The former Manchester United manager, 80, spoke about his relationship at the club with Giggs, who is on trial charged with assaulting his ex-girlfriend Kate Greville.

Sir Alex told Manchester Crown Court on Friday that Giggs had a "fantastic temperament", adding: "To have a career as long as he had in a difficult position, in terms of energy, he fulfilled everything we ever wished for."

He said Giggs was "without doubt the best example we had at the club" and "everyone looked at Ryan Giggs as the number one".

Asked by Giggs' barrister Chris Daw QC if he had ever seen him "lose his temper or become aggressive", Sir Alex replied, "No."

Earlier, jurors heard the contents of a "final goodbye" letter written by Ms Greville on October 29, 2020 - three days before Giggs allegedly assaulted her.

The letter, titled The Final Goodbye, details the former Manchester United footballer's alleged infidelities with at least eight women.

Giggs's defence team read the letter, which began: "I know pretty much everything you have been doing with other women behind my back since the day I met you."

Ms Greville described Giggs as a "compulsive liar and serial cheat", telling him, "My gut always told me you couldn't be trusted.

"I now know you say the same things you say to me to multiple women.

"I'm nothing special, I was just the one you didn't let have a happy life."

Giggs, 48, denies using controlling and coercive behaviour against Ms Greville, 38, between August 2017 and November 2020, assaulting her, causing actual bodily harm, and the common assault of her younger sister, Emma Greville, 26.

Giving evidence earlier in the week, Giggs told the jury he had been unfaithful in all his previous relationships but had never assaulted a woman.

He said he had never been able to resist "interest" from an "attractive woman", agreed he was a "flirt by nature", and confirmed he had lied more than once to his ex-wife Stacey and PR executive Ms Greville.

Australian Associated Press