Iconic former Red Devils manager Sir Alex Ferguson caught a Manchester United legend by complete surprise after he delivered one of his infamous ‘hairdryer treatments.’
Sir Alex Ferguson, who is widely considered one of the best managers in the history of football, called it time on his legendary career at Old Trafford in 2013.
The 82-year-old Scotsman led Manchester United to their last Premier League trophy in the 2012-13 season before he bowed out of the club as manager.
Ferguson had a sensational impact at United – and football as a whole – during his time in the Old Trafford dugout, including capturing 13 Premier League titles.
United also became the first English team in history to secure a continental treble during the 1998-99 season under Ferguson’s remarkable reign.
Ferguson was well known for his authority as manager at United and the former Aberdeen boss was not afraid to axe players who stepped out of line.
The United legend also pulled no punches with his infamous hairdryer treatments, with Ferguson putting players on verbal blast in the Red Devils dressing room.
Ferguson’s surprise hairdryer treatment
Speaking on the UTD Podcast, Manchester United legend Gary Neville opened up on the time he saw Sir Alex Ferguson drop a surprise hairdryer treatment.
Gary Neville spent his entire playing career at Old Trafford and was a key first-team player under former United boss Ferguson.
The 49-year-old Sky Sports pundit ascended to the United captaincy in 2005 after Ferguson axed club legend Roy Keane from the Red Devils.
Neville, who made 602 appearances for the Red Devils, lifted eight Premier League titles, two Champions Leagues, three FA Cups and three League Cups at United.
The former United captain recalled the experience of when Ferguson would catch him out with an unexpected hairdryer treatment.
As per Manchester United’s official website, Neville said: “You knew sometimes that it was coming, you know what I mean?”
“You knew you’d had a bad half or you’d given a goal away, or you weren’t at it.
“But it was the ones where you weren’t expecting it that shocked you! You would go in, you’d have your drink, and you’d sit down.
“And then you got that [look from Ferguson] and you’d look at him and he’d say [adopts Glasgow accent]: ‘Stop looking like I’ve got horns on my head!’
“[That was] because you’d be looking at him like: ‘Me? Today? No, not today. Last week, maybe!’”
Neville on big personalities in dressing room
Neville admitted there were similarities between the dressing rooms at United and England when he first emerged on the scene in the 1990s.
A famed member of the ‘Class of ’92,’ the former United and England defender revealed the “massive characters” he crossed paths with in the locker room.
“The England team was similar,” Neville said.
“The England team had [David] Platt, [Paul] Ince, [Alan] Shearer, Tony Adams, Gareth Southgate, David Seaman, Stuart Pearce.
“You know, lots of big, massive characters and the Man United dressing room was exactly the same.
“I was literally a kid, and soft basically, compared to this lot. So, you’re just in this environment of ‘wow!’”