Former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has declared Bryan Robson is best captain.

Roy Keane and Ferguson won 17 trophies together at United.

But on Robson, Ferguson told the club's website: "Well, he was easily the best captain I had. I think over the period he was at United, he was the best player.

"The players loved him. They responded to him and he was the longest-serving captain in my time anyway.

"It's difficult for a captain because sometimes he has to tell the truth to players, you know? The encouragement he's got to give them sometimes can be quite volatile and he was like that, but the players did love him.

"They appreciated the time he took on them and another thing, he's the only captain I knew who could make a decision on the pitch. He didn't need to look over to me.

"He would do that and that's unusual. In fact it's very unusual because he had the b***s to do that."