Architects of Old Trafford

Pat Crerand and George Best celebrate Matt Busby's 1968 European Cup win

BBC Sport Online compares legendary Manchester United managers Sir Matt Busby and Sir Alex Ferguson.

Sir Matt Busby was, of course, the individual who did more than anyone to build United into arguably the biggest club in Britain and one of the most famous sides in the world.

Thirty years after he ended his second stint as United manager, Busby's shadow still falls over Old Trafford.

His statue adorns the ground, which is itself situated in Sir Matt Busby Way.

It is impossible to underestimate Busby's importance to the Red Devils.

But just as Sir Matt did before him, Sir Alex Ferguson has built a legacy that will live on in the red half of Manchester.

Ferguson and Busby: United legends

On top of the memorable treble in 1999, Ferguson has won seven championships to supercede his illustrious predecessor's five titles.

The pinnacle of that 1999 triumph, the European Cup, was seen as the final piece of Ferguson's jigsaw of silverware.

But since that memorable triumph over Bayern Munich, Ferguson has guided his team to even greater heights as their domination of the last two Premiership seasons bears testimony.

Scottish success stories

The similarities between the two men, who grew up in the same area of western Scotland are striking.

Both took over United in a state of chaos and turned the club into undisputed kings of English football.

Both based their success on shrewd youth development - Busby's Babes were followed in the 1990s by Fergie's Fledglings - and believed in playing the game in a stylish, at times adventurous, fashion.

And, unlike so many managers who seem to concentrate solely on the first-team squad, both were able to shape the club from top to bottom.

Post-war salvage job

Busby, a stylish half-back whose playing career was disrupted by the Second World War, inherited a team with no home, as Old Trafford had been severely damaged in the Blitz.

  Honours under Busby

1948 - FA Cup

1952 - Championship

1956 - Championship

1957 - Championship

1963 - FA Cup

1965 - Championship

1967 - Championship

1968 - European Cup

The team were forced to play their matches at Maine Road, home of their arch rivals City, but despite the parlous condition of the club Busby soon began to turn them around.

They won the championship in 1952, United's first title for 41 years, and in his first six seasons in charge they never finished lower in the table than fourth.

Then came the tragedy of the 1956 Munich air crash that wiped out half the United team and nearly cost Busby his life.

But undeterred, he rebuilt the side for a second time, basing his success around the world class triumvirate of Best, Law and Charlton.

Burden of expectation

Ferguson took the reins in 1986 in different circumstances, but there were still enormous problems.

Unlike when Busby assumed control, the infrastructure of the club was in tact - indeed United still claimed to be the biggest side in the land.

But it was on the pitch where things were awry.

The title had not returned to Old Trafford since Busby's last triumph in 1967 and despite the occasional FA Cup success, the championship pennant looked a long way off and the pressure had taken its toll on a succession of managers.

  Honours under Ferguson

1990 - FA Cup

1991 - Cup Winners' Cup

1992 - League Cup & European Super Cup

1993 - Championship

1994 - Championship & FA Cup

1996 - Championship & FA Cup

1997 - Championship

1999 - Championship, FA Cup & European Cup

2000 - Championship

2001 - Championship

At first not everything went according to plan for Ferguson.

Such was the parlous state of the United set-up that results did not go his way and, following a run of bad results in the 1989-90 season, the knives began to be sharpened.

Flags adorn the street sign after Sir Matt's death in 1994

But Fergie saved his job with victory in the 1990 FA Cup - and with his position secure he was able to usher in over a decade of domestic dominance.

Few people in football are as qualified as Wilf McGuinness to offer an opinion on the relative merits of Ferguson and Busby.

The former United manager spent 18 years at the club under Busby and has observed Ferguson's achievements from close range.

"For me there's been nobody better than the two of them," McGuinness said.

"With things going according to plan I think he's got to be the greatest ever. It's as simple as that.

"Typical of Alex, though, he would just be delighted to be thought off in the same way that Matt was."

McGuinness has no doubts that Sir Matt would be just as proud to be compared with Ferguson.

He said: "I like to look at it in the romantic or dreamer's way and for me Matt Busby is up up there in heaven looking down on Alex and thinking 'What a wonderful job he's done'."