Sir Alex Ferguson Named His Two ‘Most Intelligent’ Man Utd Players

· GiveMeSport

Sir Alex Ferguson picked two surprising players when naming the two most intelligent he coached at Man Utd.

Sir Alex Ferguson has worked with some of the smartest footballers ever to grace the English game, but two surprising Manchester United stars impressed him with their off-field intelligence.

The greatest manager in Premier League history once labelled Paul Scholes as the 'cleverest' player he ever coached during his 27-year reign at Old Trafford. Ferguson was referencing the midfielder's incredible understanding of the game.

However, Scholes wasn't one of the two players Fergie named when it came to the smartest away from the hallowed turf. Instead, he named a striker who flopped and one of the Premier League's greatest defenders.

Speaking in 2014, one year after he called time on his iconic career, Ferguson discussed the most intelligent players he'd worked with at Man Utd. The first player he highlighted was French left-back Patrice Evra.

In his eight-year spell at the club, Evra cemented himself as one of the division's greatest full-backs. The France international won five league titles with his all-action displays down the left flank playing a huge role.

However, he hasn't always been viewed as someone with great intelligence. Evra has been seen as a source of fun after his retirement from football.

But Ferguson waxed lyrical about his brain, telling the Big Issue (per Express Sport):

> "I've always been blessed with a good memory but Patrice Evra? There's a man with a brain. > > "He could speak five languages and was a great help in the dressing room. Lovely guy. His father was a diplomat; it showed."

Evra wasn't the most impressive in that department, however. Ferguson recalled Uruguayan forward Diego Forlan's ability to speak multiple languages fluently.

> "Even better, see Diego Forlan? When he was with us, he was also a great linguist and could speak about five languages fluently. > > "Earlier this year when he signed for [Cerezo] Osaka, I was told that he prepared about a week in advance and then gave a five-minute interview to the media in Japanese. Now that's impressive."

Countless players came and went during Ferguson's reign, while the Scottish coach stayed a constant at Old Trafford. He rarely got it wrong when it came to letting players leave.

However, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer once revealed a conversation he had with the manager, who admitted Forlan's struggles and eventual departure were his 'mistake'.

> "I remember the chat I had with the gaffer [Sir Alex Ferguson] about players after they'd left and he said: 'Diego Forlan was a great player. It was my mistake that I never managed to get the best out of him'," Solskjaer recalled.

Ferguson himself admitted his regret at selling Forlan for such a nominal fee. Despite managing just 17 goals in 98 games for United, Forlan went on to become a household name in La Liga.

For Villarreal and Atletico Madrid, he netted more than 150 goals, while playing a star role in Uruguay's run to the semi-final of the 2010 World Cup.

Statistics in this article are courtesy of Transfermarkt. Correct as of 05-10-26.

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