But after a trophyless season in 1995, Ferguson boldly ripped up the form book and started again.

Mark Hughes, Paul Ince and Andrei Kanchelskis were sold and 'Fergie's Fledglings', for whom Ryan Giggs provided the template, came in.

Giggs himself was "bewildered" by the sales and Alan Hansen was adamant: "You don't win anything with kids". But the youngsters fired a new-look side to even greater glory - and another Double in 1996.

"It's always a nice challenge to see young people come through," Ferguson has said. "That's the great beauty of football, it never stops. You win one day and the next you have to start again."