Liam O’Brien recounts Sir Alex Ferguson’s angry reaction when he left Manchester United for Newcastle in 1988, a decision the former Republic of Ireland star maintains he never regretted.
Former Manchester United midfielder Liam O’Brien has revealed the furious reaction of Sir Alex Ferguson when he informed the legendary manager of his decision to leave Old Trafford for Newcastle United in 1988.
According to a report from Chronicle Live, detailing revelations in O’Brien’s new book Pass Master, the Republic of Ireland star chose relegation-haunted Newcastle over United after refusing the terms of a deal offered by Ferguson, which was reportedly just £400 per week, as he sought extra security for his family.
After securing a deal with Newcastle chiefs Willie McFaul and Colin Suggett at Hartshead Moor service station, O’Brien broke the news to the man who gave him his debut.
He recalled the tension of the conversation: “I didn’t expect him to be impressed with the news I had to tell him. ‘I have something to tell you,’ I said. ‘I’m after signing for Newcastle United.’ There was a moment of silence.”
Ferguson’s reaction was immediate and cutting, with O’Brien saying the manager “went through me.”
“Who did I think I was walking out of a club like Manchester United?” he recalled the manager suggesting before the line went dead. “After he had his say, the phone went dead. Suddenly.”
O’Brien noted that although rumours suggested a “big bust-up,” this was not the case, stating: “There was no big row.” The ice between the pair eventually thawed, but only “a couple of years” later.
Despite United’s later success under Ferguson, O’Brien stands by his choice to join the Magpies, where he became a key player in the ‘Entertainers’ era.
He stated emphatically: “Did I have regrets that I left Man United – especially considering what they achieved later under Ferguson? No, I didn’t and don’t now, all these years later.”