Tom Jenkins on Alex Ferguson - in pictures

November 1993, the day before the infamous Welcome to Hell match in Istanbul. United drew the first leg 3-3 to Galatasary at home, and they'd already been welcomed at the airport with Welcome to Hell banners. Fergie was holding a pre-match conference the day before the game. It was much more informal back then. Interviews weren't set against backboards with advertising in those days. They were much more informal. This was in a small room in the players' hotel. Black and white, nice light, but you could see the tension in his face already Photograph: Tom Jenkins

Barcelona 1999 after winning the Champions League. Chaos on the pitch at the Nou camp and I couldn't get a good head-on position for the photo, so I went side-on to isolate Ferguson and get a nice clean background. It was Peter Schmeichel's final match for United Photograph: Tom Jenkins

Fergie pointing straight at me, in 2003, as if he was about to give me the hairdryer treatment. I still don't know what I'd done to offend him Photograph: Tom Jenkins

Moscow 2008, Champions League final. Just after the trophy presentation. They'd just beaten Chelsea on penalties. Fergie is coming back through the crowd in a bright white waterproof coat. he was drenched. The coat made him stand out from surrounding fans, players and security Photograph: Tom Jenkins

West Ham, 2009. Classic older Fergie patrolling the touchline. In his later years he didn't come on the touchlne as much - he'd get his deputy or assistant to do most of the shouting. But when he did get on that touchline it was even more effective. He had such presence.There was no need to gesticulate - black coat, black zip-up, hands in pocket, and the team would invariably respond Photograph: Tom Jenkins

Champions League final, Rome, 2009. Man United fan outside the ground, hot day, top off, his back covered with tattoos of United greats. Fergie is just above George Best and below Matt Busby Photograph: Tom Jenkins

January 2013, away at Spurs. It had been snowing heavily before the match and the referee called a meeting of the management of both teams to see if the match could go ahead. The snow was piling down. He had on the famous black coat and zip-up. Somebody had given him a woolly hat to put on and for the first time he looked like a doddery old man Photograph: Tom Jenkins

Eastlands, 2012, when Manchester City beat United 1-0. Mancini went up to Fergie and did a 'stop mouthing it' gesture with his hands. This was a big moment for me. He's had his moments with other managers, notably Wenger, but this was different. Mancini was standing up to him, giving him some of his own medicine Photograph: Tom Jenkins

Away at Wigan, 2008, when United won the title. Fergie is posing for pictures with the Premier League trophy and Patrice Evra has gone behind him to make rabbit ears over his head. I've taken so many photos of Fergie with this trophy, but this is my favourite Photograph: Tom Jenkins

September 2002, Longchamp races, celebrating in the winners' enclosure with his horse Rock of Gibraltar. He's so different in situations like this - relaxed with the press, less wary. This was the happiest I've seen him Photograph: Tom Jenkins

May 2011, home against Chelsea. Fergie celebrates with the crowd as United win the title again. The dugouts are slightly raised, so at a certain angle it looks as if he's in with the crowd - ideal for a moment like this Photograph: Tom Jenkins

Title clincher away at Liverpool in March 2007 Fergie leaps up and down like a little boy as they score a vital goal. He was only in his late 60s back then. He doesn't do Mourinho-style knee- slides. His celebrations are less triumphalist and more joyously childlike Photograph: Tom Jenkins