I turned down Arsenal & Tottenham’ – Man Utd legend Sir Alex Ferguson reveals why he spurned move to English rivals during managerial days

Ferguson joined Manchester United from Aberdeen in 1986 and went on to become a club and Premier League legend during his 27-year stint as the Red Devils’ head coach. The Scottish manager won 13 Premier League titles, two Champions Leagues and five FA Cups during his time at Old Trafford and is widely considered one of the greatest coaches of all time.

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Ferguson has now revealed that he had the opportunity to move down to England earlier than 1986 as he had received interest from Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur and Wolverhampton Wanderers. However, he was told by then-Aberdeen chairman Dick Donald to only leave if United came calling.

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  WHAT FERGUSON SAID

  Speaking to Ally McCoist on TNT Sports, Ferguson said: “I turned down Arsenal, I turned down Wolverhampton Wanderers and I turned down Tottenham. The reasons were that Dick Donald… I said to him one day ‘maybe it’s time (to leave)’. He says, ‘don’t talk like that, you’ve got a great setup up here, you should only go to one club – Man Utd’. So I never budged until that came along.”

  When asked if heading to Old Trafford was a straightforward decision, Ferguson replied: “Absolutely. I couldn’t get there quick enough.”

• WHAT NEXT FOR FERGUSON?

  The 82-year-old legend was recently let go of by United’s new ownership from his position upstairs at the club in an attempt to cut costs.