Sir Alex Ferguson admitted to one of his former players that he would be “in jail” if he were a manager in today’s game after being called a “bully”.
The legendary Scottish manager was the last man to topple the Old Firm in Scotland by winning the Scottish title and lifting two European trophies with Aberdeen before coming south of the border and transforming Manchester United into the behemoth they are today during his 26-year trophy-laden tenure.
Known for his man-management approach, whether it be an arm around the shoulder of some players or subjecting others to his infamous hairdryer treatment. There are very few who played under him that don’t have the utmost respect for Ferguson.
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One of his former players at Aberdeen, Scotland and United, Gordon Strachan, had a rollercoaster relationship with his fellow countryman.
Strachan joined Aberdeen from Dundee the year before Fergie moved to Pittodrie, and he immediately felt the difference of his ruthless approach.
Speaking exclusively to the Daily Star Sport, via Grosvenor Sport, Strachan said: “When I was younger, up at Dundee, I thought I was a competitor and what people call a winner – it’s a horrible word being a winner.
“So when I got to Aberdeen, some of the guys thought they were competitive because we used to argue with referees and argue with each other and scream and shout at each other and talk about being a winner.
“I think he [Ferguson] came in and went, wait a minute, you are all petulant, you all run about thinking you’re winners. When you go to Celtic and Rangers, you’re scared of them, you’re quite happy with a draw, so don’t talk to me about winners and be competitors. Let’s show it.
“I don’t like to use the word winner because that same Aberdeen team got beat by other teams. I know people use winners too often. He made us competitors, and he also made us scared.”
Strachan recalled a time when he spoke to Ferguson recently and the two joked about how the 84-year-old would manage in the game 13 years after his retirement.
He continued: “It wasn’t so much keep winning, we’ll never get beat, it was we were scared to get beat, and we’re also scared of him! He was a bully, to be honest with you. When I spoke to him recently and I said how would you be in management now, he went, ‘I’d be in jail, son!’
“It was brutal and he told you the truth to your face, and I don’t think you get that now, in all walks of life.
“He told you had responsibilities not only to your team-mates, but to your family and everybody who watches, so he kind of blackmailed you and brought the sports psychology into the players.
“And anybody that’s been under him one way or another, you can either get broken down or you become stronger. I think he didn’t really know it, but I think he was weeding out the weaker mentally.
“When you go on the football field, That’s when your true character comes out, so he prepared us for that, for your true character getting shown.
“It wasn’t like me trying to be funny or cheeky or angry and all that, it’s forget that striker, let’s see what you can do on the football field when you’re under pressure.
“And the reality was that we just went out and played the game, see what went on, with the referees, and if we get beat, fine, we’ll go for a pint and all the rest of you. It changed completely.
“Everything, your whole life had to be around winning games of football. The social side of it, your sleeping, your fitness. The family had to take a back seat to be a winning and competitive footballer, it changed completely.
“Before, the only kind of thought we were a footballer was when we were at the training ground. But he made sure that their whole lifestyle involved getting ready for this game on a Saturday.”