Erik ten Hag has hailed Sir Alex Ferguson as a ‘guidance for all managers’ following his induction into the Premier League Hall of Fame.

Ferguson and ex-Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger became the first managers to be inducted into the newly-established Premier League Hall of Fame on Wednesday. The induction was just desserts for an astonishing career at the top of the game for Ferguson, who won an astonishing 13 Premier League titles during his 27-year tenure at Old Trafford.

Current Man Utd manager Ten Hag, who has led the club to Carabao Cup success in his maiden season in charge, has been pictured having dinner with Ferguson in recent months, and it’s widely known that he’s looked to the Scot for advice and guidance about United.

Now, speaking to the Premier League’s official website, Ten Hag has said of Ferguson’s induction: “He left a legacy. Manchester United is Alex Ferguson and by setting the highest standards and highest values, bringing a winning attitude, he built that into the new club. 

“He’s a guidance for all the managers in top football. How you construct and mould teams, how you coach them and manage them. He won 13 times the Premier League. No-one else can ever do that again, such a huge performance. And then all the other cups he won, he won the Treble… no-one ever did it before or after so that tells you everything.

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“Winning so many trophies, and in an attacking way. He had the right feeling when to rebuild and to reconstruct a new team, to refresh it because he did it over two decades.”

Speaking about meeting up with Ferguson and learning from the Premier League icon, Ten Hag said: “I am really pleased he wants to share his knowledge with me. It is great to talk to him, learn from him, and I hope we can do it more and often. In football, it is about winning, that makes him the number one. 

“There are many others who are really successful – Arsene Wenger, Jose Mourinho, Pep Guardiola, Jurgen Klopp but he did it over 26 years and he won the most.”

“I’m truly delighted to be inducted into the Premier League Hall of Fame. It’s an honour when you receive recognition like this. However, it’s not just about me as a person. It’s about the job at Manchester United and the bond we had over many years, so I’m also proud for the club, the staff and my players.

“My job was to send the fans home happy. United’s history and my own expectations were the things that drove me, and I then had to try and develop all my players with the same expectations and make sure we could go out and achieve them.

“I feel Arsene is a very worthy inductee as he transformed Arsenal Football Club fantastically. They became a tough team to compete with and we both wanted to win, which motivated us further. Through the years since retirement, we’d go for dinner together in a little restaurant he knows well in Switzerland. He is a really interesting man and I enjoy his company, but it is still my job to pick the wine!”

Alex Morgan powered the San Diego Wave to their first win of the season with a late goal to blast them past the Chicago Red Stars.

In front of a sellout crowd of 30,854 fans at Snapdragon Stadium in San Diego, California, Morgan’s 89th-minute penalty sealed all three points for the Wave in a hard-fought match.  The Red Stars and Wave were evenly matched for the majority of the game, with Chicago having a slight edge in possession with 52% of the ball. 

Chicago got on the scoresheet first with a Yuki Nagasato left-footed shot to the top right corner in the 18th minute. But San Diego wouldn’t stay quiet after that, quickly equalizing through an Amirah Ali header from close range in the 22nd minute, then doubling their lead in the 32nd minute with a goal from Jaedyn Shaw in the bottom right corner. 

Yet, the Red Stars climbed back into the game with a Mallory Swanson penalty just before halftime. 

However, the Wave was far more determined at the end, culminating in Morgan’s penalty in the game’s dying minutes. After the victory, Morgan thanked Wave supporters and spoke about their support in getting them the win.

“30,000 in the stands just kept us going. Just to win in our first game, feel good going into the season, there’s no better feeling. Hopefully we get 30,000 fans next game.”

With over 30,000 fans attending the match, the Wave broke the NWSL attendance record, previously set by the Orlando Pride in 2016, with 23,403 fans.

San Diego will continue their NWSL campaign this weekend at home as they take on the North Carolina Courage. 

You may regard him as tactically primitive, but you cannot deny that Gareth Southgate has helped a nation fall in love with its national team again.

Success in the form of silverware is yet to arrive, but the Three Lions are edging closer. The current England squad is as likeable as its ever been, and their talent matches their harmonious team dynamics. It’s an environment every English footballer wants to be a part of.

Chances have been granted to an endless list of names since Southgate took over, and while some like to criticise the boss for having supposed favourites, there’s no denying he’s handed out opportunities to every player who’s deserved a shot of making a name for themself on the international stage.

Southgate has handed out 55 England debuts since he took over as boss in September 2016. Here’s a list of every single one.

Debut: October 2016 vs Malta

Southgate’s first starting XI as England boss included debutant Jesse Lingard. The late-blooming Man Utd star was a protagonist in the Three Lions set-up for a while and he played a key role in their journey to the World Cup semi-finals in 2018.

He’s scored six times in 32 caps for England.

Debut: November 2016 vs Spain

An injury to Danny Drinkwater – remember him?! – saw steady West Ham defender Aaron Cresswell earn his first England call-up.

