspirational captain Roy Keane have all left the club after reportedly getting on the receiving end of Fergie’s infamous ‘hairdryer treatment’.

As well as recording his 100th European victory with United, Fergie also maintained their impressive run of not losing a European group game on home soil for eight years.
The last time his side lost a Champions League group game in Manchester was in October 2001, when they lost 3-2 to Deportivo La Coruna. The United team included the likes of Denis Irwin, David Beckham, Roy Keane and, of course, current United veterans Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs.

However, there was an element of danger that the record might have slipped as Wolfsburg took an early lead in the second half when the Bundesliga champions' Dzeko lept well to nod his side ahead.

But the comeback from United was all too familiar for a Ferguson side. They controlled much of the second half with the injured Michael Owen’s replacement - Dimitar Berbatov - producing a flurry a clever flicks and passes.

Giggs continued his recent good form by pulling one back with his 150th goal for the Reds - the Welshman performing as if he was still one of Fergie’s trainees to inspire a United comeback against a dogged German side.

There is no doubt that Manchester United will challenge for the Champions League title again this year and Fergie is sure to win many more trophies - however long he remains at United.

He is a manager with a long list of achievements that will forever grow. The question is: How long until Sir Alex is standing alongside Sir Matt Busby outside Old Trafford?