Best player you never signed?
Paul Gascoigne.
How do you relax away from the game?
It’s easier for me to relax now, years ago not so much. I love history, reading and watching movies, I just saw Avatar recently. I’m quite active away from football and I keep three or four books by my bedside all the time. Reading the ‘Painting of the Sistine Chapel by Michelangelo’ and Ted Kennedy’s book currently.
How do you motivate your players with them earning large sums of money?
I think they deserve the money, they earn it. I’m straightforward with my players, successful people want to be successful.
What is your view on friendly internationals?
I don’t think the managers themselves think that they are any use, they never play their full teams! The international calendar is a lot better now than it was before. The international friendly in March is ridiculous with British clubs competing late in European competitions.
Any up and coming Irish youth players?
Robert Brady and Conor Devlin a youth team goalkeeper. Shay Given was at United as a kid but his father wanted him to sign for Glasgow Celtic.
Best goal you’ve ever witnessed for United?
A Denis Irwin goal at Wimbledon. Great team goal, thirty two passes before the finish. Ryan Giggs’s goal against Arsenal galvanised the club-an emotional game and an emotional moment.
Would Mark Hughes be welcome back at Old Trafford?
Absolutely. One of our great players. Did you know forty one players have played for both United and City? ‘Sparky’ never played bad in the big games.
Who will retire first, Alex Ferguson or Ryan Giggs?
The way he’s going at the moment me! I think we’ll ride off into the sunset together!
Did any of your ex-players show managerial qualities when they played under you?
Alex McLeish (Current Birmingham City manager). He always had an inquisitive nature. Never in a million years did Mark Hughes. He was always very quiet, came in did his training and went home. Quite a lot of the lads
are taking their coaching badges now: Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes, Gary Neville, even Wayne Rooney-he could be a surprise!
A word on why you have been such a success?
Luck. Work ethic too. I get up at half six in the morning and am in bed by half eleven. Haven’t missed a day’s work in my life.
