As Sir Alex Ferguson announced his retirement after a mammoth 26-and-a-half-years in charge of Manchester United, many will remember him as the heart and soul of Old Trafford.
Known for his fiery temperament but never wavering, Fergie has showed determination, hard graft and pure passion for his team, We take a look at the more loving side of Fergie in pictures....
The Softer Side Of Fergie
FBL-EUR-C1-MAN UTD-REAL MADRID(01 of33)
Manchester United's Scottish manager Alex Ferguson (L) embraces Real Madrid's Portuguese manager Jose Mourinho (R) after the UEFA Champions League round of 16 second leg football match between Manchester United and Real Madrid at Old Trafford in Manchester, northwest England, on March 5, 2013. Real Madrid won 2-1 (3-2 on aggregate). AFP PHOTO/ANDREW YATES (Photo credit should read ANDREW YATES/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Stoke City v Manchester United - Premier League(02 of33)
STOKE ON TRENT, ENGLAND - APRIL 14: Manchester United Manager Sir Alex Ferguson embraces Stoke City Manager Tony Pulis (l) prior to the Barclays Premier League match between Stoke City and Manchester United at the Britannia Stadium on April 14, 2013 in Stoke on Trent, England. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Manchester United v Newcastle United - Premier League(03 of33)
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 26: Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson hugs winning goal scorer Javier Hernandez during the Barclays Premier League match between Manchester United and Newcastle United at Old Trafford December 26, 2012 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Real Madrid v Manchester United - UEFA Champions League Round of 16(04 of33)
MADRID, SPAIN - FEBRUARY 13: Cristiano Ronaldo (R) of Real Madrid embraces Sir Alex Ferguson, manager of Manchester United, at the end of the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 first leg match between Real Madrid and Manchester United at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on February 13, 2013 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Jasper Juinen/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Blackburn Rovers v Manchester United - Premier League(05 of33)
BLACKBURN, ENGLAND - APRIL 02: Manchester United Manager Sir Alex Ferguson celebrates with Assistant Mike Phelan (R) at the end of the Barclays Premier League match between Blackburn Rovers and Manchester United at Ewood Park on April 2, 2012 in Blackburn, England. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Soccer - Barclays Premier League - Manchester United v Chelsea - Old Trafford(06 of33)
Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas (right) hugs Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson after the match (credit:PA)
Barcelona's Spanish coach Josep Guardiol(07 of33)
Barcelona's Spanish coach Josep Guardiola (L) embraces Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson during the UEFA Champions League final football match FC Barcelona vs. Manchester United, on May 28, 2011 at Wembley stadium in London. AFP PHOTO / CARL DE SOUZA (Photo credit should read CARL DE SOUZA/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Labour Leader Ed Miliband Meets Sir Alex Ferguson(08 of33)
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 30: Labour Party leader Ed Miliband (R) meets Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson at the club's Carrington Training Ground, after his party's annual conference finished at Manchester Central earlier today on September 30, 2010 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Dave Thompson/WPA Pool/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Manchester United v Manchester City - Premier League(09 of33)
MANCHESTER, UNITED KINGDOM - FEBRUARY 10: Manchester City Manager Sven Goran Eriksson (R) embraces Manchester United Manager Sir Alex Ferguson after they laid wreaths to honour the victims of the Munich Air disaster which happened 50 years ago on February 6th 1958, prior to the Barclays Premier League match between Manchester United and Manchester City at Old Trafford on February 10, 2008 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Chelsea v Manchester United - FA Community Shield(10 of33)
LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 08: Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson hugs Gianfranco Zola ahead of the FA Community Shield match between Chelsea and Manchester United at Wembley Stadium on August 8, 2010 in London, England. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
CSKA Moscow v Manchester United - UEFA Champions League(11 of33)
MOSCOW, RUSSIA - OCTOBER 21: Sir Alex Ferguson (L) manager of Manchester United hugs Juande Ramos, Head Coach of PFC CSKA Moscow during the UEFA Champions League group B match between CSKA Moscow and Manchester United at the Pat Luzhniki Stadium on October 21, 2009 in Moscow, Russia. (Photo by Dmitry Korotayev/Epsilon/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Manchester United v Portsmouth - FA Community Shield(12 of33)
