Manchester United Legends Pay Tribute To Eric Harrison

Manchester United legends Ryan Giggs, Gary Neville and Nicky Butt have all paid tribute to former youth-team manager Eric Harrison who has been awarded an MBE.

The 79-year-old coached Giggs, Neville and Butt as part of the team who won the FA Youth Cup in 1992 and was given the award for his services to football in the Queen's New Year Honours list.

Neville said: "He toughened us up and got us ready for our long careers in football.

"He very much guided us, in those early days, on the football pitch and off the football pitch in terms of what we needed to do."

Harrison is highly regarded among his former players and during his 27 years at Old Trafford, he coached youngsters such as David Beckham and Paul Scholes.

Giggs said: "The impact that he had not just on my career but on all the man united players who had come through while he was youth team coach is huge so it is fully deserved and probably a bit order due as well."

Harrison's close relationship with Sir Alex Ferguson helped the transition of many players into the first team.

Butt said: "He's held in massive regards not only because of the way he wanted us to play football and the way he got us winning but also the way he got us into the first team.

"Although Sir Alex gave us our chance, it was Eric pushing him towards putting us in from an early age."

Credit: Skysports.com