His international career was brief as he only made three appearances, and he made his debut in a 2-2 draw with Spain at Wembley.

Debut: March 2017 vs Germany

Southampton tandem Nathan Redmond and James Ward-Prowse both made their England bows in a March 2017 friendly against Germany. It was Redmond’s only appearance for his country.

Burnley defender Michael Keane started the contest on his first cap as England were beaten 1-0.

Debut: June 2017 vs France

The scorer of one of England’s greatest ever goals given the context, Trippier’s international career started in Paris as Southgate’s side were beaten by ten-man France.

Ousmane Dembele scored the winner 15 minutes from time after Raphael Varane was sent off at the start of the second half.

Trippier has since earned 41 caps for his country, with his only goal arriving in a World Cup semi-final.

Debut: October 2017 vs Lithuania

Two Harrys were spotted in an England shirt for the very first time in Lithuania.

This was the beginning of Southgate’s love affair with Maguire, who has been a cornerstone of his tenure, while Winks has drifted out of the limelight after initially promising so much.

Debut: November 2017 vs Germany

This Wembley friendly against Germany saw a bunch of new faces make their respective debuts. Southgate handed five players their first cap in this fixture.

While Cork (one cap), Abraham (11 caps), Gomez (11 caps), and Loftus-Cheek (ten caps) have each struggled to make a name for themselves on the international stage, Pickford has blossomed into a cult hero.

England’s number one has barely put a foot wrong since his integration and has starred at three major tournaments.

Debut: November 2017 vs Brazil

A 20-year-old Dominic Solanke hadn’t even kicked a ball in the Premier League when he made his England debut against Brazil in November 2017.

He hasn’t been capped since, but that isn’t to say his international career is over just yet.

Debut: March 2018 vs Italy

Lewis Cook’s only England cap netted the player’s grandfather £17,000 after he placed a £500 bet at the odds of 33-1 that his 18-year-old grandson would win a senior England cap before his 26th birthday.

Cook was just 21 on debut.

James Tarkowski also made his debut in the same friendly against Italy, but he’d win just one more cap for the Three Lions.

Debut: June 2018 vs Costa Rica

Trent’s tumultuous relationship with the national team began just before the 2018 World Cup against Costa Rica. Pickford’s second-in-command, Nick Pope, also earned his first cap.

Southgate’s pragmatism and preference for caution have seen the revolutionary right-back overlooked on the international stage. As a result, for all his talent, the Liverpool defender has notched just 18 England caps.

Debut: September 2018 vs Switzerland

England returned to action a couple of months after their World Cup heartbreak where Southgate introduced blossoming Leicester defender Ben Chilwell to his squad.

Danny Rose was on the decline, and fresh blood at left-back was needed. Chilwell and Luke Shaw have since emerged as Southgate’s preferred options down the left.

Debut: October 2018 vs Croatia

This has to be one of the most eagerly-anticipated debuts of the Southgate era, right? Only a few English supporters had caught a glimpse of Jadon Sancho in the Bundesliga before he made his international debut in a Nations League draw with Croatia.

The former Man City academy star has since teased his magic for the national team, but fierce competition in wide areas has often left him on the periphery.

Debut: October 2018 vs Spain

How did this happen then?

Debut: November 2018 vs USA

Most of you will remember this as being Wayne Rooney’s final game in an England shirt, but it should be remembered for Alex McCarthy’s second-half cameo between the sticks on his sole England cap.

Callum Wilson also scored on debut.

Debut: March 2019 vs Czech Republic

Another cornerstone of Southgate’s England, Declan Rice made his bow under the current incumbent’s watch.

The West Ham midfielder had seen his prestige soar in east London, but the vast majority were more intrigued by what Callum Hudson-Odoi could do on debut.

The highly-rated Chelsea teenager became the youngest-ever player to represent England in a competitive international – a record that barely lasted 18 months.

Debut: September 2019 vs Bulgaria

Chelsea’s transfer ban forced Frank Lampard’s hand during the start of his reign as Blues boss. Thus, academy graduates such as Mason Mount were given a chance to shine, and shine he did.

The elusive midfielder made an immediate impression on Southgate, who quickly called him up to his squad for Euro 2020 qualifiers against Bulgaria and Montenegro. Mount’s first cap arrived off the bench in a 4-0 thumping of the former.

He’s since been regarded as a highly-valued asset to the Three Lions squad and has earned 36 caps.

Debut: October 2019 vs Bulgaria

Mings conducted himself admirably in awful conditions on debut.

The Aston Villa defender was subject to racist abuse in Bulgaria which forced England’s Euro 2020 qualifier to be halted twice. It was the visitors who had the last laugh, though, as the hosts were thumped 6-0 as Mings kept a clean sheet.

The left-footed centre-back was later named in Southgate’s Euro 2020 squad and he impressed when called upon.

