If there is one person well placed to speak on Jose Mourinho, Zinedine Zidane and Sir Alex Ferguson then it is Cristiano Ronaldo .
The Juventus forward has played under the trio – the former, current and potential future Manchester United boss – during his illustrious career.
Ferguson was the first of the three managerial heavyweights to work with Ronaldo at Old Trafford before the Portuguese switched to Real Madrid back in 2009.
Ronaldo then played under Mourinho for a few seasons before he was finally managed by Zidane at Real Madrid, who guided Los Blancos to three Champions League titles in consecutive years.
Here we look at what Ronaldo has previously said about the trio to see how they compare.
Ronaldo on how Ferguson helped him develop: “Of course, in the beginning of my career he was so important to me because I moved from Sporting to Manchester and had that Portuguese mentality – too many stepovers, decision making was not the best.
“So, he taught me how to do it. In the Premier League they don’t fall over so easy, they are tough.
“As I have said many, many times he taught me everything and he was like a father for me in football because he helped me a lot at Manchester United.”
Ronaldo on how he missed Ferguson when signing for Real Madrid in Coach Magazine: “All my coaches have been important, but when I arrived at Real Madrid I was a man, when I arrived at Manchester United I was a boy.
“All of a sudden you are at one of the biggest clubs in the world, and at that time I needed somebody like Sir Alex.”
Ronaldo on Mourinho
Ronaldo on Mourinho’s style, and whether he thought he’d have to change the way he plays: “No, I don’t but I have to adapt to what is asked of me. This is the way it is. We have a strategy.”
Ronaldo on Mourinho’s future at Real Madrid after a falling out with the Portuguese: “It doesn’t matter to me. What matters to me is my future and the club.
Ronaldo on Mourinho after he left Real Madrid for Chelsea, and how highly he rates him: “Work with Mourinho again? Why not? I would put him at the top, I always say that.”
Ronaldo on what makes Mourinho so special: “I have played for so many great coaches, but Jose Mourinho was a big thinker analytically, he went into everything in great detail.”
Ronaldo on Zidane
Ronaldo on Zidane’s influence: “We had not started well, but then Zidane arrived and was the catalyst for one of my best-ever seasons.
“We went on a great run in La Liga, won the Champions League, and then I won the European Championships with Portugal.
“It was a great season for me and Real Madrid, and the right coach can be that inspiration.”
Ronaldo’s parting message to Zidane when he stepped down as Real Madrid boss: “I’m just proud of being your player. Mister, thanks for so much.”
