'I will forgive you for waking me up in the morning at half-past three to tell me you won the league! Thank you,' a jovial Sir Alex Ferguson said in a congratulatory video.
Liverpool boss Juergen Klopp was named League Managers' Association (LMA) manager of the year on Monday after guiding the Merseyside club to their first top-flight title in 30 years.
Klopp's Liverpool side won the Premier League title with seven games to spare and they finished the season 18 points clear at the top of the table.
The German coach pipped Leeds United boss Marcelo Bielsa, Wycombe Wanderers manager Gareth Ainsworth and last year's winner Chris Wilder of Sheffield United to the Alex Ferguson Trophy -- named after the former Manchester United manager.
"I'm absolutely delighted to be named the winner ... for this wonderful Sir Alex Ferguson Trophy, named after a man that I admire so much," Klopp said.
"Everything we have accomplished at Liverpool this year couldn't have been done without the superb input of my coaching staff; they make us a really special bunch of football brains.
"I love to work with my coaches, my players and everyone at LFC and, of course, I am thankful for the support from all our wonderful Liverpool fans."
Bielsa landed the Championship award after guiding his side to the title and a return to the Premier League after an absence of 16 years.
Chelsea Women's boss Emma Hayes was named Women's Super League manager of the year after helping the club to a league and League Cup double.
Former Manchester United manager Ferguson said Liverpool's Juergen Klopp thoroughly deserved his success this season and was even willing to forgive the German for waking him up in the early hours of the morning to announce his league triumph.
Klopp was presented with the Alex Ferguson Trophy on Monday after being named League Managers' Association (LMA) manager of the year for guiding the Merseyside club to their first top-flight title in 30 years.
The title was sealed when Chelsea beat Manchester City 2-1 on a Thursday night in late June, but Klopp clearly waited a few hours before getting in touch with the sometimes gruff Scot.
"I will forgive you for waking me up in the morning at half-past three to tell me you won the league! Thank you," a jovial Ferguson said in a congratulatory video.
"You really thoroughly deserved it. The performance level of your team was fantastic. Your personality runs right through the whole club. I think it was a marvellous performance."
Ferguson, who made good his pledge to knock Liverpool off their perch by leading United to 13 titles from 1993 to 2013, enjoys a good relationship with Klopp and once sounded out the German about succeeding him at Old Trafford.
