Current and former Manchester United stars have huddled under umbrellas outside Old Trafford for the unveiling of a 2.75-meter bronze statue of manager Alex Ferguson.

Eric Cantona, Peter Schmeichel and Ruud van Nistelrooy, as well as Wayne Rooney and the entire United first team squad were among the guests.

More than 2000 United fans also came, some carrying banners that read: Sir Alex the Great.

“Normally people die before they see their statue; I’m outliving death,” said an emotional Ferguson, who has been United’s manager for more than 26 years. Rain sprinkled onto the statue, which depicts the manager in typical Ferguson-fashion, arms crossed.

A plaque, which Ferguson unveiled with his wife Catherine, described her as “his greatest supporter”.

Ferguson said of his wife: “Someone has to control me and she is the only one who can.”

The statue has been placed in front of the Sir Alex Ferguson Stand, which has two large pictures of Ferguson holding the Premier League and Champions Leagues trophies aloft.

David Beckham appeared before the crowd on a video screen, with the LA Galaxy midfielder saying that his time at United was “without doubt the best of my career”.

The sculptor Philip Jackson said he wanted to portray Ferguson’s humour “so there’s just a slight smile in the corner of his mouth”.

Ferguson is the Premier League’s most successful manager with 12 titles. Ferguson has also won the Champions League twice, and the FA Cup five times. Earlier this year he was voted Best Manager in the Premier League’s 20 Seasons Awards.