Europe 1 with AFP 18:30 p.m., March 29, 2023

The English football championship officialized, this Wednesday, the induction of Arsène Wenger and Sir Alex Ferguson to the Hall Of Fame. The former Arsenal and Manchester United coaches are the first two technicians to join this prestigious and very closed circle of the Premier League.

France's Arsène Wenger and Scotland's Alex Ferguson are the first coaches to be inducted into the Premier League Hall of Fame for their respective achievements with Arsenal and Manchester United, the Premier League announced on Wednesday. The two emblematic technicians, who remained for countless years with the Gunners and the Red Devils, crossed swords during fifteen years marked as much by their strong rivalry as by their mutual respect.

Sir Alex, who arrived in the 1992-1993 season, remained 26 years at the helm of "ManU", which, before him, had not been champions of England since 1967. The manager with the most titles in Premier League history (13) retired in 2013. "Such recognition is an honour," said the former coach, now 81. "But it's not just about me as a person. It is also the reward for the work done at Manchester United, the bond created throughout these years. I'm proud for the club, the coaches and my players."

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His rival arrived in London in 1996 as one of the first foreign technicians in England. He left Arsenal in 2018 after leaving his mark and revolutionising the game by focusing on science and dietetics to implement a more professional approach. In terms of the game, the 73-year-old Frenchman, now head of development at FIFA, has promoted attractive and attacking football thanks to many unknown players he went for and who revealed themselves thanks to him, including Thierry Henry or Patrick Vieira for example, already present in the "Hall of Fame".

In 1997-1998, in his first full season, he won his first league title. In 2003-2004, his Gunners went unbeaten all season. "Sharing all this with Sir Alex is a great honour for me," he said. We are like two boxers. We fought and we made the road together. In the end, there is respect. It will be an opportunity to get together, drink good wine and remember our old fights."