Debut: November 2019 vs Montenegro

Southgate has struggled to make room for a player of Maddison’s profile in his starting XI, especially at major tournaments. A 3-4-3 was utilised at Euro 2020 before the manager introduced a 4-3-3 at the 2022 World Cup.

Southgate’s hesitance to use the creative Maddison has been a distinct source of frustration among supporters. The Leicester playmaker has criminally played just twice for his country. Almost three-and-a-half-years separated his two caps.

Debut: November 2019 vs Kosovo

Southgate’s shunning of Tomori is nothing short of bizarre. The defender earned his debut after breaking through at Chelsea, but he’s since gone from strength-to-strength at Milan.

Tomori helped the Rossoneri to their first Scudetto in a decade in 2021, but he’s constantly been overlooked in the England conversation.

To be fair, he does have elite competition in the form of Eric Dier.

Debut: September 2020 vs Iceland

Phil Foden’s England bow was long overdue, but the Covid-19 pandemic brought about delays to the international schedule and the Man City star was forced to wait until September 2020.

England claimed a late 1-0 win, and Foden is yet to dazzle on the international stage.

Mason Greenwood also made his debut.

Debut: September 2020 vs Denmark

This was a drab Nations League affair, but at least we got to see Jack Grealish in an England shirt for the first time.

This was the start of the nation’s love affair with the Brummie, although such adoration dwindled after his big-money move to Man City. The crafty winger replaced fellow debutant Kalvin Phillips, while Ainsley Maitland-Niles and Conor Coady also earned their first caps.

Debut: October 2020 vs Wales

Four players made their debuts in an October 2020 friendly against Wales, including the irresistible Bukayo Saka and Chelsea full-back Reece James.

Leicester winger Harvey Barnes also made his England bow, while Dominic Calvert-Lewin became the 12th Englishman since 2000 to score on debut.

Debut: November 2020 vs Republic of Ireland

17-year-old Bellingham smashed Hudson-Odoi’s record when he made his debut in a friendly victory over the Republic of Ireland in November 2020.

Dean Henderson also made his England bow, but this contest will be remembered as the starting point of Jude’s international legacy.

The sky’s the limit for the ludicrously gifted midfielder.

Debut: March 2021 vs San Marino

Watkins cashed in against minnows San Marino and joined the list of players to score on their England debuts.

The Aston Villa man has been in red-hot form this season, but the presence of a certain all-time record goalscorer means his opportunities in an England shirt have been limited. He could be around Southgate’s setup for a while, though.

Debut: June 2021 vs Austria

Ben Godfrey was the beneficiary of a bloated squad ahead of the delayed Euros as England took on Austria in a friendly before the tournament got underway.

He didn’t make the final squad, although fellow debutant Ben White did. The Arsenal star was also picked in Southgate’s squad for the 2022 World Cup before departing early for specific reasons unknown.

Debut: June 2021 vs Romania

Johnstone was a steady customer at West Brom and he was named in Southgate’s Euro 2020 squad.

He kept a clean sheet on debut against Romania, but Pickford’s brilliance meant he never got a sniff at the Euros. Injuries have since seen him fall out of the England picture.

Debut: September 2021 vs Andorra

Marcelo Bielsa had Bamford playing some of the best football of his career and he was duly rewarded with an England call-up.

Lingard starred in the 4-0 win over Andorra in what is Bamford’s only England appearance to date.

Debut: November 2021 vs Albania

Smith Rowe earned his first call-up and cap almost a year on from his breakout Premier League appearance against Chelsea on Boxing Day 2020.

He’s featured three times for his country, scoring once, but injuries have taken their toll over the past year.

Debut: November 2021 vs San Marino

Ramsdale’s first England cap was a breeze as England put ten past San Marino in a World Cup qualifier. Despite his impressive form for Arsenal, Pickford’s reliability for the national team means he’s only earned three caps.

Conor Gallagher also took to the pitch that night, and he’s since emerged as a useful option off the bench for Southgate.

Debut: March 2022 vs Switzerland

Crystal Palace duo Marc Guehi and Tyrick Mitchell have combined for five England caps since they made their debuts against Switzerland in a friendly last year.

There was no clean sheet for starter Guehi as Breel Embolo opened the scoring. Kyle Walker-Peters also started the game on his first England appearance.

Debut: June 2022 vs Hungary

These two were the most recent debutants before the March international break.

England were beaten 1-0 by Hungary away from home when James Justin and Jarrod Bowen, who’s been capped four times, made their England bows.

Debut: March 2023 vs Ukraine

And finally, number 55: Ivan Toney.

Brentford’s talisman has been in sparkling form this season, and an England call-up was fully deserved. His cameo off the bench against Ukraine was pretty uneventful, but it may well be the first off many appearances for his country.

He’s well worth keeping around for his penalty spot brilliance alone.

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