• Sir Alex Ferguson's Autobiography

Wenger's having a good crack at my record, says Ferguson

Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger were the best of enemies © Getty Images

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Sir Alex Ferguson said it was a "special feeling" to see Arsene Wenger end his nine-year wait to win a trophy when Arsenal lifted the FA Cup in May.

But the former Manchester United manager said he was relatively confident old rival Wenger, who has been in charge of Arsenal since 1996 and celebrated his 65th birthday on Wednesday, would not beat his record of 26 years running one club.

In a new chapter for his 2013 book, My Autobiography, Ferguson wrote: "The model I represented has passed into history. You won't see anyone manage one club for 26 years.

'What is the West Ham Way?'

Sir Alex Ferguson's record against West Ham read 28 wins, eight defeats and 11 draws © PA Photos

• Sir Alex Ferguson has mocked the "West Ham Way" - asking "what is it?"
• Writing in the updated chapters of his 2013 autobiography, Ferguson added: "I hope that before I die someone can explain it. They last won a trophy in 1980 - the FA Cup.
• "I never played against any West Ham team that played football I was afraid of. They were always surviving, or lucky as hell against us."
• Ferguson also sympathised with manager Sam Allardyce, who was on the verge of the sack last season when they left it late to seal Premier League survival.
• "There is this preconception with West Ham fans that Big Sam is a survivalist who tells teams to boot the ball up the pitch," Ferguson added.
• "The truth is that he stayed up with a team of very average players. That's management. He drew the best from them."

"I must say, though, that Wenger's reign at Arsenal deserves a special mention.

"Everyone was happy for him winning the FA Cup. I was hoping Steve Bruce would win it for Hull because he was one of my players, but you also had to have a special feeling for Arsene, given the pressure he was under for not winning a trophy for nine years."

If Wenger were to remain in charge at the Emirates for eight more seasons after this - taking him to May 2023 and just short of his 74th birthday - he would surpass Ferguson's record.

The Scot wrote: "Who is to say that Arsene will not beat my record? I have my doubts, but he's having a good crack at it."

Ferguson, who paid tribute to Liverpool's attacking play last season, also wrote that he believed Louis van Gaal was a "formidable" manager who was the right choice to take over at Old Trafford after David Moyes "hadn't realised just how big United is as a club".

Ferguson, now a United director, added: "Louis is what I would call a managers' coach. He's one of those committed ultra-professionals. If I had to choose one word for him it would be 'formidable'.

"Football is his life. Wherever he has managed, every footballer will have learned from him. He was a good choice."

Ryan Giggs, who played under Ferguson for 22 years, making 942 appearances in his teams, finally retired as a player this summer to become Van Gaal's second in command. And the 72-year-old Scot said it was "a terrific decision" to pair them at the helm.

He said: "Louis could help Giggs learn about this business; Ryan could help Louis in understanding the inner workings of United."

Ferguson attended many of the club's games last season and admitted he found it strange. "I had been the United manager for the best part of 27 years, and now I was in a directors' seat with fans asking me for autographs," he wrote.

He also took aim at local rivals Manchester City by suggesting that, despite becoming champions for the second time in three years, they were not fulfilling their potential.

City edged out Ferguson's United on goal difference in 2012 and won the league by two points last season.

"There was no question that City possessed the best group of players," Ferguson claimed. "Though the fact they have twice won the league so narrowly leaves a question mark. Why is that?"

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