• Football
  • Boxing
  • UFC
  • Home
  • Football
    • England
    • Transfer News
    • Premier League
    • Champions League
    • Lionel Messi
    • Cristiano Ronaldo
    • EA FC 25
    • Wrexham
  • Boxing
    • Tyson Fury
    • Anthony Joshua
    • Oleksandr Usyk
    • Mike Tyson
    • Jake Paul
    • Logan Paul
  • UFC
    • Dana White
    • Conor McGregor
    • Khabib Nurmagomedov
    • Jon Jones
    • Paddy Pimblett
    • Joe Rogan
  • Other Sport
    • Athletics
    • Formula 1
    • MMA
    • Motorsport
    • NBA
    • Darts
    • NFL
    • Snooker
    • Wrestling
    • Tennis
    • Cricket
    • Golf
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • LADbible
  • UNILAD
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
Snapchat
TikTok
YouTube
When Sir Alex Ferguson Fully Lost It After 'Leg-Breaking' Tackle On Denis Irwin

Home> Football

Updated 15:29 19 Jan 2022 GMTPublished 15:28 19 Jan 2022 GMT

When Sir Alex Ferguson Fully Lost It After 'Leg-Breaking' Tackle On Denis Irwin

Sir Alex Ferguson raged after Paul Bosvelt produced a shocker of a challenge on Denis Irwin.

Josh Lawless

Josh Lawless

Sir Alex Ferguson fully lost his head after a horrendous challenge on Denis Irwin in a Champions League clash in 1997.

Manchester United won 3-1 against Feyenoord in Rotterdam, with Andy Cole scoring a hat-trick.

But late on, Paul Bosvelt produced a disgusting challenge on Irwin and left him in a heap on the turf.

The Dutchman, who later joined Manchester City, was late, high and could have quite easily broken Irwin's leg.

Somehow, the Netherlands international did not even receive a yellow card for his shocker of a tackle.

And Ferguson was absolutely seething on the touchline. The cameras panned to him and he could be heard shouting "it's a f****** disgrace" at Feyenoord boss Geert Meijer after already giving a bit to the fourth official.


Irwin had to be stretchered off and replaced by Phil Neville, while Bosvelt was substituted shortly after the horror tackle.

Brian Kidd, assistant manager of United, had to step in to diffuse the situation or else it could have got seriously ugly.

But Fergie still reportedly told Bosvelt what he thought of him, venting, "You scumbag, you ratbag, you dirty b******.”

The fiery Scot did lose his temper on occasion during games but this was quite possibly his biggest touchline meltdown.

Irwin, who was the only player Fergie would guarantee a place in his all-time XI, branded the tackle "unnecessary" and felt as though him not standing on his left leg saved him.

Image: PA
Image: PA

He did also accept a rather swift apology from Bosvelt.

In total, Ferguson was given 17 touchline bans in 26 years as Manchester United manager but one of his best rushes of blood came during his time as manager at St Mirren.

On a pre-season tour of the Caribbean, Fergie brought himself on as a substitute and got sent off for nailing a Guyana centre-back who had subjected young Robert Torrance to some rough treatment.

Featured Image Credit: Image: YouTube

Topics: Sir Alex Ferguson, Manchester United, Feyenoord

Josh Lawless
Josh Lawless

Josh is a sports journalist who specialises in football and WWE. He has been published by Curzon Ashton FC, Late Tackle, Manchester City FC, The Mirror, Read Man City and Manchester Evening News. He provides coverage of professional wrestling and has covered two WrestleMania events for SPORTbible.

X

@joshlawless_

Choose your content:

3 hours ago
5 hours ago
6 hours ago
7 hours ago
  • 3 hours ago

    Ex-Chelsea wonderkid tipped to be 'football's next big thing' announces shock retirement from football

    The player made seven appearances for Chelsea and was once compared to Eden Hazard.

    Football
  • 5 hours ago

    Alexander Isak 'cut price tag' revealed as Liverpool deal with Newcastle 'in play'

    The Newcastle United forward has attracted interest from several top clubs this summer.

    Football
  • 6 hours ago

    Xabi Alonso has found the new Luka Modric for Real Madrid and it could be the signing of the summer

    The Real Madrid boss could be set to replace the veteran midfielder, who will leave the club later this summer.

    Football
  • 7 hours ago

    Odds slashed on Lionel Messi's next club as clear favourite emerges after huge news drops on Inter Miami star's future

    Lionel Messi has been linked with a move away from Inter Miami.

    Football