According to a report by The Nation Nigeria on Sunday, November 8, 2026, former and current Manchester United players, club legends and other prominent figures have gathered at Old Trafford to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Sir Alex Ferguson’s appointment as the club’s manager.

The special gathering took place on Saturday night, November 7, 2026, bringing together several football personalities whose careers were shaped by the legendary Scottish manager.

Ferguson, who arrived at Manchester United on November 6, 1986, was honoured at a private dinner organised to commemorate four decades since he took charge of the club.

Among those present were current Manchester United manager Michael Carrick, former goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar, Nemanja Vidic, Robin van Persie, Darren Fletcher, Jonny Evans, Javier Hernandez and John O’Shea.

Actor and lifelong Manchester United supporter James Nesbitt also attended the event and shared a photograph of the gathering on social media.

Van der Sar, who played under Ferguson during his successful spell at Old Trafford, also shared pictures from the occasion, celebrating the reunion of former teammates and colleagues.

The gathering provided an opportunity for those who worked with Ferguson to reflect on his remarkable achievements and the influence he had on Manchester United during his 26-and-a-half-year managerial career.

Ferguson’s appointment in 1986 marked the beginning of one of the most successful periods in the history of English football. He transformed Manchester United into a dominant force, winning 13 Premier League titles, five FA Cups and two UEFA Champions League trophies, among other honours.

His achievements included three consecutive Premier League titles between 1999 and 2001, as well as the historic 1999 campaign in which United won the Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League to complete an unprecedented treble.

The 1999 Champions League final remains one of the most memorable moments of Ferguson’s career. Manchester United scored twice in stoppage time to defeat Bayern Munich 2-1 in Barcelona, cementing their place in European football history.

Ferguson also played a major role in developing some of the biggest names in football, including David Beckham, Cristiano Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney, Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes and Gary Neville.

Ahead of the anniversary celebration, current Manchester United manager Michael Carrick spoke about the enormous influence Ferguson had on his playing career.

Carrick, who spent seven years playing under the former manager after joining United from Tottenham Hotspur in 2006, described his former boss as an important influence on him both professionally and personally.

He also expressed confidence that Manchester United could eventually reproduce the success enjoyed during Ferguson’s reign, although he acknowledged that rebuilding a consistently successful team would require time and patience.

Carrick stressed that consistency remained essential, noting that the club could not expect to achieve Ferguson’s extraordinary accomplishments overnight.

The current United manager also revealed that his relationship with Ferguson had become closer since his retirement from professional football.

Manchester United also released a special tribute video featuring several prominent figures from the club's history to mark the anniversary.

Among those who shared their memories and appreciation were Cristiano Ronaldo, David Beckham, Wayne Rooney, Gary Neville, Rio Ferdinand, Bryan Robson, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and former manager Jose Mourinho.

Former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger also featured in the tribute, reflecting the respect Ferguson commands beyond Manchester United.

Mourinho described Ferguson as the embodiment of Manchester United, highlighting his importance to the club's identity.

The celebration comes more than 13 years after Ferguson announced his retirement in 2013, bringing an end to an extraordinary managerial career.

Although Manchester United have struggled to maintain the dominance they enjoyed under his leadership, Ferguson remains one of the most influential figures in the club's history.