Featured Image Credit: Getty
Topics: Manchester United, Sir Alex Ferguson
Josh Lawless
Manchester United players thought one of their teammates was Sir Alex Ferguson's son because he was immune to criticism in the dressing room.
Ferguson, who won 13 Premier League titles in a glittering 26-year spell at United, was known for being a strict disciplinarian who was never afraid to vent to his players.
The term 'hairdryer treatment' was coined to describe Ferguson's outbursts at his players, with many high-profile names on the receiving end of the fiery rants over the year.
However, there was one player who never got criticised by the Scot - with former United captain Bryan Robson never giving a hard time by his manager.
Advert
After joining from West Brom in 1981, Robson became the United's longest-serving captain, winning two Premier League titles, three FA Cups and a European Cup Winners' Cup in a 13-year spell where he amassed 461 appearances.
A complete midfielder who gave everything on the pitch, Ferguson valued 'Captain Marvel' so highly that United players felt he got special treatment in his eight years playing under him.
The two remain good friends now, with Robson a global ambassador for United following on from his management career.
Advert
In a wide-ranging interview with TNT Sports last year, Ally McCoist asked his fellow Scot if he treated all of his players the same, with Ferguson replying: "Well, everybody thought Robbo was my son because he never got criticised!
“But anyway, I think the most important thing for me as a manager is to be consistent. So the players, the staff, everybody recognises the man who comes in the door every morning.
"I had the same principles all the time, the same discipline code all the time, and the same attitude towards staff in particular all the time. I never changed. It made it easier for everybody to feel comfortable with that.”
Though the jokes were that Robson was the teacher's pet, Ferguson's son did actually have a spell at United. Darren Ferguson came through the youth ranks at the Old Trafford club, being handed his first-team debut by his father in 1990.
Advert
With Robson struggling with injury in the 1992/1993 season, midfielder Ferguson got a look-in and played enough games to qualify for a Premier League winners' medal.
After making 28 appearances overall, Ferguson was sold to Wolves for a fee of £250,000 and later turned out for Dutch outfit Sparta Rotterdam, Wrexham and Peterborough United, who he went on to manage on four different occasions.
His current spell began in 2023, 16 years after his first stint.