LONDON - AUGUST 10: Fabio Capello manager of England embraces Sir Alex Ferguson manager of Manchester United following the FA Community Shield match between Manchester United and Portsmouth at Wembley Stadium on August 10, 2008 in London, England. (Photo by Phil Cole/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Kaizer Chiefs v Manchester United - Vodacom Challenge(13 of33)
PRETORIA, SOUTH AFRICA - July 26: Bhazima Shilowa hugs Sir Alex Ferguson during the Vodacom Challenge pre-season friendly match between Kaizer Chiefs and Manchester United during their pre-season tour to South Africa at Loftus Stadium on July 26, 2008 in Pretoria, South Africa. (Photo by Lefty Shivambu/Gallo Images/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Manchester United manager Sir Alex Fergu(14 of33)
Liverpool, UNITED KINGDOM: Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson (R) and Kieran Richardson embrace after their English Premiership football match against Everton at Goodison Park, Liverpool, north west England, 28 April 2007. Manchester United took a huge step towards clinching the title by defeating Everton 4-2. AFP PHOTO/PAUL ELLIS - Mobile and website uses of domestic English football pictures subject to subscription of a licence with Football Association Premier League (FAPL) tel: +44 207 298 1656. For newspapers where the football content of the printed and electronic versions are identical, no licence is necessary. (Photo credit should read PAUL ELLIS/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Manchester United manager Sir Alex Fergu(15 of33)
Liverpool, UNITED KINGDOM: Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson (R) and Wayne Rooney embrace after heir English Premiership football match against Everton at Goodison Park, Liverpool, north west England, 28 April 2007. Manchester United took a huge step towards clinching the title by defeating Everton 4-2. AFP PHOTO/PAUL ELLIS - Mobile and website uses of domestic English football pictures subject to subscription of a licence with Football Association Premier League (FAPL) tel: +44 207 298 1656. For newspapers where the football content of the printed and electronic versions are identical, no licence is necessary. (Photo credit should read PAUL ELLIS/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Manchester United manager Sir Alex Fergu(16 of33)
Birmingham, UNITED KINGDOM: Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson (facing) hugs Watford manager Aidy Boothroyd at the end of their FA Cup semi final football match at Aston Villa's Villa Park stadium in Birmingham, 14 April 2007. Manchester United won the match 4-1. AFP PHOTO / Geoff Caddick (Photo credit should read Geoff Caddick/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Soccer - FA Carling Premiership - Manchester United v Tottenham Hotspur(17 of33)
Manchester United's manager Alex Ferguson hugs captain Roy Keane (credit:PA)
Soccer - FA Carling Premiership - Manchester United v Tottenham Hotspur(18 of33)
Manchester United's manager Alex Ferguson hugs captain Roy Keane (credit:PA)
Manchester United v Liverpool(19 of33)
MANCHESTER, UNITED KINGDOM - OCTOBER 22: Liverpool Manager Rafael Benitez (R) embraces Manchester United Manager Sir Alex Ferguson prior to the start of the Barclays Premiership match between Manchester United and Liverpool at Old Trafford on October 22, 2006 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Soccer - Scottish Premier - Hibernian v Aberdeen(20 of33)
Aberdeen Manager Alex Ferguson (r) hugs Hibernian coach Pat Stanton after the final whistle. Aberdeen had just won the League following a 5-0 demolition at Hibernian (credit:PA)
Soccer - UEFA Cup Winners Cup - Final - Aberdeen v Real Madrid - Nya Ullevi Stadium, Goteborg, Sweden(21 of33)
Aberdeen manager Alex Ferguson (r) hugs one of his players after his team won the European Cup Winners Cup (credit:PA)
Manchester United's manager Sir Alex Fer(22 of33)
LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM: Manchester United's manager Sir Alex Ferguson (R) hugs Brazilian forward Cristiano Ronaldo celebrating their teams win over Arsenal after their FA Cup semi-final clash at Villa park in Birmingham, 03 April 2004.Manchester United defeated Arsenal 1-0 to reach the FA cup final being played 22 May. AFP PHOTO / ODD ANDERSEN - - No telcos,website use to description of license with FAPL on, www.faplweb.com - - (Photo credit should read ODD ANDERSEN/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Manchester United v Portsmouth - FA Community Shield(23 of33)
