TRIBUTES TO THE STAR-MAKER...

DAVID BECKHAM

HE WAS always watching and always with us every time we played. I can still hear him telling me, “NO MORE HOLLYWOOD PASSES”. I can still see him as we played on The Cliff training ground, looking down on us either with a proud smile or a loud bang of his fist on the window knowing any minute he would be on his way down to probably advise me in the most polite way to stop playing those passes.

RYAN GIGGS

I’VE known Eric since I was 13 and he was a big part of my career. A great man and a tough coach, he instilled in us the principles of the game. Without a doubt is one of the biggest influences on my career.

PAUL SCHOLES

ERIC was special. He was the major influence. He was a genius as a coach. He was a really tough man to play for but that is what made us into the streetwise players we became. He is the one who taught us how to play football the Manchester United way.

ALEX FERGUSON

ERIC’S contribution to football, and not just at Manchester United, was incredible. When I came as manager I was lucky enough to have Eric on the staff as head of youth development, so I got to see the work he did and not just with the Class of 92 but with all the young players. He built character and determination in those young players. Eric had a wicked, dry sense of humour and was straight-talking and I admired that in him.

PHIL NEVILLE

HE WAS our second father, the one who took us from the age of 14 and delivered us to the first team ready. I’m a manager now and the standards I try to give my players are the standards he taught me. I’ll be forever indebted to him.