David Moyes joined a host of managers past and present on Monday for a lunch to pay tribute to Sir Alex Ferguson. Everton’s manager tells Sue McCann why he and other young Scottish managers have been inspired by Sir Alex Ferguson’s achievements.

“I’ve been massively inspired by someone who is in Scotland treated as the top football manager and really I suppose only Jock Stein would be mentioned in the same breath. So they’ve been the people in Scotland I feel through the years who’ve really been inspirational. Sir Alex’s career starting from East Stirling, then on to St Mirren and on to Aberdeen; there’s been a rise through an apprenticeship really, to obviously having one of the biggest jobs in the world at Manchester United and succeeding in it as well.”

Aura….

“When you go into his company you feel like you are coming into the company of someone who is very special. There’s something about him, that you are with a man that you feel has got the magic word on football near enough because his teams have been successful at both Aberdeen and Manchester United. As well as that he’s also had the respect of his players, partly because he’s been very disciplined and taken tough decisions at the right times. He’s never been afraid to make those decisions and I think for that alone you admire a person who can do that.”

Competitive….

“He’s very competitive, he wants to win. I wouldn’t go quite as far to say he’ll win at all costs, but I think that he’s someone who likes his football to be played right, wants it done well. I’ve enjoyed his company recently as I’ve got to know him a little bit better and obviously I stand back in admiration for what he’s achieved and what he continues to achieve.”