Sir Alex Ferguson Banned Man Utd Star From Training for Controversial Hairstyle

A former Manchester United player has claimed that Sir Alex Ferguson prevented him from training after seeing his eccentric hairstyle.

Ferguson remains arguably the greatest manager of all time, having guided Manchester United to 38 trophies, including 13 Premier League titles, during his 26-year tenure as Red Devils head coach.

Of course, the Scot was tactically astute, but it was often his mind games that influenced his opponents and his own team.

Ferguson commanded respect from those who worked with and against him, and the 83-year-old was not afraid to call out even the best players in his dressing room, something David Beckham found out the hard way when Ferguson kicked a boot that struck the former England captain above the eye in February 2003.

Meanwhile, according to Spanish journalist Guillem Balague, Cristiano Ronaldo was even brought to tears by Ferguson after he criticised the Portuguese during a training session.

Wayne Rooney also had several run-ins with Ferguson, previously explaining how the so-called ‘hair-dryer treatment’ “spurs some of the lads on” while “it crushes others”.

One thing is for sure: most former United players respect Ferguson, with the likes of Gary Neville and Paul Scholes still referring to the Scot as “The Boss” to this day.

Another member of the ‘Class of 92’ recently revealed that he was banned from United training after Ferguson took a dislike to his rather eccentric haircut.

Speaking on ‘The Good, The Bad & The Football’ podcast alongside Scholes and ex-Liverpool forward Robbie Fowler, former United midfielder Nicky Butt, who won six Premier League titles, three FA Cups and one UEFA Champions League with the club, described how he’d been growing his hair at a time which coincided with legendary former United manager Sir Matt Busby’s funeral in January 1994.

After explaining how he’d styled his hair in cornrows, Butt said: “It was the biggest funeral you’ve ever seen in Manchester, it was at the cathedral… Kiddo [Brian Kidd] went ‘You better f****** get off this bus’.

Nicky Butt had dreadlocks... for just a few hours! 😂

Sir Alex's reaction meant that didn't last long! 😳#MUFC pic.twitter.com/BeuxmRrmMT

— The Good, The Bad & The Football (@goodbadftblpod) November 11, 2025

“The gaffer [Ferguson] just looked at me and went, ‘Get home, get that shaved off. Do not come back into training with that on your f****** head’.

“I looked a right t***. I looked [like] an absolute idiot. I had to get it all shaved off.”

Despite Ferguson’s stance, Butt went on to play for United for another decade before transferring to Newcastle United in 2004. These days, the 50-year-old works in the media and is co-owner of League Two side Salford City, having previously been CEO.