Sir Alex Ferguson yesterday paid tribute to football legend Sir Matt Busby as he unveiled a new stamp celebrating the former Manchester United manager's achievements.

He said the footballer, born 100 years ago in the Lanarkshire mining village of Orbiston, was "one of the truly great football managers".

He managed Manchester United between 1945 and 1969 and is the longest serving manager in the history of the club, winning the FA Cup twice and the league championship five times.

He also guided the team to victory in the European cup in 1968, 10 years after 23 people, including eight Manchester United players, were killed in the Munich air crash of February 1958.

The former Manchester City and Liverpool player, who died of cancer in 1994, is one of 10 people to be honoured in the Royal Mail's Eminent Britons series of stamps.

The stamps "celebrate individuals who have made a remarkable contribution to British life".

Sir Matt's stamp was unveiled at Old Trafford by fellow Scot, Sir Alex. He said: "They are all illustrious names in this latest issue of commemorative stamps.

"Great Britons indeed and there can be no doubting that Sir Matt Busby deserves his place amongst such eminent company. He was one of the truly great football managers.

"Everyone at Manchester United will take great pride from this honour which has been bestowed on the late, great, Sir Matt Busby."

A framed print of the stamp was also given to the Scottish Football Museum at Hampden Park in Glasgow.

Royal Mail Group's head of external relations, Julie Morrison, said the football manager was an "inspiration".