Ferguson is Manager of the year

After leading Manchester United to a record 19th league title, Sir Alex Ferguson has been named as the League Managers Association’s manager of the year.

United secured their 12th Premier League title with one game to play and finished nine points clear of Chelsea and Manchester City, their biggest winning margin for a decade.

They secured the title with a 1-1 draw against Blackburn at Ewood Park, however, it was their crucial 2-0 victory over Chelsea at Old Trafford that all but sealed their success.

Ferguson’s men were unbeaten at Old Trafford this season and only suffered four defeats away from home as they overtook bitter rivals Liverpool at the top of the all-time league winners' table winning 19 titles.

"It's a wonderful honour - it has been a fantastic season for us in the most difficult league in the world," said Ferguson, via video link at the award ceremony.

Ferguson also took the opportunity to back Carlo Ancelotti, who was sacked within an hour after Chelsea's final-day defeat at Everton.

"Carlo you are a fantastic man and you have showed great courage in coming to the dinner tonight, well done," he said.

Despite the Scot’s successes in the recent years it is only the third time that he has won the accolade of Manager of the Year since its inception in 1994. He now level with David Moyes and one ahead of Steve Coppell who has won it on two occasions.

The award caps a good few weeks for Ferguson, but he will be hoping to add a fourth European Champions League trophy to his collection when they take on Barcelona at Wembley.