Passion still burning for Fergie

Sir Alex Ferguson says he is still passionate about his job as he prepares for his 1,000th game in charge of Manchester United on Sunday.

Ferguson, manager of United since 1986, will reach the milestone when the Red Devils take on Southampton at St Mary’s.

And the Scot says he continues to take great pleasure in working with top-class players but maintains he wants to continue for as long as he possibly can.

He told the Daily Mail:”There have been so many wonderful players at the club and it has been a pleasure and an honour working with them.

“There’s nothing I like better than to pull my car into the training ground of a morning and look forward to another few hours working with them and my staff.

“Any manager would be thankful to remember one great squad; I’ve had five or six.”

Ferguson has achieved unparalleled success at Old Trafford, winning 12 Premier League titles, five FA Cups, four League cups and two European cups, a haul that makes him the most successful manager in British football history.

Now approaching 71, Ferguson enjoys legendary status among his peers, but his advice to fellow managers on their way up is simply to be themselves.

“I never tried to model myself on anyone,” he said. “I’ve never read any books written by managers. I have always tried to be my own man and do it my way.

“If I was to give any advice to young managers, it would be not just to learn by your mistakes but also heed the reasons why you made them.

“I don’t just mean why your team may have lost a game, but all the other things that you have to attend to every day – your judgement of players, tactics, team selection, player welfare – everything.”

Victory against newly promoted Southampton would be his 599th win in the league, while 233 league games have been drawn and just 168 lost. His 999 games in charge have also seen 1,863 goals scored and 663 conceded.