Sir Alex Ferguson’s Comment To Spurs Player Who Beat Man United Stars To ‘Laughable’ Award

Sir Alex Ferguson's comment to David Ginola explained why he beat a number of his Manchester United players beat to the PFA Player of the Year award.

During his glittering 26-year spell in charge of United, Ferguson saw a number of his Red Devils stars scoop the precious prize after their achievements in specific seasons.

Bryan Robson, Paul Ince, Eric Cantona, Roy Keane, Cristiano Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney and Ryan Giggs all won the award playing under Ferguson at United.

But surprisingly, Ferguson's most successful season did not result in one of his players being named PFA Player of the Year.

In 1999, he led United to a historic treble - winning the Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup in a stunning 10-day period.

Yet despite a host of strong individual seasons, a United player was not recognised as the best-performing player when it came to the PFA voting.

Ferguson led United to the treble in 1999. Image: Getty

David Ginola won the gong despite Spurs finishing 11th in the table in one of the most controversial individual award wins.

Ginola helped Spurs win the Worthington Cup and his victory was historic as he was the first player to win the award for a team who finished outside the top four.

Ferguson held a grudge for years and in 2013, the Scot was quoted as saying, "I haven't paid attention to the selections for Footballer of the Year since 1999 when we won the treble and David Ginola of Spurs was given Player of the Year".

Dwight Yorke, who scored 29 goals in all competitions that season, wrote in his autobiography that he "felt robbed".

The award is voted by fellow players and it appears as though the number of candidates from United led to a split of votes.

David Ginola won the award in 1999. Image: Getty

During an appearance on Sky Sports' Monday Night Football, Ginola claimed that Ferguson told him years later that many of his players voted for Ginola.

"'We won the treble, but you ended up as players' player of the year that same season'", Ginola said, revealing Ferguson's remark.

"And I was a bit concerned about what he was trying to say.

"'But I have to mention something to you', he said. 'Most of my players voted for you, David.' OK, thank you very much."

Ginola started his Premier League career with Newcastle, finishing four points behind United under the management of Kevin Keegan.

He later turned out for Aston Villa and Everton, amassing 195 Premier League appearances.