Football. Bloody hell.‘

The longest serving and most successful manager in British football history shocked the world by finally retiring in May 2013 and instantly created more column inches and twitter mentions that the death of Margaret Thatcher. And he wasn’t just the greatest, but also one of the most outspoken, engaging and witty voices from the game, as this book proves. Here is the history of his supreme verbal sparring during his years at Manchester United - the man in his own words (with a few additional thoughts from those who knew him best and crossed swords with him most).

'There’s nothing wrong with losing your temper once in a while if it’s for the right reasons’

‘If he was an inch taller he’d be the best centre-half in Britain. His father is 6ft 2in - I’d check the milkman’ On Gary Neville

‘He could start a row in an empty house’ On Denis Wise

‘The list of gentle, naturally retiring men who have been successful in their attempts at running clubs isn’t a long one, is it?