Sir Alex Ferguson pays tribute to 'the bravest man in the world'

Ferguson described Mackay, a legend of the British game, as “the bravest man in the world” at the ceremony in Edinburgh.

Mackay, who captained Hearts to all three major domestic honours, was described as “humble” and “modest” by Ferguson at the Mansfield Traquiar venue.

The British legend won the Scottish Footballer of the Year award and also the English equivalent while captain of Tottenham as they secured the first post-war League and Cup double.

“I was playing for Queen’s Park reserves at Tynecastle and the great Mackay was playing for Hearts reserves because he was coming back from a broken toe,' Ferguson said.

“He tackled me and I thought ‘Christ’. But in those days you had to get up. So I got up and had a look at that big barrel chest of his. He just said ‘are you alright, son?’

“The only time I played against Dave Mackay. I’ll never forget it.

“Humility is embraced by great people and Dave Mackay did that thoroughly.

“They talk about his great courage but he was a fantastic, skilful footballer whose intensity and desire to win would make any team.”

But Ferguson was also left to lament the number of Scotland caps earned by Mackay, who he felt deserved many more.

“Only 22 caps for a player as good as that?” Ferguson said. “Scotland was picked by a committee with its head in the sand.”