Former Manchester United chief executive David Gill has explained the reason why three ex-Red Devils players refused to call him by his first name.
David Gill succeeded Peter Kenyon as Manchester United’s chief executive in 2003 and remained in the role at Old Trafford until his departure in 2013.
The former United chief executive was an important figure at the Premier League club, with Gill being seen as Sir Alex Ferguson’s right-hand man behind the scenes.
Following his career at United, Gill went on to become FIFA vice president and later resigned from the vice presidency in response to Sepp Blatter’s re-election.
Gill, who is currently UEFA vice president and treasurer, appeared on Rio Ferdinand’s YouTube channel and opened up to the United legend about his time at Old Trafford.
The former FIFA vice president revealed his current feelings on Ineos after Sir Jim Ratcliffe completed his minority stake purchase in the Premier League club.
Gill also named the top five signings during his time as United’s chief executive and his relationship with former manager Ferguson at Old Trafford.
The UEFA vice president admitted that he had one big regret from his time at United after Ferdinand expressed his frustrations over an important moment in the club’s history.
Why United players called him ‘Mr Gill’
During his rare sitdown interview, former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand refused to call David Gill by his first name and only referred to him as ‘Mr Gill.’
Gill was quizzed on Ferdinand’s persistence in calling him Mr Gill and the former United chief executive explained its connection to the “legacy of football clubs.”
Sir Alex Ferguson’s former right-hand man admitted that Ferdinand, Gary Neville and Phil Neville were three ex-United players who only referred to him as Mr Gill.
“Well, it’s a legacy of football clubs,” Gill said.
“If you look at football clubs – and this was before my time – the chairman was ‘Mr Chairman.’
“It wasn’t Mr Martin Edwards [former United chairman] or mister this, that and the other or […] things like that.
“So, it’s a legacy of that, and I think out of it, Rio just did it, Gary Neville used to do it, Phil Neville used to do it – more of the English players.
“Not necessarily, I don’t think Nemanja [Vidic] ever called me Mr Gill, but you know, that sort of thing. So, I think it’s a legacy of that.”
Ferdinand’s persistence in using Mr Gill
Ferdinand has previously spoken about his relationship with Gill and why he refused to call him by his first name, despite no longer being a United player.
Gill, who helped engineer Ferdinand’s move to Old Trafford, has admitted that he has tried to make the former United defender call him by his first name.
“And Rio just keeps it on even though sort of he’s long since retired and we have a different relationship, but you know, he’s done that, so that’s where it’s at,” he continued.
“Notwithstanding the fact that I always tell him to call me David, but he doesn’t. But that’s fine.
“So, I think there’s a lot of respect and, as I say, that’s the history of football clubs.”
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