Sir Bobby Charlton was key to Manchester United choosing Sir Alex Ferguson as manager ahead of Terry Venables back in 1986.

The Independent on Sunday says Charlton, a recently appointed director of the club he represented so brilliantly on the field, argued passionately for the appointment of Ferguson in 1986 - and he won the fight against a powerful lobby advocating Venables.

Charlton recalls, "In the boardroom there was a strong feeling for Venables. I said I understood it well enough. Terry was a marvellous coach who as a player had represented his country at every level. He was another football man of high profile who commanded attention and the respect of his players. Some of our directors emphasised Venables' confidence, his easy manner in front of the television cameras. He would be more than a football manager. He would be a personality who would refuse to be dominated by all that had happened in the past.

"I conceded all of that but then I made the case for Alex Ferguson. I pointed out the unique scale of his achievement in Scotland; no club could seriously consider taking on the Glasgow powers but that was the mission Ferguson had declared on his first day at Aberdeen.

"Aberdeen were not supposed to beat Real Madrid in the final of the Cup Winners' Cup. I asked my fellow directors if they had seen Ferguson on the touchline when Aberdeen scored their victory in Gothenburg. I said he had lived passionately every moment of the game, charging on to the pitch, filling his players with self-belief. 'Never mind Real Madrid,' he seemed to be saying. 'This is my team, this is Aberdeen'."