The rivalry between the duo was also a notable one with both clubs engaging in several fierce contests during their time as manager.
Follow Us
Two of the managerial greats of all time Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger have been inducted into the Premier League Hall of Fame. Both former managers built a dynasty with Manchester United and Arsenal, as they ruled the English top flight with utter dominance. The rivalry between the duo was also a notable one with both clubs engaging in several fierce contests during their time as manager. Between them they won a combined 16 Premier League titles.
Manchester United’s impeccable Premier League record became possible because of one man – Sir Alex Ferguson. He is undoubtedly the most successful manager in Premier League era, having won the league crown a record 13 times. He has also won the title three seasons in a row on two separate occasions. His 27-year career at Old Trafford saw him being the manager of United in 21 Premier League seasons. The Red Devils won the inaugural league title in 1992-93 season, while his final one came in 2012-13 campaign.
“I’m truly delighted to be inducted into the Premier League Hall of Fame. It’s an honour when you receive recognition like this,” Ferguson said. “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.”
Read More – Arsenal stats: Players with 10+ goals and assists in a Premier League season
Sir Alex then extended his praise to Arsene Wenger, saying, “I feel Arsene is a very worthy inductee as he transformed Arsenal Football Club fantastically. They became a tough team to compete with and we both wanted to win, which motivated us further. Through the years since retirement, we’d go for dinner together in a little restaurant he knows well in Switzerland. He is a really interesting man and I enjoy his company, but it is still my job to pick the wine!”
On the other hand, Arsene Wenger has won the English top flight title on three occasions and his 22 seasons in charge of Arsenal is a Premier League record. Besides, his Gunners side created an incredible history in 2003-04 season. His Arsenal side earned the nickname “The Invincibles” after becoming the only team to win the title being unbeaten throughout the entire season. “I am very grateful to have been selected for the Premier League Hall of Fame,” Wenger said.
“We always wanted to give something special to the fans and when you have players capable of remarkable things, the most important thing for me is the obligation of perfection. I’d like to be known as someone who loved Arsenal, who respected the values of the club and left it in a position where it can grow and become even bigger. To share this with Sir Alex is a great honour for me. It’s like two boxers, you fight like mad and go the distance together. At the end of the day, you have respect and it will be a great opportunity to meet with him, share a good bottle of wine and memories of our old battles.”
