Sir Alex Ferguson had the privilege of working with some of the best players to have ever graced the game at Manchester United.
Illustrious names like Cristiano Ronaldo, Jaap Staam, Roy Keane and Nemanja Vidic instantly spring to mind.
Sir Alex Ferguson perhaps managed some of the greatest English players to have ever been produced in particular as well. Wayne Rooney, Paul Scholes and Rio Ferdinand to name a few are arguably three of the standout players to have ever played in their respective positions in the history of English football.
Manchester United always seemed to be in the market for the next big English superstar, famously doing everything in their power to sign Alan Shearer before he left Blackburn Rovers to sign for Newcastle United in 1996.
But unfortunately for Sir Alex Ferguson, he could not get his hands on Paul Gascoigne.
Sir Alex Ferguson names Paul Gascoigne as the one player he’d have loved to manage
Wayne Rooney named Gascoigne as England’s greatest-ever player, which goes to show just how outstanding he was. Ferguson was keen on bringing Paul Gascoigne to Manchester United but the move never transpired.
The maverick of a midfielder went on to have an incredible career but one where he could have won a lot more silverware had he made the move to Old Trafford.
Even the current generation hold the veteran in the highest possible esteem, with James Maddison singing Paul Gascoigne’s praises as well.
In a sit-down interview alongside Gary Neville for SPORTbible in 2021, Sir Alex Ferguson was asked the one player he would have loved to manage but never did and he instantly named Paul Gascoigne: “Paul Gascoigne. Without question, I think he was the best English player since Bobby Charlton. He was a fantastic player. Unfortunately, we didn’t get him and I think looking back now, he made a big mistake.”
“He recognised himself years later but we had Geordies in the camp, Bobby Charlton, Bryan Robson, even Gary Pallister from Middlesbrough. We had people there who would’ve taken care of him, particularly Bryan Robson, he was fantastic with players as you know.”
“So, he goes to an island in London, you’re easily swallowed up there, for a young lad and I think that was a big mistake by him. I think he was a marvellous player, I loved his strength and his…we played in Newcastle, up there, it was a Monday I think and he’d just come back from injury, near of the bottom of the week. As soon as he came back, they started winning games.”
Sir Alex Ferguson added: “And I went, putting three in the middle of the pitch. Right-side, Robson and Remi Moses, he destroyed them, honestly! And then he nutmegged Remi Moses right in front of the dugout and patted him on the head and I’m jumping out of the box!”
“Honestly, he was unbelievable and I said to Martin [Edwards, former chairman of Manchester United] who is coming at the back of the bus, ‘Sign this boy. Get on the phone to him, Monday.’ But at that time, he had already done a deal with Tottenham which was real unfortunate.”
Paul Gascoigne revealed why he rejected Man United move
Paul Gascoigne revealed he rejected Manchester United after initially being approached by Kenny Dalglish to join Liverpool. While Gascoigne’s mind was made up about signing for United after a conversation with Sir Alex Ferguson, a lucrative offer made to his father by Tottenham meant North London was his eventual destination from Newcastle.
Gascoigne recalled: “I was sitting with my Dad and the phone went and it was Kenny Dalglish first. I said Dad, it’s Kenny Dalglish and he said I want you to sign for Liverpool. So I spoke to him for half an hour and I put the phone down and I said Dad, to be honest, I did not understand a word he said!”
“Then Sir Alex called us, and said look, we want to sign you. I said okay, I’ll sign when I come back from holiday.”
“So I told my Dad I’m going to Old Trafford, Man United and then two days later, the phone went and it was to sign for Tottenham.”
Paul Gascoigne concluded: “I went ‘look I’m going to sign for Man United’. I said Dad, it’s Tottenham and he said tell them to f off, you’re going to sign for Man United. So I said, my Dad says f off, I’m going to Man United. He then went, tell your Dad, we’ll give him £120,000. He went what are you waiting for then, son?”
