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THE statues outside Old Trafford are a permanent nod to those who contributed most to making Manchester United one of the greatest clubs in the world.
There is the Holy Trinity of George Best, Denis Law and Sir Bobby Charlton along with one of former manager Sir Matt Busby.
The latter two will always be intertwined with the Munich Air Disaster, something that will resonate around the club forever.
What happened in those intervening years did so much to establish United in the hearts of the footballing family.
But nothing and no-one did more than Sir Alex Ferguson to make United the true giant it is today.
The trophies, the will to win and the ability to evolve through the years make him a unique legend with no equals.
Fergie is now cast in bronze himself (right) behind the stand named after someone who turned United into pure gold.
Stare at the statue of him and he looks formidable and indestructible. But we have learnt that he isn’t, following the shocking news that Fergie, at 76, is battling to save his life in a Salford hospital after suffering a brain haemorrhage.
He is in intensive care and now Fergie has to do what he does best and somehow win the biggest fight of all.
The inevitable outpouring of love and concern for Fergie speaks volumes for what the man means to people.
That’s because his influence stretched way beyond shaping superstars like Cristiano Ronaldo, David Beckham and Wayne Rooney.
During a glittering managerial career that defined him as the greatest boss of all time, Fergie treated everyone the same.
Complex
From kit men to canteen staff, Fergie imparted his knowledge and wisdom on them all because he refused to differentiate between people of different social standings and class.
Yet at the peak of his powers he remained a huge contradiction and complex character who could be a friend one minute and fierce foe the next.
In South Africa during a United pre-season tour several years ago he greeted the waiting press in Durban at a welcome reception