It's incredible to think that much of Sir Alex Ferguson's success at Manchester United would not have played out, had he gone through with what he later described as the 'biggest mistake' of his career.
After a rocky first few years in charge - including the 'winter of discontent' in which he reportedly came within one game from being sacked in January 1990 - Ferguson took United from strength to strength, becoming the dominant force of the early Premier League era and conquering Europe at the end of the Century.
The distinguished Scot ended his 15th season at Old Trafford with the 2000/2001 Premier League title, his seventh since taking over in 1986.
That decade-and-a-half also included multiple FA and League Cups, culminating in the legendary 1999 treble-winning campaign in which he landed his first Champions League triumph.