Former Man Utd and Arsenal star Robin van Persie picks Sir Alex Ferguson over Arsene Wenger in battle of the bosses
ROBIN VAN PERSIE has risked the wrath of Arsenal fans once again… by choosing “super” Sir Alex Ferguson over Arsene Wenger. The Dutchman, 36, is hated at the Emirates after the former Gunners captain ditched North London for Old Trafford in 2012. Despite spending eight years at Arsenal and just three at United, his only […]
ROBIN VAN PERSIE has risked the wrath of Arsenal fans once again… by choosing “super” Sir Alex Ferguson over Arsene Wenger.
The Dutchman, 36, is hated at the Emirates after the former Gunners captain ditched North London for Old Trafford in 2012.
Despite spending eight years at Arsenal and just three at United, his only Premier League winner’s medal came during Sir Alex’s final season in charge.
Van Persie’s 26 league goals – including the stunning volley against Aston Villa to help clinch it – played a pivotal role in the 2012/13 success.
And now he has revealed Ferguson was a special gaffer – plus he had a kind word for Louis van Gaal, too, even if he did get a slap for refusing to be substituted at the 2014 World Cup.
The striker worked with Van Gaal at Old Trafford and with the Netherlands national team.
Writing in LVG – The Manager and The Total Person, RVP said: “Ferguson really was a super manager. It was so brilliant how he always kept the entire squad happy and focused.
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“Wenger was a combination of Ferguson and Van Gaal. Arsene always emphasised all the positive things and he looked at what would work for the long term.
“Tactically he [Van Gaal] is a genius. You can’t deny that.
“I have had managers who had their own strengths. But Ferguson really was a super manager.”
The managers enjoyed the best managerial rivalry in recent years as their two sides battled each other – often literally – for domestic dominance in the 1990s and 2000s.
Ferguson racked up 1,500 matches in charge of the Red Devils, winning 895, drawing 338 and losing 267 at a win percentage of 59.7 per cent.
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Wenger, meanwhile, oversaw 1235 games with a record of 707 wins, 280 draws and 248 defeats at a rate of 57.2 per cent.
The Frenchman may have done something Fergie didn’t by going an entire season unbeaten but Fergie bosses the trophy count with 26 major honours at United to Wenger’s ten with Arsenal.
Van Persie, meanwhile, left Manchester United in 2015 to join Turkish side Fenerbahce before ending his career with two seasons at Feyenoord, the club he started out at, hanging up his boots a a year ago.
