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Mark Bosnich lauds retiring Ferguson

8th May, 2013
21

Former Australian goalkeeper Mark Bosnich has remembered outgoing Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson as a fear-inducing but fair and sometimes humorous mentor.

Bosnich had two stints under Ferguson – as a teenager, and then as a 27-year-old who was regarded as one of the better custodian’s in the world at the time.

“Sure, there were times he used to blow his lid,” he told Fox Sports.

“If it wasn’t at you, you were glad – but I learnt a lot from him, lessons that left a lasting impression on me right until this day.”

Bosnich said as a youngster playing against Liverpool-A on a cold Saturday, Ferguson let him have it for letting a free kick in and wearing long pants in the first half of the match.

“How did you let that go in on your side?” Bosnich recalled Ferguson saying before adding: “And if you don’t take those pants off, I’ll send you up to Aberdeen on loan and make sure you train in shorts all the time.

He continued: “This is not Bondi Beach buddy, get those pants off and you better make sure we win, second-half!”

Bosnich said his side went on to win 5-1.

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When Bosnich returned at the peak of his career he said Ferguson had mellowed a little.

“His will to win was as ferocious as ever, but at a time when the club was European champions, about to move to a new training ground and had expanded Old Trafford to 75,000 capacity, he had his fulfillment,” Bosnich said.

Bosnich described him as a ferocious competitor but said he was also able to see the funny side of things.

“I fondly remember when we won the World Club Championship and they didn’t hand out any medals, I was devastated,” Bosnich said.

“I played really well, so was doing all the interviews when we got back home and Fergie would say: `Okay everybody, let’s have a minute’s silence for Bozzie, because there’s no medals handed out’.”

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