Topics: Sir Alex Ferguson, Arsene Wenger, Arsenal, Manchester United, English Premier League
The Scottish and French icons have been honored by the English top flight, becoming the first two inductees of 2023.

For the first time since its launch back in April 2021, managers have been inducted into the Premier League Hall of Fame, and to no one's surprise, the English top flight bestowed this honor to the iconic Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger.

The Scottish and French tacticians are two of the greatest names to have stepped foot in the Premier League, with the pair enjoying one of the competition's most heated rivalries in the late '90s and early 2000s.

Ferguson remains the most successful manager in the competition's history, winning a whopping 13 titles during his historic 27-year reign at Old Trafford — though 21 seasons were in the Premier League. Additionally, he won an unrivaled 528 matches out of the 810 games he managed, the second-highest number of fixtures overseen by a single manager in this competition.

When Sir Alex arrived at the Theatre of Dreams in 1986, the club had gone nearly two decades without winning the top flight and while he did not win the league in his first six seasons in charge, it was well worth the wait.

"I'm truly delighted to be inducted into the Premier League Hall of Fame. It's an honor when you receive recognition like this," the 81-year-old told the league's official website.

"However, it's not just about me as a person. It's about the job at Manchester United and the bond we had over many years, so I'm also proud of the club, the staff, and my players.

"My job was to send the fans home happy. United's history and my own expectations were the things that drove me and I then had to try and develop all my players with the same expectations and make sure we could go out and achieve them."

Arsene Wenger, while not as successful, was immortalized by the Premier League for obvious reasons. The Frenchman arrived at Arsenal in 1996 in a move that was initially unpopular — who can forget that now infamous "Arsene Who?" headline from the Evening Standard.

Having arrived from Japan, Le Professeur wasted no time in making a mark, with the former Monaco boss winning the league and cup double in his second season in charge. That was the first of three Premier League titles he won during his 22-year reign in this competition, with his last success being his most memorable.

Who can forget the 2003/04 season? That Gunners side, dubbed "the Invincibles" after going the entire season unbeaten, remains the only team in the league's history to lift the title without losing a single game. As a result, the club were awarded a golden replica trophy to honor this brilliant achievement.

Where Arsene shines over others is in how he revolutionized the Premier League, from overhauling diets to opening up the country to foreign managers and players. Additionally, he was a key figure behind the construction of the Emirates Stadium and brought a brand of beautiful football, dubbed Wengerball, to a league known mostly for its speed and physicality.

"I am very grateful to have been selected for the Premier League Hall of Fame," the Frenchman said. 

"We always wanted to give something special to the fans and when you have players capable of remarkable things, the most important thing for me is the obligation of perfection.

"I'd like to be known as someone who loved Arsenal, who respected the values of the club and left it in a position where it can grow and become even bigger.

"To share this with Sir Alex is a great honor for me. It's like two boxers, you fight like mad and go the distance together. At the end of the day, you have respect and it will be a great opportunity to meet with him, share a good bottle of wine and memories of our old battles."

Arsene is the longest-serving Premier League manager in history, overseeing a whopping 828 games, 476 of which ended in victories. Additionally, the is the most successful manager in FA Cup history, having won the prestigious title seven times.