Sir Alex Ferguson on Arsene Wenger: ‘Proud to have been a rival, colleague and friend'’
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ByEurosport
Published 20/04/2018 at 13:59 GMT
Arsene Wenger has received a tribute from his biggest rival.
Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger (Reuters)
Image credit: Reuters
The Arsenal manager revealed on Friday that he will be stepping down at the end of the season after 22 years in charge of the club.
And Wenger has received praise from the biggest rival of his career, Manchester United great Sir Alex Ferguson.
"I am really happy for Arsene Wenger," Ferguson told Manchester United’s club website. "I have great respect for him and for the job he has done at Arsenal.
It is great testament to his talent, professionalism and determination that he has been able to dedicate 22 years of his life to a job that he loves. In an era where football managers sometimes only last one or two seasons, it shows what an achievement it is to serve that length of time at a club the size of Arsenal.
"I am pleased that he has announced he is leaving at this stage of the season, as he can now have the send-off that he truly deserves. He is, without doubt, one of the greatest Premier League managers and I am proud to have been a rival, a colleague and a friend to such a great man."
Ferguson and Wenger endured a difficult working relationship as the pair competed for titles between 1996 and 2013 when the former retired. Between them they won 16 Premier League titles and 12 FA Cups and broke new ground as long-serving managers in an increasingly short-term world.
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