Erik ten Hag offers tribute to Sir Alex Ferguson after induction to Premier League Hall of Fame

Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has paid glowing tribute to Sir Alex Ferguson after the Scot’s induction into the Premier League Hall of Fame. 

Ten Hag, who has led United superbly in his first season in charge at Old Trafford, spoke warmly about the magnitude of Ferguson’s achievements, while Ferguson himself praised the impact of the likes of Eric Cantona and Robin van Persie.

‘He left a legacy,’ Ten Hag said. ‘Manchester United is Alex Ferguson and by setting the highest standards and highest values, bringing a winning attitude, he built that into the new club. 

‘He’s a guidance for all the managers in top football. How you construct and mould teams, how you coach them and manage them. He won 13 times the Premier League. No-one else can ever do that again, such a huge performance. And then all the other cups he won, he won the Treble… no-one ever did it before or after so that tells you everything.

‘Winning so many trophies, and in an attacking way. He had the right feeling when to rebuild and to reconstruct a new team, to refresh it because he did it over two decades.’

Sir Alex Ferguson has been inducted into the Premier League’s Hall of Fame 

Erik ten Hag (left), seen here with Ferguson after winning the Carabao Cup, paid tribute to him

Ten Hag went on to say he was impressed by the way Ferguson was able to blend successful squads with a mix of stars and young talents coming through.  

He added: ‘Every time he was again successful, he did it with good balance of homegrown players and bringing big stars in. 

‘He got the best out of them. Working with Cantona, Van Nistelrooy, Van Persie, Wayne Rooney. That is so huge if you are able to handle those personalities but also let them play as a team. 

‘I think that was always one of his most important things – that the team was above any individual. 

‘I think it is already difficult to construct one time a winning team, he did it so many times. It is difficult to say in a short sentences and a few words but his experience is so huge.’

The pair have met up for dinner since Ten Hag’s arrival last summer and the Dutchman went on: ‘I am really pleased he wants to share his knowledge with me. It is great to talk to him, learn from him, and I hope we can do it more and often. In football, it is about winning, that makes him the number one. 

‘There are many others who are really successful – Arsene Wenger, Jose Mourinho, Pep Guardiola, Jurgen Klopp but he did it over 26 years and he won the most.’

Ferguson, pictured tapping his watch as a nod to ‘Fergie time’ – a phrase coined to describe the number of goals scored by United late in games – said he was honoured to be inducted

Ferguson, pictured leading Man United out for the FA Cup final against Newcastle in 1999, said he is proud of the club, players and staff after he was inducted into the Hall of Fame

Ferguson with Robin van Persie after the Premier League triumph in the 2012/13 season

Ferguson led United through an unprecedented period of success, winning the Premier League 13 times. 

He is the only manager to win three in a row and won more games (528), while seeing his teams score more goals (1,627) than any other manager in Premier League history.

On his induction into the Hall of Fame, he said: ‘I’m truly delighted to be inducted. It’s an honour when you receive recognition like this. However, it’s not just about me as a person. 

‘It’s about the job at Manchester United and the bond we had over many years, so I’m also proud for the club, the staff and my players.

‘My job was to send the fans home happy. 

‘United’s history and my own expectations were the things that drove me, and I then had to try and develop all my players with the same expectations and make sure we could go out and achieve them.’

Legendary Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger was also inducted into the Premier League Hall of fame alongside his old adversary.