A look at ten of Ferguson’s most important transfer deals in his time at Old Trafford.
10. Robin van Persie
His last major signing, Ferguson broke the resolve of rivals Arsenal to sign super star Robin van Persie for around £24million. Some doubts were raised over his fitness and consistency, but the Dutch striker proved decisive in reclaiming the Premier League title for Manchester United in Ferguson’s final season in charge.
9. Nemanja Vidic
The Serbian centre-back was a shrewd piece of business by Ferguson, joining from Spartak Moscow for just £7million and going on to become one of the best defenders in the country. A crucial part of the success enjoyed by United between 2006 and 2009, when they won three titles in a row and ruled Europe after beating Chelsea in the Champions League final.
8. Rio Ferdinand
A record-breaking transfer fee, but £30million for one of the best defenders in the game looks good business now after eleven years of great service from Rio Ferdinand. His partnership with Vidic is certainly one of the best the club has seen and there’s no questioning his contribution to the club, with six league titles won with him in the team.
7. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer
The little-known Norwegian forward joined in 1996 for a fee of just £1.5million and went on to score 126 goals for the club, none more famous or important than the last-gasp winner in the 1999 Champions League final against Bayern Munich, which helped secure arguably Ferguson’s finest achievement with United – the treble.
6. Mark Hughes
Ferguson did well to bring Mark Hughes back for a second spell at the club, after a couple of years of mixed success abroad with Barcelona and Bayern Munich. The Welshman scored crucial goals to lift the Ferguson era, scoring twice as they won the Cup Winner’s Cup in 1991 and 15 goals as they finally lifted the first league title under Ferguson in 1993.
5. Wayne Rooney
Rooney’s form may have dipped this season by his own high standards, but securing the signature of England’s biggest talent in 2004 was massive for Ferguson. The 27-year-old has been at Old Trafford for nearly a decade now, playing a crucial part in their success with 197 goals in 400 appearances. Like Ferguson, his time at United may soon be up, but he should not be undervalued by the fans for his immense contribution to the team.
4. Cristiano Ronaldo
The Portuguese winger initially looked like something of a flop after joining for £12million, but under Ferguson he became the best player in the world. The winger had a phenomenal record for goals, scoring 42 times in 2008 as he almost single-handedly won the Premier League and Champions League double for United. He was later sold for a world record fee of £80million, which has given Ferguson the resources to rebuild his team – an excellent piece of business by the Scot.
3. Peter Schmeichel
£505,000 was all it took to sign Peter Schmeichel for Manchester United, and what a signing he was for Ferguson, establishing himself as number one for the club (and maybe number one goalkeeper in the world at points) for the best part of eight years. The United boss himself argues that he has never truly managed to replace the great Danish goalkeeper, who is definitely one his best all-time finds.
2. Eric Cantona
If one player can ever claim to have lifted an entire football club, it’s Eric Cantona. The eccentric French forward arrived from rivals Leeds in 1992 for £1.2million and was the crucial finishing touch needed to make Ferguson’s emerging United team great. They won the title in his first season and his influence helped inspire United’s generation of young players who went on to enjoy so much success after his retirement in 1997.
1. Roy Keane
A British transfer record fee at the time, Sir Alex Ferguson made probably his best signing when Roy Keane was brought in from Nottingham Forest for £3.75million. The Irish midfielder went on to become the club’s inspirational captain, and in many ways was Ferguson’s voice on the pitch, leading by example and dragging his players across the finish line in many crucial games. Many great players have played for Manchester United, especially under Ferguson, but none epitomizes the fighting spirit of the club during his reign better than Keane, who led the team to great success in his 13 years at the club. A fantastic investment who would surely be worth £50million or more in today’s market.