Sir Alex Ferguson has been unveiled as Team Europe's 13th man ahead of this week's Ryder Cup at Gleneagles.

The legendary former Manchester United manager was addressing Paul McGinley's troops last night during a visit that European team skipper Paul McGinley had hoped to keep secret.

McGinley had suggested at last week's Wales Open that he would turn to the services of a high-profile guest speaker in a bid to bolster morale and rally the team. But the identity of that person remained underwraps until yesterday, when Sir Alex was spotted at the PGA Centenary Course at Gleneagles.

McGinley said: "I played with Sir Alex in the JP McManus Pro-Am about 15 years ago, and he's a guy that I've seen now and again over that time.

"When I became captain, I asked him if he would do a team-talk. He was more than willing to help.

"I'm not a Manchester United fan - everybody knows I'm a West Ham supporter - but I always loved the way his teams played.

"There's a number of things that he is dealing with that he was particularly good at and that I think he'll be a particularly strong fit.

"I've met him a number of times over the last few months. The more I've met him, the more there was just such a natural fit."

Ferguson, 72, follows in the footsteps of Bayern Munich coach Pep Guardiola, who addressed the team at Medinah in 2012, and Welsh rugby ace Gareth Edwards, who spoke at Celtic Manor in 2010.

World No.1 Rory McIlroy is a United fan and mentioned the club in his winner's speech at this year's Open Championship.

However, McGinley added: "Not everyone who will be in the room is a Manchester United fan so it should be interesting."