Sir Alex Ferguson ruthlessly dismantled two former Manchester United stars after he was “spitting and frothing” all over them during an explosive ‘hairdryer treatment.’
The former Manchester United manager became well known for his infamous hairdryer treatment, with Sir Alex Ferguson pulling no punches towards his players.
Former United players have spoken about Ferguson’s temperament in the dressing room, although some players managed to avoid incurring his fury at Old Trafford.
Ferguson ensured his leadership was paramount at United during his career, with Rio Ferdinand revealing the reasons why a player would be summoned to his office.
Despite his reputation for taking different players to task, Ferguson carved his name in the history books after his illustrious managerial career at Old Trafford.
The 82-year-old Scotsman bowed out of United in 2013 after he successfully captured United’s last Premier League title at the end of the 2012-13 season.
Ferguson, who is considered one of the best managers of all time, has remained an ever-present figure at Old Trafford long after he retired from football.
The iconic Scot is a director on the United board and is often spotted in the stands watching the current Red Devils team under Erik ten Hag in action.
Lee Sharpe talks Man Utd and Ferguson
Lee Sharpe was only 17 years old when he left Torquay United and completed a £200,000 move to Manchester United in 1988.
The 52-year-old former United winger enjoyed a successful period at Old Trafford, including lifting three Premier League titles, two FA Cups and a League Cup.
Lee Sharpe, who also captured a European Cup Winners’ Cup with United, admitted that he saw Sir Alex Ferguson as a father figure during his time at Old Trafford.
Speaking on BBC Sounds’ Sacked in the Morning podcast, Sharpe was 18 at the time when he asked for Ferguson’s permission to move in with his partner.
“From top to bottom, he ran the club,” he said.
“He said he’d allow it and asked if we were getting married. We’d been going out since I was 12 and that was the plan.
“But he said if my form suffered, I’d be going to go back into digs. I was like, ‘Yeah, yeah, that’s not a problem.’”
Sharpe recalled that his form took a hit after he moved in with his partner at the time and former United manager Ferguson put him on blast for it.
“And then my form started to suffer,” he continued.
“At Anfield, of all places, he decided to try to change our formation to match up with Liverpool and play three at the back and five in midfield.
“Me and Ryan Giggs were running around in circles not knowing who to mark. The game was passing us by.
“At half-time, he said, in not so many words, ‘You are absolutely useless. Tomorrow, you’re going to sell your house, sell your dog, sell your car. You send your girlfriend back to Birmingham, you’re back in digs.’
“Obviously, I didn’t play great, came off with about 20 minutes to go, went home, told my girlfriend she had to go home. That was the end of that.
“Then every week he would come up to me in training and ask, ‘Are you married yet?’ I’m like, married? You sent my girlfriend home!”
Ferguson’s hairdryer treatment on two ex-Man Utd stars
Sharpe, who made 246 appearances for United, claimed he would “avoid” Ferguson at “all costs” and would walk in the “opposite direction” if he heard his footsteps.
Despite moving out to his own place, the former England international was in for a rude awakening from Ferguson.
Ferguson was known for taking a hardline stance on different things at United, including players who went on nights out while they were at Old Trafford.
The former Aberdeen and United boss took United legend Ryan Giggs and Sharpe to task when he found out they were spending time together in Sharpe’s place.
“I only found out last year that it was Giggs’ mum that rang him and said, ‘Ryan’s just gone round to Sharpie’s house with a few of his pals, you’d better get round there,’” Sharpe said.
“He kicked everyone out and then gave me and Giggsy the hairdryer of our lives. He was spitting and frothing over us. That’s why my hair only goes one way – from the side he was yelling!”
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