‘I loved mad Man Utd stars arguing – Sir Alex went nuts when they went over the top’

Wayne Rooney revealed how Sir Alex Ferguson would get particuarly hot-headed when team-mates fell out with one another at Old Trafford. One of Ferguson’s most impressive signings, Rooney played under the iconic Scottish manager for nine years before the Scot retired from management in 2013.

Together, the duo lifted five Premier League trophies, a pair of League Cups, three Community Shields and a coveted Champions League. However, Rooney has admitted that it wasn’t always sunshine and rainbows playing under Ferguson, who could get quite heated on the sidelines and in the changing rooms.

Speaking to Gary Neville on The Overlap’s Quickfire Questions podcast, the 38-year-old Plymouth Argyle boss was asked: “Who was the best character in the changing room that you ever played with?” Rooney smiled briefly, before responding: “There’s a few. Patrice [Evra] was always quite lively – he was a good character.”

Neville interjected: “And you used to argue with Patrice and laugh with Patrice…” Rooney continued: “I used to love him and Vida arguing. Vida was so stubborn, you’d fall out with him and he doesn’t speak to you for months.” He went on: “Pique was mad as well, I remember him and Patrice had a little bit. Pique went over the top – the gaffer went nuts.”

It’s not the only time that Sir Alex has been noted to be hot-headed in the changing rooms either. The gaffer infamously kicked a boot at David Beckham in February 2003, leaving him with stitches above his right eye.

In that incident, Manchester United were beaten 2-0 in the FA Cup by Premier League rivals Arsenal, with Edu and Sylvain Wiltord scoring once in each half to dump out the Red Devils. Ferguson took out his frustrations on Beckham, who had “made a couple of mistakes” during the game, kicking a pile of clothes on the floor before a boot clipped the midfield maestro on the head.

Speaking about the incident in 2021, Beckham confessed: “That was blown up out of all proportion. I’d made a couple of mistakes during the game and he came into the dressing room and a few harsh words were exchanged. He started to walk over to me and he kicked out at a pile of clothes on the floor.

“Out came this boot and then I quickly realised how accurate his kick had been as it struck me on the head, but there weren’t any hard feelings. It was a complete freak accident. As far as we were concerned. It was forgotten straight away within the club, but the incident made the papers which meant that people started to speculate about our relationship. But as far as the boss and I were concerned it was over, done and dusted.”

Meanwhile, veteran goalkeeper Ben Foster admitted that he got “nailed” by Sir Alex in front of everyone. Speaking on the Happy Hour podcast in 2021, Foster said: “We were playing at Old Trafford against Sunderland, and big Kenwyn Jones – it was like an aerial ball and I’ve gone to try and punch it.

“Big Kenwyn Jones, he’s massive – he’s a tank honestly, he’s like 6ft4′. Bullied me, elbowed me in the ribs, headed it into the goal. Thankfully we rescued the game and got a one-all draw, but at full time – my gosh did he give it to me. Brutal, absolutely brutal – nailed me in front of everybody. It was horrible.”