SIR ALEX FERGUSON left a Manchester United legend’s dad absolutely gobsmacked when he turned up out of the blue to sign his son.
Fergie put many a personal touch on his pursuits of players during his 26-year-long reign at Old Trafford.
GettySir Alex Ferguson had a knack for landing the players he wanted[/caption]
GETTYFergie went the extra mile to try sign John O’Shea in 1998[/caption]
The Scot turned up to the defender’s house to convince him to snub CelticGETTY
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And his bid to sign former Red Devils hero John O’Shea was no different.
In 1998, current interim Republic of Ireland manager O’Shea was all set to join Celtic from Waterford Bohemians.
Ferguson, however, was eager to acquire his services, so much so he travelled to the Emerald Isle to convince him to move to England.
And his arrival at the versatile defender’s house scared the living daylights out of his dad, the late O’Shea.
Dundee United manager and fellow Irishman Jim Goodwin told The Courier: “John was geared up to come to Celtic with me.
“But Sir Alex Ferguson turned up on his door in Waterford, completely out of the blue.
“His father nearly had a heart attack when he opened the door.
“He convinced John to go to Manchester United instead of Celtic.”
O’Shea’s decision to snub a move to Parkhead after Fergie’s visit ultimately paid off.
He would go on to make 393 appearances for the Red Devils, scoring 15 goals in his 12 seasons at the Theatre of Dreams.
O’Shea would win trophies galore at the club, winning five Premier League titles, three League Cups, one FA Cup and one Champions League.
O’Shea would enjoy seven seasons with Sunderland and a brief stint at Reading before retiring in April 2019.
Erik ten Hag is no safer now than before FA Cup win
By Neil Custis
After Manchester United announced Erik ten Hag was staying on, they tried to explain why it has taken over two weeks since the Dutchman paraded the FA Cup at Wembley to actually tell him he still had the job.
A thorough review of the season was needed even though Ten Hag said before the Cup final that this had been done.
The club said that they had ‘considered all eventualities’.
In other words ‘which manager would be best for us, and not necessarily the bloke we have got?’.
And the club were also at pains to make it clear how much they admired Ten Hag’s ‘dedication, dignity and professionalism’.
In other words he did not publicly flip his lid at the appalling way he was being treated despite asking Ratcliffe for a public vote of confidence months before the end of the season.
Let us remember Ratcliffe did not even namecheck Ten Hag in his ‘congratulations message’ after the FA Cup was won, despite the fact it was all down to him and the way he outthought Pep Guardiola on the day.
Read the full column from Neil Custis on Manchester United.