Earlier this week, it was revealed that Sir Alex Ferguson, alongside Arsene Wenger, had become the first manager to be inducted into the Premier League Hall of Fame.
A record 13-time champion of the storied competition, there is no person more deserving of becoming the recipient of this prestigious award. Sir Alex set the benchmark of what a dominant football club looks like – an unstoppable, gargantuan force to be reckoned with.
Since he retired almost 10 years ago, no club has been able to replicate what he did but more importantly, no manager has shown any signs of being able to do so either.
Sir Alex policed Carrington to perfection but he was no stranger to public disputes and interestingly, with the 10-year anniversary of his final game at Old Trafford coming up, one of those would bear its head in that dramatic 2-1 win over Swansea in 2013.
Wayne Rooney had endured a difficult 2012/13 season after scoring 27 goals in the previous campaign, only missing out on the golden boot to Arsenal talisman Robin van Persie.
So when the Dutchman switched the Emirates Stadium for Old Trafford, Rooney was immediately upstaged and even used in midfield to accommodate Van Persie. That led to a rift between Rooney and Sir Alex – and not for the first time over the nine years they spent together at Old Trafford.
A landmark spectacle in a glittering 27-year career, Rooney was left out of the side that would be playing in front of all of the world’s eyes.
Rio Ferdinand fittingly scored a late winner in typical Sir Alex fashion, the Scot gave his infamous speech asking for patience with David Moyes and then, he explained why Rooney didn’t play.
“I don’t think Wayne was keen to play,” Sir Alex told Sky Sports.
“Simply because he’s asked for a transfer. I think he wants to think it through in his mind, I think it’s a good idea. We’re not going to let him go and I think he’s maybe just a little bit frustrated that I’ve taken him off once or twice in the last few weeks.”
Quite clearly recoiled by Sir Alex’s honesty regarding the situation, presenter Geoff Shreeves asked for clarification.
“Yeah, he’s asked (for a transfer),” Sir Alex confirmed.
Sir Alex had already accepted that Rooney’s future was out of his hands but unpicking his future publicly on the day United lifted their 20th league title was an interesting way of handling it.
The summer that followed would, however, be far more tumultuous. Rooney tried to join Chelsea but a move never materialised before eventually signing a new long-term deal eight months later under David Moyes.
