When Bruce Rioch became manager of Middlesbrough in 1986 Sir Alex Ferguson had not even begun his glittering reign at Manchester United.

When Bruce Rioch became manager of Middlesbrough in 1986 Sir Alex Ferguson had not even begun his glittering reign at Manchester United.

Since then their careers could not have been more different. While Rioch has been employed by seven clubs since leaving Middlesbrough in 1990, with varying success, Ferguson has become king of Old Trafford and one of the greatest managers of all time.

Ferguson has secured 10 Premier League titles, two Champions Leagues and five FA Cups in his 21 years at the helm. Rioch, the former Scotland captain, has pitched up at Millwall, Bolton Wanderers, Arsenal, Norwich City, Wigan Athletic and Odense.

The 61-year-old was the last manager of Arsenal before Arsene Wenger arrived and while his season in charge was disappointing he will always be remembered as the man who signed Dutch maestro Dennis Bergkamp.

Tonight their paths will cross once more when United travel to Denmark to face Rioch's Aalborg BK in a Champions League match that they dare not lose. While the Danish champions won plaudits for drawing their opening Group E fixture against Celtic in Glasgow with 10 men, United struggled to a 0-0 draw with Villarreal at Old Trafford. They desperately need a win to kickstart their campaign.

Rioch can boast victories on his previous two home fixtures against Ferguson's United, one with Middlesbrough and one with Arsenal and he is relishing the challenge of continuing that record after drawing with Celtic. "We've put the cat among the pigeons already," Rioch said in the build-up to the match at the club's modest 16,000-seater Energi-Nord Arena. "If we won, you would have to listen to the noise afterwards," he said. "It would be like an earthquake."

It is now over 12 years since Rioch was sacked by Arsenal following a dispute over transfer funds. Though their paths have not crossed in competitive combat since, Rioch's childhood affinity for United meant the former Scotland internationalist kept a close eye on his compatriot's work.

And he has no hesitation in declaring Ferguson one of the best managers ever. "You have to put him in the same bracket as Matt Busby, Bill Shankly, Bill Nicholson, Bob Paisley and Jock Stein," said Rioch. "They are special people because winning on a regular basis is not easy."