Former Manchester United winger Lee Sharpe reveals the shocking extent of Sir Alex Ferguson's fiery personality during a half-time explosion where he demanded Sharpe make drastic life changes.
Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson once unleashed a furious half-time rant on one of his players, demanding he sell his house and break up with his girlfriend. This explosive outburst targeted winger Lee Sharpe , who joined the club in 1988 at the age of 17 from Torquay United. Sharpe enjoyed a successful eight-year spell at Old Trafford, showing great promise and even earning his first England cap at 19.
However, injuries and a battle with viral meningitis in 1992 threatened to derail his career. Despite being signed for a then-club-record fee of £4.5 million, Sharpe's progress was hampered by a serious knee injury, limiting him to just 30 appearances over three seasons. Ferguson, known for his intense management style, delivered a devastating critique to the young Sharpe. 'He just said, 'Your girlfriend is going back to Birmingham, you're selling your house and you're back in digs. You're selling your car, you're selling your dogs. I'm not happy with you, you're not good enough',' Sharpe recalled. 'That was a rant that crushed me at 18. I had been going out with the girl since I was 12, she was 18 when she went back to Birmingham. Every week after that, he asked me if I was married, and I said, 'No, my girlfriend has gone home. We are finished'.' Sharpe's relationship with Ferguson soured in later years, with the winger accusing his former manager of being a 'bully' in his autobiography. Despite this strained relationship, Ferguson reached out to Sharpe after his departure from Manchester United, stating, 'Listen, you've never been any trouble at this club, thanks for your services. If ever you need anything, you know we're here.
Sir Alex Ferguson Lee Sharpe Manchester United Half-Time Rant Football Manager
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