Departing Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has been described as “one of the greatest Premier League managers” by former Manchester United coach, Sir Alex Ferguson.
The 68-year-old Frenchman will leave at the end of the season after nearly 22 years at the club, 12 months before his latest contract was due to expire.
Former Manchester United boss Ferguson paid tribute to his “professionalism, talent and determination”.
Ex-Gunners striker Thierry Henry said Wenger leaves “an untouchable legacy”.
Wenger won three Premier League titles and a record seven FA Cups, including the Double in 1998 and 2002.
“I am pleased he has announced he is leaving at this stage of the season as he can now have the send-off that he truly deserves,” said Ferguson, who won 13 league titles in 26 years at Old Trafford, before retiring in 2013.
“He is, without doubt, one of the greatest Premier League managers and I am proud to have been a rival, a colleague and a friend to such a great man.
“It is great testament to his talent, professionalism and determination that has been able to dedicate 22 years of his life to a job that he loves.”
Gunners goalkeeping legend Bob Wilson said Wenger was Arsenal’s greatest boss, and broke down in tears as he told BBC Radio 5 live how the Frenchman had helped his family.
Wilson, whose 31-year-old daughter Anna died of a rare form of cancer in 1998, said: “I was there on the day he arrived and he is without doubt one of the three greatest men I have ever met in my life.
“It is not just his football knowledge and the way he changed the game in this country but as a human being through difficult times for me and my wife.
“Arsene is not only the greatest manager in Arsenal’s history, he has personally changed the face of the game in this country.
“We had a team who enjoyed a drink and he changed everything about psychology, rehydration, training and everyone followed suit.”
Club captain Per Mertsacker said he felt “sad and emotional” on hearing of Wenger’s departure.
“There have been a lot of challenges, a lot of highs and lows, but how he went through tough times has taught me a lot about his character and about how to trust people and get the people in the right places to be successful,” he said.
The Gunners are sixth in the league and set to miss out on a top-four spot for the second straight season, with their hopes of reaching the Champions League resting on winning the Europa League.
Henry said it would be “an amazing achievement” if Wenger could sign off by winning a trophy.
“His legacy is untouchable. Managers, fans from other teams – (they talk about) how Arsene changed Arsenal,” he told Sky Sports.
Wenger had been under increasing pressure to step down from some fans having failed to win the league for 14 years.
Former Arsenal midfielder Stewart Robson said he was like a “dictator” and should have left several years ago.
“You can’t take away the good things when he came he changed the philosophy of Arsenal,” Robson told BBC Radio 5 live.
“He was fantastic in that period but, like a lot of dictators, they think they are going down the right road – but even when people are saying you need to change, he wouldn’t change.
“Arsenal under Arsene Wenger in the last few years have been too one-dimensional and behind the times in recruitment and physiotherapy. It is the best thing that could happen to Arsenal that he is leaving now.”
Appointed on 1 October 1996, Wenger is the Premier League’s current longest-serving manager and has taken charge of a record 823 games.
His team were dubbed “The Invincibles” in the 2003-04 season after going unbeaten in their title-winning campaign.
BBC