SIR ALEX FERGUSON’S latest book ‘Leading’ is an investigation into how the Scot achieved so much success through various management techniques like discipline, control, motivation, etc.
But throughout, there are inevitable references to certain players and incidents that are quite memorable.
Tony Marshall / EMPICS Sport
Tony Marshall / EMPICS Sport / EMPICS Sport
1) Fergie forced Karel Poborsky to cut his hair
United signed the Czech Republic international in the summer of 1996 after he had dazzled at that summer’s European Championship. But as much as Fergie was a fan of the midfielder’s abilities, he was particularly vexed by his famous haircut.
Karel Poborsky came to Manchester United from Slavia Prague in 1996, looking like he was going to play for Led Zeppelin rather than United. I did manage to persuade him to trim his locks but, even so, they were always too long for my taste.”
2) He adored Henrik Larsson for a few reasons
Martin Rickett / PA Archive/PA Images
Martin Rickett / PA Archive/PA Images / PA Archive/PA Images
In 2007, Henrik Larsson joined United on loan from Helsingborgs and played 13 times for the club, scoring three times.
Ferguson loved him and desperately wanted him to stay for longer. He describes one game against Middlesbrough when the Swede rolled the sleeves up, dropped back into midfield and selflessly ensured United picked up a result.
When Henrik appeared in the dressing room at the end of the game, all the players and staff stood up and spontaneously broke into applause for the immense effort he had made in his unaccustomed role.”
3) Fergie knew he had Liverpool beaten in the 1996 FA Cup final when he saw their cream-coloured suits.
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Neal Simpson / EMPICS Sport
Neal Simpson / EMPICS Sport / EMPICS Sport
The Armani suits will go down in history as one of the most ill-advised football-related decisions in history – only serving to enhance Liverpool’s ‘Spice Boys’ reputation.
Ferguson took one look at the suits and saw it as a mis-step, a sign they had been easily distracted.
For me, it signalled a breakdown in discipline and showed that the team was distracted by a frivolous sideshow.”
4) Fergie greatly admired three players from other clubs and one was a Liverpool stalwart
Mike Egerton / EMPICS Sport
Mike Egerton / EMPICS Sport / EMPICS Sport
Did you know that Jamie Carragher trained with United as a youngster? He didn’t quite impress as a ‘mundane, run-of-the-mill player’ but Fergie grew to become a huge fan of his.
After he signed for Liverpool, he somehow transformed himself into the heart and soul of the team and its controlling force. In my last season, he came on as a substitute in a game that we controlled and I whispered to him, ‘Just a wee word, stop kicking our boys’. He responded, ‘I’m going to kick every one of them’.”
The other players Ferguson admired greatly were Tony Adams and Gianfranco Zola. He reveals that he always felt the iconic ex-Arsenal skipper was ‘a United player in the wrong shirt’.
5) Teddy Sheringham and Andy Cole’s relationship was so bad that they rowed in the tunnel during half-time of one game
John Giles / PA Archive/PA Images
John Giles / PA Archive/PA Images / PA Archive/PA Images
The pair’s dynamic (or lack thereof) has certainly been well-documented but Ferguson has shone some new light on just how bad things were between them.
During one game, they had an argument in the tunnel at half-time. So I called them into the office and told them that if I saw that again, they’d both be gone. The change was immediate and there was never another problem between them.”
6) A certain young player wasn’t the smartest
Vadim Ghirda / AP/Press Association Images
Vadim Ghirda / AP/Press Association Images / AP/Press Association Images
Fergie used a few different ways of getting across the importance of teamwork to his players.
At one stage, he hung that famous picture from the 1930s of a group of New York labourers perched precariously on a steel girder high above the city, in is office. It was there as a metaphor for team spirit. But such a concept was lost on one, poor young lad.
Of course, some of the boys completely missed the point. Once, when I asked a player, ‘What can you say about that photograph?’ the reply was, ‘They’ve all got hats on’.”
7) Ryan Giggs persuaded Fergie to sign Aaron Ramsey
Dominic Lipinski / PA Archive/PA Images
Dominic Lipinski / PA Archive/PA Images / PA Archive/PA Images
United were in pole position to sign the Welshman for quite a while but ended up being pipped by Arsenal.
But the main person driving United’s pursuit was Ramsey’s compatriot.
