Two of the greatest managers of the Premier League era have been given the competition’s highest honour.
Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger have been inducted into the Premier League Hall of Fame, becoming the first managers to be included.
During their spells in charge of Man United and Arsenal respectively, the duo were involved in the most intense rivalry that the league has yet to see since, and are two of the most successful managers in the competition’s history.
Their success (and that of their clubs) was also a key factor behind the EPL’s surge in popularity worldwide, helping make the league a household name.
The Old Trafford Legend
Ferguson, now 81, first took charge of United in 1986, and went on to lead them to their most successful era ever, before leaving in 2013.
During Fergie’s reign United won a whopping 13 league titles, making him the most successful manager in Premier League history.
This includes winning the title for three seasons in a row on two separate occasions.
Ferguson is also singlehandedly responsible for influencing the careers of superstars like David Beckham, Roy Keane, Wayne Rooney, Paul Scholes, Eric Cantona and Peter Schmeichel – all of whom are Hall of Fame inductees themselves.
Overall, Ferguson has a Premier League record of 528 wins from 810 matches, and was an 11-time winner of the Manager of the Season prize.
The Professor
Wenger, 73, arrived at Arsenal in 1996 as one of the first foreign managers in the league.
Over 22 seasons in charge of The Gunners, the man known as ‘The Professor’ for his almost academic approach to the game, revolutionized the club’s football philosophy and introduced fast, attacking football.
He made an almost instant impact, winning the league title in his first full season in charge, before going on to add two more EPL trophies before his exit in 2018.
Under Wenger, the Gunners squad from the 2003/2004 season also made history as the only team thus far to win the league while remaining unbeaten throughout the entire campaign, earning the nickname ‘The Invincibles’.
Unlike Fergie’s approach of nurturing young talent from within, Wenger preferred to scout abroad for talent, and notably brought in Thierry Henry and Patrick Vieira – who went on to become EPL legends in their own right, and also earning Hall of Fame inductions.
Over his 22-year spell at Arsenal, Wenger managed a record 828 matches, winning 476 of them.
Enemies on the field, friends off it
United and Arsenal dominated every single season of the Premier League from 1996 to 2004…with the Red Devils winning the title five times during this period compared to Arsenal’s three.
The competition between both clubs was as intense on the field as it was off it, with Fergie and Wenger often indulging in their now-legendary mind-games - where each manager would trade barbs (and sometimes accusations) to try and throw each other off.
But despite their bitter rivalry, Ferguson and Wenger both later admitted to hugely respecting the other. They even became regular dinner companions after retirement.
Following news of their Hall of Fame induction, Ferguson went on to call Wenger a worthy inductee, and praised the Frenchman for turning Arsenal into tough competitors.
But it is Wenger who perhaps best summed up their relationship, saying:
"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."
