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Manchester United legend Sir Alex Ferguson is arguably the greatest manager to have graced the game so far. The Scottish coach won 49 trophies during his managerial career, of which 38 came in his 26-year spell at Old Trafford.
With 13 Premier League titles and two Champions League trophies to his name, Ferguson built numerous ultra-talented squads. As a result, he invariably managed some of the game's biggest stars.
Ronaldo to Rooney: A look at Sir Alex Ferguson's greatest players
Sir Alex Ferguson's regime of strict discipline and high standards is well-documented. The Scotsman demanded consistency from his players. He wasn't afraid to drop even the most famous names, such as David Beckham, if they underperformed or appeared unfocused.
Although it wasn't easy to adapt to Ferguson's approach, players who bought into his philosophy excelled for club and country. On that note, we take a look at five of the best to have done it under the Scotsman.
Honorable mentions: Peter Schmeichel, Gary Neville, Ruud van Nistelrooy, Roy Keane, David Beckham.
#5 Eric Cantona
One of football's greatest mavericks, the enigmatic Frenchman joined Manchester United from bitter rivals Leeds United in 1992 for £1.6million. Acknowledged as one of Sir Alex Ferguson's best signings, the playmaker delighted the Old Trafford faithful for five years before retiring in 1997 at the age of 31.
Eric Cantona was the complete attacking package under Ferguson, hitting double figures for both goals and assists in three of his five league seasons in Manchester. He narrowly missed out on that figure in his first season at the club, registering nine goals and 11 assists in just 22 league games.
The Frenchman played 181 games under Ferguson, scoring 81 goals and providing 62 assists. His time at the club yielded four Premier League titles in five years, two FA Cups and seven Community Shields. He was also the club's Player of the Year for the 1993-94 season.
#4 Paul Scholes
Despite being underutilized at international level by England, Paul Scholes was the engine that made some of Ferguson's best Manchester United teams tick. A one-club man, the midfielder spent 18 years at Old Trafford and his exit coincided with Ferguson's retirement in 2012-13.
Scholes played 713 games under Ferguson, scoring 152 goals and providing 74 assists. Renowned for his long passing and shooting from distance, the Englishman was one of the Scottish manager's most trusted lieutenants.
Their time together was remarkably productive. Scholes won 11 Premier League crowns, two Champions League titles, four FA Cups, three League Cups, a FIFA Club World Cup and five Community Shields in his decorated career.
#3 Cristiano Ronaldo
Sir Alex Ferguson is perhaps the most important figure in Cristiano Ronaldo's fairytale journey from a skinny teenager to one of the best players in history.
The Scottish coach signed Ronaldo in 2003 from Sporting Lisbon for £17million. At the time, the 18-year-old was a raw prospect, with a penchant for flair and flashy dribbling. Ferguson worked on the Portuguese forward's game, which culminated in the 2008 Ballon d'Or award. By the time Ronaldo left Old Trafford in 2009, he was the most dangerous attacking force in the game.
Cristiano Ronaldo played 293 games under Sir Alex Ferguson, scoring 118 goals and providing 69 assists. He won three Premier League titles, a Champions League crown, an FA Cup, two League Cups, two Community Shields and a FIFA Club World Cup during that period. The Portuguese was also United's Player of the Year for back-to-back seasons between 2006 and 2008.
#2 Wayne Rooney
Manchester United and England's record goalscorer, Wayne Rooney, personified the fire and desire Sir Alex Ferguson expected from his teams. One of the greatest strikers in history, Rooney was an integral and versatile part of Ferguson's stacked United teams of the 2000s.
Signed from Everton for over £30million as a teenager in 2004, Rooney made rapid and remarkable progress under the Scottish coach. The Englishman played 401 games for Ferguson, with a stunning return of 197 goals and 99 assists.
Together, the duo won five Premier League titles, a Champions League crown, a FIFA Club World Cup, three League Cups and three Community Shields. Rooney was also Manchester United's Player of the Year for 2009-10.
#1 Ryan Giggs
Manchester United legend Ryan Giggs has been in the news for all the wrong reasons in recent years. Despite the off-field controversies, though, there is no doubt he is one of the greatest players in Red Devils' history.
The Welshman spent nearly 23 years at the club (his entire playing career) after making his first-team debut in 1991. He racked up an astonishing 923 appearances under Sir Alex Ferguson, scoring 164 goals and providing 246 assists. A pacy winger in his younger days, Giggs evolved into a clever veteran with an eye for a cross as the years went by.
The midfielder was a constant presence at Old Trafford under Ferguson and hung up his boots in 2014, just a year after the legendary manager's retirement. Giggs won 13 Premier League titles, nine Community Shields, four FA Cups, four League Cups, two Champions League crowns, a Club World Cup, a UEFA Super Cup and an Intercontinental Cup under Ferguson.
