The Manchester United Manager Sir Alex Ferguson once called Mark Hughes “the best big-game player I have ever known”. Hughes justified the compliment with 13 years of outstanding performances at the highest level.

Hughes joined United as a 14 year old and is widely credited as an integral part of the club’s rise to establishing itself as one of the giants of world football.

Whenever the call came, Hughes met it. Within a week of scoring two FA Cup Final goals against Crystal Palace in 1990 he picked up another couple against Barcelona in the European Cup Winners Cup, the club’s first European trophy in 22 years.

His robust playing style earned him red cards, abuse from opposition fans and the undying admiration of his own club’s supporters. With a low centre of gravity and the perfect physique for shielding the ball, he also made the most of his deft touch and powerful shot.

Even as a junior member of a legendary drinking fraternity within the club Hughes was aware that being nicknamed ‘lager legs’ was unlikely to lead to a prolonged career. After a two-year spell at Barcelona and Bayern Munich he returned to Old Trafford in 1988 with his last hangover a distant memory.

Teaming up with another of Wales’ greatest strikers, Ian Rush, provided occasional magic moments on the international stage, but despite winning 72 caps his 16 goal tally reflected the simple fact that opportunities in the red of Wales were scarce.

While remaining a full-time player Hughes was unexpectedly appointed as manager of the Welsh national side in 1999. He quietly brought a new sense of organisation to the set-up and almost at odds with his playing persona, tackled his new public role with quiet dignity.

He was unable to reverse his side’s fortunes in the bid for qualification for the World Cup Finals in 2002, but his organisational skills led the team to the brink of qualification for Euro 2004, only to fall at the final hurdle in a play-off with Russia.

For once, the big prize had slipped from his grasp.