Alex Fergusson, Wenger Inducted Into Premier League Hall Of Fame
On Wednesday, former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger and former Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson became the first managers to be admitted into the Premier League Hall of Fame.
Beginning in the 1990s, the two men engaged in a time of ferocious rivalry during which they shared 16 English top-flight championships.
The most successful manager in Premier League history is Ferguson, 81, who led Manchester United to 13 championships. Wenger, with Arsenal, has won the tournament three times, including an undefeated 2003–04 campaign.
The first Premier League title was gained by Ferguson, who oversaw United for more than 26 years, in 1992–93, giving the Red Devils their first league triumph since 1967.
The Premier League Hall of Fame has already recognized six of Ferguson’s players: David Beckham, Eric Cantona, Roy Keane, Wayne Rooney, Peter Schmeichel, and Paul Scholes.
When you get recognition like this, it’s an honor, said Ferguson, who retired in 2013 after capturing his 13th championship.
But it’s not just about me personally. I’m also pleased of the team, the staff, and my players because it’s about my work at Manchester United and the relationship we have shared for many years.
One of the first international managers in the Premier League, Wenger joined Arsenal in 1996 and remained there until 2018.
The Frenchman brought an emphasis on nutrition and sports science to the game of football by implementing a revolutionary philosophy.
His dedication to playing exciting, attacking football led to the club’s championship in 1997–98, his first complete season there.
Wenger oversaw a clever transfer strategy that included scouting overseas for talent. Patrick Vieira and Thierry Henry, both members of the Hall of Fame, were two of his key players.
The 73-year-old, who is presently in charge of FIFA’s football development, said, “To share this with Sir Alex is a great honor for me.
“It’s like watching two fighters battle it out and go the distance. At the end of the day, you are respected, and meeting him will be a wonderful chance to reminisce about our previous conflicts over a good bottle of wine.
The two managers, according to Premier League Chief Executive Richard Masters, gave their teams “unprecedented levels of success.”
After leading Manchester United to an incredible 13 titles over 21 Premier League seasons, he said, “Sir Alex’s supremacy of Manchester United remains unmatched.
“Arsene was an innovator who was far ahead of his time,” continued Masters. The Invincibles season ranks among the best in both English football and all of sport, as well.
