Sir Alex Ferguson Lauds Ryan Giggs's "Temperament" At Assault Trial

Former Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson told a UK court Friday that ex-star Ryan Giggs had never lost his temper or shown violence during his more than two-decade tenure at the club. Giving evidence at Giggs' trial for assaulting and coercively controlling an ex-girlfriend, Ferguson said the former player had consistently exhibited a "fantastic temperament". He was "the best example we had at the club," Ferguson told Manchester Crown Court, where Giggs has denied physically assaulting former partner, PR agent Kate Greville, and her sister nearly two years ago.

Giggs also denies controlling Greville during their rocky years-long relationship.

Giggs, 48, says that injuries sustained by Greville were an accidental result of a three-way tussle with her and her sister over a mobile phone.

The former winger has admitted he "may have caught her and her sister", but has used his long playing career, in which he had an excellent disciplinary record to argue he was not violent.

Ferguson, 80, told the court he had known Giggs since the player had joined Manchester United as a youngster.

Ferguson said he had sought to protect the teenage player from media attention after he was compared to brilliant but wayward 1960s club legend George Best.

"When someone's saying you're the next George Best, it's a big issue. But the boy was great, no problems," Ferguson said.

"To have a career as long as he had in a difficult position, in terms of energy, he fulfilled everything we ever wished for."

Giggs resigned as the Wales manager in June, after being on leave since his arrest.

He said he did not want "continued interest around this case" to affect the team as it prepares for this year's World Cup in Qatar.

He remains on conditional