Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger become first managers in Premier League Hall of Fame

Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger have become the first managers to be inducted into the Premier League Hall of Fame.

Ferguson, the best manager in Manchester United history, guided the club to 13 Premier League titles, while Wenger lifted the league title three times with Arsenal.

“It’s an honour when you receive recognition like this,” Ferguson said in a press release.

“However, it’s not just about me as a person. It’s about the job at Manchester United and the bond we had over many years, so I’m also proud for the club, the staff and my players.”

Ferguson’s Premier League success with Manchester United

Ferguson is the most successful manager in the history of the Premier League, with an all-time record of 528 wins from 810 matches played.

Wenger, a fierce competitor and rival of Ferguson’s for years, said: “To share this with Sir Alex is a great honour for me.

“It’s like two boxers, you fight like mad and go the distance together. At the end of the day, you have respect and it will be a great opportunity to meet with him, share a good bottle of wine and memories of our old battles.”

Wenger’s success with Arsenal

The Frenchman, initially doubted when he joined the Gunners, managed a record 828 Premier League matches, winning 476 of them.

“I am very grateful to have been selected for the Premier League Hall of Fame,” Wenger added. “We always wanted to give something special to the supporters and when you have players capable of remarkable things, the most important thing for me is the obligation of perfection.

“I’d like to be known as someone who loved Arsenal, who respected the values of the club and left it in a position where it can grow and become even bigger.”

Manager of the Season

Wenger, who managed Arsenal from 1996 to 2018, was voted Manager of the Season in 1998, 2002 and 2004.

“Greatest managers of all time”

Premier League chief executive Richard Masters said: “We are delighted to welcome our first two managers into the Premier League Hall of Fame. Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger both made a remarkable contribution to the history of football in this country.

“They brought unparalleled levels of success to Manchester United and Arsenal respectively, raising standards and thrilling fans with a rivalry which resulted in an astonishing 16 title wins between them. The dominance of Manchester United under Sir Alex remains unmatched after he guided them to an incredible 13 titles across 21 Premier League seasons. To maintain that level of success for such a long period means he is quite rightly regarded as one of the greatest managers of all time.”