Alex Ferguson has revealed that former Ireland full back Denis Irwin would be the first player to get on the team-sheet in his greatest ever Manchester United team.

Ferguson had a large number of star players at his disposal over the 26 years he was in charge at Old Trafford.

But he told a Glasgow press conference that if he were to create his Greatest XI, Irwin would be the first name on the sheet.

"I would say Denis Irwin would be the one certainty to get in the team. I called him an eight out of 10. At Highbury in one game he had a bad pass back in the last minute and Bergkamp came in and scored. After the game the press said 'you must be disappointed in that pass back.' I said, 'well, one mistake in 10 years isn't bad.' He was an unbelievable player."

Irwin joined Man United from Oldham in 1990. He went on to win seven Premier League titles, three FA Cups and the Champions League before he wound down his career at Wolves from 2002.

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