By his own account, he has never even watched a video of the 1999 Champions League final that represents the pinnacle of his two decades at the helm of Manchester United.

As his 20th anniversary at Old Trafford approached last November, the Scot publicly fretted that the associated celebrations would distract him from the task in hand, wresting the Premiership trophy back out of Chelsea's grasp.

But there can be little doubt that, when he finally decides to call time on his managerial career, Ferguson will look back on his ninth Premiership title with particular fondness.

Not only has he finally got the better of Jose Mourinho - an objective he has surely nurtured ever since the Portuguese's famous sprint down the Old Trafford touchline in celebration of Porto's elimination of United on their way to glory in the 2004 Champions League - he has also defied all those who, barely 18 months ago, had been writing his footballing obituary.

In doing so, Ferguson has pulled off the remarkable feat of constructing the third great team of his time in charge of United, following in the footsteps of the Eric Cantona-inspired side that, in 1993, secured the club's first title since 1967 and the home-grown generation that delivered the treble three years later.

It is an achievement few would have predicted at the end of 2005. Out of the Champions League before Christmas, United were blowing hard as they laboured to keep pace with Chelsea domestically and suggestions that Ferguson might be replaced did not appear completely ridiculous.

An unseemly row over a racehorse with one of the club's major shareholders, the acrimonious departure of club captain Roy Keane and the sidelining of Ruud van Nistelrooy all suggested that, as he neared his 65th birthday, Ferguson's judgement was beginning to fail him.

Instead it was those who sought to judge him that got it wrong. In offloading the prolific van Nistelrooy to Real Madrid last summer, Ferguson was gambling that there were more goals to be had by getting more players into scoring positions.

On that point, he could hardly have been vindicated any more resoundingly. When Chris Eagles rounded off a 4-2 win against Everton last month, he became the 20th member of the United squad to have found the net this season.

In 36 league outings, the Red Devils have plundered 83 Premiership goals as the youthful thrust of Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney has dovetailed with the guile and experience of Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes.

In defence too, Ferguson has proved that he has not lost his touch when it comes to judging a player.

Nemanja Vidic and Patrice Evra did not look like the most astute of buys as they settled into English football last year but they have emerged in this campaign as cornerstones of a back four as good as any Ferguson has had at United.

Having emerged from one of the most difficult phases of his professional life, it is little wonder that Ferguson has appeared more relaxed during this season than at any time in his career.

Even Mourinho has found it impossible to get seriously under his skin for long and all the signs are that the battle of wits will be resumed next season with a rival who, it is often suggested, resembles Ferguson in the days when he was forging his reputation by building the Aberdeen team that broke the Old Firm monopoly in Scottish football.

"Sometimes with Jose there is a continual dialogue that you quite enjoy having a wee go back," Ferguson admitted last week, before adding that he fully expects Mourinho to be in charge of a strengthened Chelsea bid to reclaim the title next season. It is a safe bet that, after a few glasses of his beloved red wine to celebrate, Ferguson will be starting work on ensuring that does not happen.