Fergie was bigger than Manchester United itself

Fergie was a genius who contributed greatly to making the Premier League the success it is today. He nurtured Cristiano Ronaldo (the greatest ever player to have played in England, in my view) and helped make him the force of nature he is today. Fergie created an exciting and very attractive brand of football which people wanted to watch. Fergie is bigger than Manchester United itself in that any club he had managed would have enjoyed the phenomenal success that Manchester United had. If he had joined Ipswich or West Brom they would have won lots of trophies and now be a gigantic and hugely successful club. United in some ways have been nothing more than a shell or a vehicle for Fergie to work his magic with.

United fans have deluded themselves into thinking they have a divine right to win things, that delusion is now being exposed as United struggle (much to many people's delight). But Fergie was literally a talisman who turned one of the best clubs in England into the best in the world. Before the Premier League (and Fergie's unprecedented success) started Manchester United were a big club, but not that big.

Here is a list of the biggest clubs in England from 1992.

Liverpool: 18 League titles, 4 European Cups

Arsenal: 10 League Titles

Everton: 9 League Titles

Aston Villa: 7 League Titles, 1 European Cup

Manchester United: 7 League Titles, 1 European Cup

Sunderland: 6 League Titles

Here is the present day list with Fergie included.

Liverpool: 18 League Titles, 5 European Cups

Fergie: 13 League Titles, 2 European Cups

Arsenal: 13 League Titles

Aston Villa: 7 League Titles, 1 European Cup

Manchester United without Fergie: 7 League Titles, 1 European Cup

Sunderland: 6 League Titles

So, in 21 years he won more League titles than any club in history but Liverpool and Arsenal, and more European Cups/ Champions Leagues than any English club bar Liverpool and Nottingham Forest.

I rest my case!