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.
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’.”
Bondy
Fergie is/was a great gaffa he new how to work fear and intimidation into he's players and there opponents ,a character trait that most managers fail at.
rob
Guest
world cup is gone for scots but euro 2016 and WC 2018 for fergie could shape up
Gippy
Guest
Please don't bring Fergie here. I always look for the caption/translation bar when he's speaking. I'd prefer someone who can speak plain, unadulterated, English. I'm not averse to a Scottish accent, but really, does he only speak the Glasgow (incomprehensible) Patter? I was so looking forward to a manager whom I can understand. (I'm not a Man U supporter.)
Kasey
Guest
What do Green Bay, WI; Liverpool FC and Essendon FC have in common? All sporting teams that had one famously successful coach/manager (in order: Vince Lombardi, Bill Shankly/Bob Paisley and Kevin Sheedy) for an extended period of time. The interesting period comes when that famous figurehead retires or moves on. The incoming coach/manager has the huge task of keeping the machine rolling on. For 25 years after Lombardi’s departure the Packers had relatively little on field success. And that in a Salary capped league with a draft! NB: First Thatcher dies, Now Sir Alex has retired..somewhere on Merseyside there’s a Scouser rubbing that lamp furiously and pondering his third wish;-)
MV Dave
Guest
ManCity supporter ^^^
Disco
Roar Guru
Or maybe just not merely a Man U sycophant?
Disco
Roar Guru
Indeed. Fergie's "All youse are #@$^* idiots" rant to the press corps was oh so dignified.
MV Dave
Guest
Liverpool fan ^^^
Franko
Guest
Yeah especially the ones where you refused to speak to the public broadcaster because they dared airing your dirty laundry. Oh and thanks for consistently denigrating referees up and down the country, abusing 4th officials, pressuring linesman and accusing the Premier League of conspiring to give you a difficult fixture run. But mostly Alex, thank you for behaving like a gentleman at all times, your kicking of a boot into a players face was truly the stuff of an aristocrat :)
Johnno
Guest
Trap's doing it, maybe Fergie should have a go at redemption with the scotish side.
dasilva
Guest
On a related note, I have a feeling that Fergie may have unfinished business with the Scottish National side and international football seems like the venue for more older manager winding down their career. He may feel that he has unfinished business with him managing Scotland to a group stage elimination with only 1 point at the 1986 World Cup Scotland kind of basketcase in terms of international football as they are already eliminated for the 2014 world cup and he may be the man to revitalise them
dasilva
Guest
Nah can never forgive Fergie for knocking out the Socceroos in 1985 from the 1986 World Cup :)
Punter
Guest
Well said Kasey, it will be interesting to see SAF's replacement, not many around with that capability, but Mourinho certainly one that comes to mind that could step into such big boots, but all the money is on Moyes. No Man U is too big a brand WW to drop too far with or without Fergie.
Midfielder
Guest
All I can say is thanks for the memories ...
Johnno
Guest
71 years of age, could he be bothered to do an EL Tel and come out to OZ. Man U, it's gotta be the special one.
Punter
Guest
Now that is an idea!!!!
rob
Guest
Fergie for the Socceroo's????/
Kasey
Guest
Absolute Legend. Despite my ABU feelings, the man has been an immense force in football circles for the better part of a lifetime and the entire Premier League era. Whoever takes over from SAF inherits a pair of impossibly large shoes to fill. I think only Mourinho could have the stones and skill to do it and do it well(especially if he has the funds made available to bring some of the Madrid Galacticos into English football. Moyes has never had the budget SAF has had, but could the American owners see this as the time to recoup some of the losses they have made by cutting the wage bill? I find it hard to imagine a Leeds like collapse through the divisions, but it could only take one season outside the lucrative UEFA CL spots to upset the applecart with regard to finances. Considering the juggernaut United have become, the ABU sentiment is sizeable worldwide….there would be just a slight sense of schadenfreude should ManYoo not continue as the juggernaut under who ever replaces SAF.
Punter
Guest
LEGEND in the game, no matter who you support, except maybe Liverpool supporters, but Sir Alex well done sir.
MV Dave
Guest
Probably the most successful Manager/Coach in top level sporting history. As a Man Utd Fan l takes my hat off to you Fergie...an absolute legend.