Fans are only just realising that Sir Alex Ferguson made one appearance as a Man Utd player

Sir Alex Ferguson is widely regarded as the greatest manager in Manchester United's long and successful history, winning 38 trophies across a 26-year reign – but did you know he once played a game for the club?

That's right. Back in November 1987, United travelled to the Caribbean for two mid-season friendlies during Ferguson's first full season in charge.

Here, they came up against the Bermuda national team – a game they won 4-1 – and Bermudian Premier Division side Somerset Trojans, with the latter playing host to Ferguson's unexpected debut for United as a player.

The story goes like this. United suffered a handful of injuries in their opener against Bermuda and after being down to the bare bones against Somerset, both Ferguson and his assistant, Archie Knox, came on a second-half substitutes.

Ferguson, who was 45 at the time, came close to scoring with a header, according to reports, while Knox, 40, found the back of the net with an effort from long range.

Back in 2013, former Somerset Trojans and Bermuda goalkeeper Llewellyn Simmons gave an insight into coming up against then-United manager Ferguson.

“It was humorous because at that time he was in his 40s and we were teasing him about how easy we could get past this old man,” he told the Bermuda Sun in 2013.

Four years ago, a Bermuda fan shared some details about Ferguson's only appearance for United.

"Most notably, the two friendly games United played in Bermuda in 1987 were part of the deal for United to sign our star footballer, one Shaun Goater," the fan wrote on Reddit.

"Goater would eventually be released by Fergie after requesting a pay raise. The Goat eventually landed at City and led them back into the first division, where he would exact his revenge against his youth club in 2002."

"When Fergie came on, the Trojans bench mocked him tirelessly for being slow.

"That evening a Scottish friend of mine (a Dunfermline fan) got into a heated argument with Fergie at a cocktail party, after the manager complained about how dirty footballers were today (perhaps because of the injury to his keeper). My Scottish friend promptly brought up the elbows Fergie used to throw while playing for Falkirk."

Ferguson made one appearance for United. Image credit: X/@broderickdamien

Here's how fans reacted to the story.

One said: "He what? How I didn't know this," while another commented: "I never knew this."

A third wrote: "How does s*** like this go so under the radar."

A fourth said: "Maybe it's time for Pep in that Citeh midfield," and a fifth added: "Could Amorim do that still? or is it prohibited? Asking for a friend."

Ferguson has history when it comes to subbing himself. In his autobiography, the Scot explained why he decided to bring himself on while touring the Caribbean with St Mirren.

"Not everything about the tour was positive," he began. "In Guyana I had an experience that illustrated the frustrations which can beset a manager who has recently stopped playing for a living.

"During games, Davie Provan and I would strip as subs and we had some fun in Barbados and Trinidad. That wasn't quite the case in Guyana, where the national team were managed by a likeable Scot, John McSeveney, who had them wound up for a forthcoming World Cup qualifying match.

"From the start of our game with them, I was complaining to the referee about the cruelty their big centre-half was inflicting on our young centre- forward, Robert Torrance. Half-time came and went without any sign of improved protection and as young Torrance was hacked down yet again, I said to Davie Provan, 'That's it. I'm going on. That big b*****d is taking liberties.'"

Ferguson during his spell at St Mirren. Image credit: Getty

Ferguson added: "Davie tried to dissuade me but I was fired up. In the first contest for a cross, I exacted a bit of revenge on the centre-half, whose squeals caused the referee to point at me ominously. The confrontation became fierce until I nailed Torrance's abuser perfectly.

"As he rolled about like a dying man, the referee sent me off. At the end of the match, I delivered a warning to my players, pointing to a different individual as each word came out: 'Don't ever let anyone know about this sending-off. Do you understand?' They never did tell the tale."