O'Neill pays tribute to Fergie

Celtic manager Martin O’Neill has paid Alex Ferguson a glowing tribute on the eve of Manchester United’s Champions League Battle of Britain showdown with Rangers at Ibrox on Wednesday.

O’Neill has been tipped as a possible successor to the Scot when he decides the time is finally right to step down at Old Trafford.

But the Northern Irishman admitted anyone would find it impossible to follow in the footsteps of Ferguson, whom he believed has done a “phenomenal” job in making United the club they are today.

“I can’t say that I know Alex all that well but his record demands the utmost respect,” he said.

“You get managers that talk about it rather than actually achieve it but he has achieved it. He hasn’t just done it once - he has done it every single year.

“I know that in the early years at Manchester United things were very tight and trophies weren’t very forthcoming at that particular point but he pulled himself from the brink to become a modern day great and an absolutely fantastic manager.

“It is tight who is best between them and Real Madrid and that’s down to Alex Ferguson.

“He put Manchester United on a level that hadn’t happened since Sir Matt Busby – that’s absolutely phenomenal.”

The Celtic boss believed Ferguson’s desire was what set him out from the rest and was what all young managers – like Alex McLeish at Rangers – should aspire to.

“The biggest driving force is his hunger to succeed every year,” said O’Neill. “Each season goes and the trophies just mount up.

“I think that the great managers have that great desire and that comes from within.”