Ferguson and Wenger stir up debate after entering Premier League Hall of Fame

29 March 2023 , 14:03

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Who was the best: Arsene Wenger or Sir Alex Ferguson? (Image: John Peters/Manchester United via Getty Images)

Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger have both been inducted into the Premier League Hall of Fame in recognition of their achievements while in charge of Manchester United and Arsenal, respectively.

Ferguson has been recognised after winning a record 13 Premier League titles during his illustrious long spell at Manchester United. He also won the Manager of the Season on 11 occasions, with the last of those coming in his final year at the club in 2012/13.

Wenger, meanwhile, transformed Arsenal as a club, instilling a previously-unseen professionalism among players and cultivating a silky style of football.

Advocates of Wenger point to the way he revolutionised English football in terms of foreign signings, diet, nutrition and training. While it seems going through a season unbeaten is such a rarity it earned the side their own title - The Invincibles.

He also won two other titles with Arsenal, which obviously weren’t as good as they lost some games and didn’t earn their own nickname. Ferguson, meanwhile, chose David Moyes as his successor, so there’s that.

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And while you are merrily clicking away for the best Premier League manager, you might as well settle a second debate that will likely provoke a fierce response in a few years' time. Namely, who will be the next manager to follow Ferguson and Wenger into the Hall of Fame.

Pep Guardiola, Jurgen Klopp, Sir Kenny Dalglish and Jose Mourinho would perhaps have the strongest claims but would the once-in-a lifetime achievement of Claudio Ranieri be more worthy (we’re thinking more Leicester than Fulham and Watford here)?

Let us know your views in the comments below and by taking part in the poll above.

Paul Okey