Ryan Giggs was relentless in his quest to try and land his fellow Welshman, Aaron Ramsey, from Cardiff. We flew Aaron up to Manchester but it was too late. I had got word from Dave Jones, the Cardiff manager, that Aaron had originally wanted to play for us, but Arsene Wenger had somehow managed to turn his head and convince him that his future lay at the Emirates.
8) Fergie says he’d sometimes walk around before games looking for someone to talk to
JON SUPER / AP/Press Association Images
JON SUPER / AP/Press Association Images / AP/Press Association Images
According to Ferguson, his most dreaded period came when the dressing room would empty at about 2.15 before a game and he was at a loss with what to do for the next half an hour.
When we played at Old Trafford, I used to sit in my office and read the match programme or flip on the television and watch the horse racing. I’d sometimes wander about and try to find someone to talk to. The loneliness was much worse when we played away games because I had no office to use as a refuge. Then, I would often find myself sitting alone in the dressing room.”
9) Fergie knew about Thomas Muller since he was 10, went to watch him but was quickly snapped up by Bayern Munich
PA WIRE
PA WIRE
Much was made of United’s interest in the German star in the summer but, if things had worked out differently, he may have been a homegrown United player.
Thomas Muller was a ten-year-old playing for an amateur team several miles from Munich when we first heard about him. We had him watched and the following day he committed himself to Bayern Munich.”
Poborsky's hair, lots of love for Henrik Larsson & other revealing details from Fergie's book
SIR ALEX FERGUSON’S latest book ‘Leading’ is an investigation into how the Scot achieved so much success through various management techniques like discipline, control, motivation, etc.
But throughout, there are inevitable references to certain players and incidents that are quite memorable.
1) Fergie forced Karel Poborsky to cut his hair
United signed the Czech Republic international in the summer of 1996 after he had dazzled at that summer’s European Championship. But as much as Fergie was a fan of the midfielder’s abilities, he was particularly vexed by his famous haircut.
2) He adored Henrik Larsson for a few reasons
In 2007, Henrik Larsson joined United on loan from Helsingborgs and played 13 times for the club, scoring three times.
Ferguson loved him and desperately wanted him to stay for longer. He describes one game against Middlesbrough when the Swede rolled the sleeves up, dropped back into midfield and selflessly ensured United picked up a result.
3) Fergie knew he had Liverpool beaten in the 1996 FA Cup final when he saw their cream-coloured suits.
The Armani suits will go down in history as one of the most ill-advised football-related decisions in history – only serving to enhance Liverpool’s ‘Spice Boys’ reputation.
Ferguson took one look at the suits and saw it as a mis-step, a sign they had been easily distracted.
4) Fergie greatly admired three players from other clubs and one was a Liverpool stalwart
Did you know that Jamie Carragher trained with United as a youngster? He didn’t quite impress as a ‘mundane, run-of-the-mill player’ but Fergie grew to become a huge fan of his.
The other players Ferguson admired greatly were Tony Adams and Gianfranco Zola. He reveals that he always felt the iconic ex-Arsenal skipper was ‘a United player in the wrong shirt’.
5) Teddy Sheringham and Andy Cole’s relationship was so bad that they rowed in the tunnel during half-time of one game
The pair’s dynamic (or lack thereof) has certainly been well-documented but Ferguson has shone some new light on just how bad things were between them.
6) A certain young player wasn’t the smartest
Fergie used a few different ways of getting across the importance of teamwork to his players.
At one stage, he hung that famous picture from the 1930s of a group of New York labourers perched precariously on a steel girder high above the city, in is office. It was there as a metaphor for team spirit. But such a concept was lost on one, poor young lad.
7) Ryan Giggs persuaded Fergie to sign Aaron Ramsey
United were in pole position to sign the Welshman for quite a while but ended up being pipped by Arsenal.
But the main person driving United’s pursuit was Ramsey’s compatriot.
8) Fergie says he’d sometimes walk around before games looking for someone to talk to
According to Ferguson, his most dreaded period came when the dressing room would empty at about 2.15 before a game and he was at a loss with what to do for the next half an hour.
9) Fergie knew about Thomas Muller since he was 10, went to watch him but was quickly snapped up by Bayern Munich
Much was made of United’s interest in the German star in the summer but, if things had worked out differently, he may have been a homegrown United player.
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Andy Cole Gary Neville henrik larsson insight Karel Poborsky Ryan Giggs Sir Alex Ferguson Teddy Sheringham