Only one player received a guaranteed spot in Sir Alex Ferguson’s all-time United side.

Only one player is guaranteed a place in Sir Alex Ferguson’s all-time Manchester United starting XI, but it isn’t who you might expect.

Ferguson took charge at Old Trafford back in 1986, and after a rocky start went on to become one of the best managers in football history with a 26-year spell as United boss.

During his time as manager, Ferguson led the Red Devils to 13 Premier League titles, five FA Cups, four League Cups and two Champions Leagues.

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Ferguson also managed some of the best players to ever play for the club, including the likes of Roy Keane, David Beckham, Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo.

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However, the player he picked out to have a guaranteed place in his all-time best XI might come as a surprise.

Back in 2013, when Ferguson announced his retirement, he was asked to name his best-ever United starting XI.

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He told the Sunday World: “People ask you: ‘Who is your best Man United team?’ and it’s absolutely impossible.

“It is absolutely impossible. You look at the strikers I had, going back to [Brian] McClair, [Mark] Hughes, [Andy] Cole, Cantona, [Ruud] van Nistelrooy, [Louis] Saha, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, [Dwight] Yorke, Teddy Sheringham.

“Then to the present players — Wayne Rooney, [Robin] van Persie, Chicharito [Javier Hernandez]. How do you pick out of that? Cantona and somebody else maybe?

Ferguson added: “The midfield was probably a bit easier because you have [Roy] Keane, [Bryan] Robson and Scholes — they were fantastic players — and [David] Beckham, Ronaldo and [Ryan] Giggs.”

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In his autobiography, Ferguson revealed Denis Irwin is the only guaranteed name in his best-ever starting XI.

He said: “Honestly, 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 [Dennis] Bergkamp came in and scored.”

The Scotsman continued: “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.”