Ashley Young reveals what Manchester United players had to call Sir Alex Ferguson, it couldn't be 'Fergie'

Ashley Young has revealed what the Manchester United players had to call Sir Alex Ferguson, and they definitely weren't allowed to call him 'Fergie.'

Getting rid of a nickname when it's not one you particularly want to be referred to as can be extremely difficult, that is unless you're the greatest manager in Premier League history.

Legendary United boss Ferguson may have mellowed in the later years of his career, and no doubt the 10 years since he retired, but during most of his career he was known for his being pretty scary.

The Scotsman was well known for his 'hairdryer treatment,' even handing it down to some of the best players he managed, and even shouted at a 15-year-old for considering rejecting his offer to play for the club.

Despite that hard nosed way of managing his teams, most of his former players speak highly and with the utmost respect for their ex boss.

And it's perhaps no surprise to learn that they never called him by the 'Fergie' nickname, and still can't bring themselves to do so years later.

In an interview with the Telegraph, former United captain Young was having the list of managers he's worked with read out to him, with the newspaper's journalist Sam Wallace naming 'Fergie' on there.

"You can’t say ‘Fergie’ either," Young replied with a smile.

"That’s not allowed. He’s ‘The Boss’. Just to let you know!"

Ferguson runs a training session with Young and the United squad. Image: Alamy

Young was only at Old Trafford for Ferguson's final two years at the club, winning their most recent league title nearly 10 years ago.

He ended up spending nine seasons at the club, playing 261 times for them and being managed by a slew of bosses after the former Aberdeen boss had hung up his chewing gum.

The Aston Villa player revealed he still speaks to the 81-year-old and that his former gaffer isn't too impressed with modern football, adding, "I won’t say the best [manager he's had] but the one who has given me the most is ‘The Boss’. Sir Alex.

"The one I still talk to most is ‘The Boss’. I had a conversation with him a few months ago and he was talking about the changes in football and how he would be in football nowadays.

"I won’t go into the conversation … I don’t know if he’s impressed by certain changes.

"But the way ‘The Boss’ was for years, the success he had - he had his way of dealing with players, of dealing with the press, whatever else there was.

"How he had his team set up. How he knew his team - weeks, months, in advance. The way he was with players. I am not too sure how that would be seen these days."

'The Boss' now gets to enjoy watching games in the stands. Image: Alamy

Nowadays Ferguson is often seen back at Old Trafford, watching the games from the directors box, and life must be a lot better as a supporter than it has for much of the previous decade since he retired.

He would have been even more impressed with current manager Erik ten Hag, after learning the Dutchman shared a bottle of wine with Charlton boss Dean Holden after the recent Carabao Cup win.

Holden is a long time United season ticket holder, and just five games into his new job, and was extremely impressed by his fellow manager.

Topics: Manchester United, Sir Alex Ferguson, Premier League, Ashley Young

Ryan Sidle

Ryan is a journalist for SPORTbible with over eight years of experience. Passionate about all sports, he mainly covers football and F1 - Daniel Ricciardo once spent an entire interview referring to him as 'Ryan Gosling,' still his proudest moment.

@Sidler28