LONDON - AUGUST 10: Fabio Capello manager of England embraces Sir Alex Ferguson manager of Manchester United following the FA Community Shield match between Manchester United and Portsmouth at Wembley Stadium on August 10, 2008 in London, England. (Photo by Phil Cole/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Alex Ferguson(24 of33)
22 May 1999: Alex Ferguson cuddles Roy Keane of Manchester United after the final whistle during the AXA FA Cup Final match against Newcastle United played at Wembley Stadium in London, England. The match finished in a 2-0 win for Manchester United and they completed the 'Double' for the third time in six years. \ Mandatory Credit: Shaun Botterill /Allsport (credit:Getty Images)
Alex Ferguson of Aberdeen(25 of33)
1986: Alex Ferguson (right) Manager of Aberdeen hugs Sandy Jardine (left) of Hearts in commiseration after the Scottish Cup Final match at Hampden Park in Glasgow, Scotland. Aberdeen won the match 3-0. \ Mandatory Credit: Allsport UK /Allsport (credit:Getty Images)
Kaizer Chiefs v Manchester United - Vodacom Challenge(26 of33)
PRETORIA, SOUTH AFRICA - July 26: Bhazima Shilowa hugs Sir Alex Ferguson during the Vodacom Challenge pre-season friendly match between Kaizer Chiefs and Manchester United during their pre-season tour to South Africa at Loftus Stadium on July 26, 2008 in Pretoria, South Africa. (Photo by Lefty Shivambu/Gallo Images/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Manchester United v Arsenal - Premier League(27 of33)
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - MAY 16: Wayne Rooney of Manchester United embraces Manager Sir Alex Ferguson (R) after their team clinched the Premier League title at the end of the Barclays Premier League match between Manchester United and Arsenal at Old Trafford on May 16, 2009 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
CSKA Moscow v Manchester United - UEFA Champions League(28 of33)
MOSCOW, RUSSIA - OCTOBER 21: Sir Alex Ferguson (L) manager of Manchester United hugs Juande Ramos, Head Coach of PFC CSKA Moscow during the UEFA Champions League group B match between CSKA Moscow and Manchester United at the Pat Luzhniki Stadium on October 21, 2009 in Moscow, Russia. (Photo by Dmitry Korotayev/Epsilon/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Manchester United manager Sir Alex Fergu(29 of33)
Liverpool, UNITED KINGDOM: Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson (R) and Kieran Richardson embrace after their English Premiership football match against Everton at Goodison Park, Liverpool, north west England, 28 April 2007. Manchester United took a huge step towards clinching the title by defeating Everton 4-2. AFP PHOTO/PAUL ELLIS - Mobile and website uses of domestic English football pictures subject to subscription of a licence with Football Association Premier League (FAPL) tel: +44 207 298 1656. For newspapers where the football content of the printed and electronic versions are identical, no licence is necessary. (Photo credit should read PAUL ELLIS/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Manchester United v Portsmouth - FA Community Shield(30 of33)
LONDON - AUGUST 10: Fabio Capello manager of England embraces Sir Alex Ferguson manager of Manchester United following the FA Community Shield match between Manchester United and Portsmouth at Wembley Stadium on August 10, 2008 in London, England. (Photo by Phil Cole/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Manchester United's manager Sir Alex Fer(31 of33)
Manchester United's manager Sir Alex Ferguson (R) hugs Brazilian forward Cristiano Ronaldo celebrating their teams win over Arsenal after their FA Cup semi-final clash at Villa park in Birmingham, 03 April 2004.Manchester United defeated Arsenal 1-0 to reach the FA cup final being played 22 May. AFP PHOTO / ODD ANDERSEN - - No telcos,website use to description of license with FAPL on, www.faplweb.com - - (Photo credit should read ODD ANDERSEN/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Aston Villa v Manchester United - Premier League(32 of33)
BIRMINGHAM, UNITED KINGDOM - NOVEMBER 22: Aston Villa Manager Martin O'Neill (L) embraces Manchester United Manager Sir Alex Ferguson at the end of the Barclays Premier League match between Aston Villa and Manchester United at Villa Park on November 22, 2008 in Birmingham, England. (Photo by Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson(33 of33)
Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson (L) meets mascot Fred the Red before the League cup fifth round football match between Manchester United and Crystal Palace at Old Trafford in Manchester, north-west England on November 30 2011. AFP PHOTO/ANDREW YATES --- RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or “live” services. Online in-match use limited to 45 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. (Photo credit should read ANDREW YATES/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)