Wayne Rooney reveals Sir Alex Ferguson's best quality as Manchester United manager

Rooney admitted Ferguson knew how to motivate him and get the best out of him as a player

Rooney and Ferguson clashed a lot throughout their time at Manchester United together (Getty)

Wayne Rooney believes Sir Alex Ferguson’s man-management skills are what lifted him above his rivals as the greatest manager in history.

The Everton forward spent nine years under Ferguson’s tutelage at Old Trafford before the Scot retired after the climax of the successful 2012/13 season – 27 years after first joining the club as manager.

Rooney and Ferguson had their differences during their time together at Manchester United after the former England captain twice handed in a transfer request causing him to fall out of favour.

However, the fractious relationship between the two has since been repaired and Rooney was full of praise for his former manager.

“His man-management without a doubt [was his biggest strength],” Rooney told Sky Sports’ Monday Night Football. “As a manager he was the best but his man-management was something which a lot of other managers would struggle to match.

“He knew how to speak to players, how to get a reaction. He’s the only manager that could leave someone out and make them feel good about it – he was incredible.

“He knew how to get a reaction out of me. So many times at half-time I had played well and others in the dressing room hadn’t but he’d come for me.

“He knew there’d be a shouting match but it’d get a reaction from me. If he did it to another player – for example Nani – he knew he’d lose the player but he just knew the right thing to do with different players.”