How many centurions still look this fresh at the age of 69?

Sir Alex Ferguson made it 100 wins in the Champions League last night – guiding United to a fifth successive quarter-final.

The only thing the Scot looks like losing in his 70th year is his temper – a little more frequently than in the past perhaps.

Certainly not his drive. Not his determination. Nor his powers of innovation.

It has taken all of those qualities in abundance to amass such an impressive record on European football’s grandest stage – and against Marseille you could add a handy dose of luck.

Lucky that Didier Deschamps’ side failed to make the most of a trio of first-half chances that could have put a very different complexion on this match before the brilliant Javier Hernandez scored what proved to be the decisive goal.

But Ferguson won’t dwell on that – not when the fickle hand of fortune has slapped him in the face on so many occasions in this very competition.

Paul Scholes’ legitimate goal disallowed in defeat to Porto back in 2004 – a result that set in motion the legend that is Jose Mourinho. And the injustice of Darren Fletcher’s suspension from the 2009 final when United embarked on a bid to become the first side to successfully defend the trophy in the Champions League era, are just two such examples.

No, last night was another occasion to savour for Ferguson – even if Marseille made it a nervier finale than the United manager would have welcomed.

Obsession

He will now look ahead to the kind of tests he relishes – pitting his wits against the might of Barcelona, Real Madrid or the more familiar faces of Chelsea and Tottenham. It is in this competition that he has defined himself.

Of all the trophies the European Cup has been the one he’s valued most – almost to the point of obsession.

As great as his desire is to finally knock Liverpool off their perch with a record 19th English title – it is the Anfielders’ five European triumphs to United’s three that drives him most.

It might be too much to ask that he redresses the balance before he eventually retires – but he’d certainly love to reduce the deficit. There has been enough encouragement in recent years to suggest he can do just that.

You need only look at his trophy count in the past four seasons – three Premier League titles, the Champions League and two Carling Cups – to know that if anything his powers are in the ascendancy, rather than in decline.

But it is his success in Europe that has been the most remarkable aspect of the latter years of Ferguson’s career.

In no other competition has he come under so much scrutiny, been the subject of such criticism – and that despite taking United to a record 12 quarter-finals in the modern era.

From his early forays when caught out by Galatassaray in 1993 before being humbled by Barcelona in the Nou Camp 12 months later.

Even after the Holy Grail was secured in 99, so too followed a new period of famine – fresh doubts about the manager’s ability to translate domestic dominance onto the Continent.

Something got lost in translation. The buccaneering wing play of David Beckham and Ryan Giggs was brutally exposed by Real Madrid.

And even when Ferguson upset the balance recruiting Juan Veron to give his side a more cultured approach on European occasions – again it was the Galacticos of Real who dismantled them.

The nadir came in failure to get out of the group stages in 2005 – failure to even qualify for the UEFA Cup via the back door of finishing third whenhaving to negotiate the modest opposition of Benfica, Villarreal and Lille.

But from rock bottom Ferguson hasn’t looked back.

Dramatic

Semi-final defeat to eventual winners AC Milan the following season – his second Champions League success a year later.

After the dramatic shoot-out win over Chelsea in Moscow came the disappointment of defeat to Barcelona as United came within 90 minutes of defending the trophy.

It is that 2-0 defeat that is the new point of obsession for Ferguson and one he thought he could avenge last season.

Injury to Wayne Rooney in the first leg of the quarter-final defeat to Bayern Munich not only KO’d that, but also hopes of a fourth successive title.

A year on and the England striker looks to be finding form at precisely the time he lost it in the previous campaign.

And with Javier Hernandez looking more like a golden bean than a “Little Pea” Ferguson will be allowing himself to dream of a third final in four years.

But you suspect he’ll be happy to leave revenge against Pep Guardiola’s brilliant Barca until then.

Follow James Robson @ www.twitter.com/jamesrobsonmen