Topics: Man Utd, Premier League, Sir Alex Ferguson
A former Manchester United striker who received Sir Alex Ferguson's famous 'hairdryer treatment' after missing two sitters in his second game is now worth a staggering £4.3 billion.
Louis Saha, who joined United from Fulham in January 2004 for around £12 million, made a blistering start to life at Old Trafford, scoring on his debut in a 3-2 win against Southampton.
A week later, the Frenchman continued his scoring streak with a brace against Everton, but Saha has previously revealed that he was on the end of Sir Alex's 'hairdryer treatment' at Goodison Park.
"He didn't do it because he had an ego, it was because he was protecting the institution of Manchester United and how standards needed to be respected," Saha recalled in an interview with SPORTbible.
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"I remember, it was my second game, and I had a big hair dryer treatment as I missed two sitters and it was close as we almost lost the game. But getting that treatment was a positive, because he made us realise, we are messing around and there is no way you can accept such standards."
In total, Saha scored 42 goals in 124 games across a four-year spell at United, where he won two Premier League titles and a Champions League. He would later play for Everton, Tottenham, Sunderland and Lazio before retiring in 2013.
After hanging up his boots, Saha has moved into the world of business.
In fact, the former France international founded the company AxisStars, who describe itself as a community that "facilitates authentic, win-win connections between pro-athletes and entertainers, their peers and trusted partners."
In short, the company is a social network solution for elite sports professionals, where players, clubs, agents and sponsors can connect in a secure environment.
Speaking about the company, Saha told Forbes: “The business model was based around using my own experiences to help guide younger players. Many youngsters who play football at the top level have a hard time managing their money and making the most of the revenue streams that are available to them.
"We wanted to find a solution that they can keep coming back to for advice in a way that feels natural to them.”
It is thought the company boasts over 550 clients from the world of sport and is worth £4.3 billion.
Speaking to The Guardian about his experiences, Saha said: "I still get asked for advice by different people on a daily basis.
"For instance, my agent called me to say he had a talented French footballer who he wants to bring to England, and asked me for advice on how to create a tailor-made training programme. I put him in touch with people I used to work with."
"This kind of player could join Axis as he can then search for a personal coach in his region," he added. "It is a hard process but it's so rewarding, because if I can help 100,000 people, its the best thing I've ever done."
