Football

SIR ALEX FERGUSON’S “evil” management antics would land him in PRISON if he was still in the dugout, according to Patrice Evra. Evra, 43, saw the fiery Scot up close, playing under him for seven-and-a-half years at Manchester United between 2006 and 2013.Sir Alex Ferguson’s management style would land him in jail, according to Patrice EvraCredit: GettyEvra lost count of the number of players who were reduced to tears by the ScotCredit: YouTube / SDSAnd that meant he was exposed to the way Ferguson went about managing his players – which included the famous hairdryer treatment. But Evra joked in today’s football, Fergie’s methods would cross the line and see him in trouble with the law – after losing count of the number of players he reduced to tears.The former left-back told the SDS podcast: “If Ferguson was coaching right now he would probably end up in jail.”There’s no way Ferguson would not be in jail with what he would do to. READ MORE ON MAN UTD”Do you know how many players I saw cry because he gave them the hairdryer, throwing boots – he was evil.”Ferguson’s most high-profile incident came after an FA Cup defeat to Arsenal in 2003 when he kicked a boot at David Beckham, leaving the England captain with stitches just above his eye. But he was just as passionate and lost his temper over so-called friendlies, too.Evra recalled a time when Fergie let rip at a young Danny Welbeck in Saudi Arabia. Most read in FootballJoin SUN CLUB for the Man Utd Files every Thursday plusin-depth coverage and exclusives from Old TraffordHe explained: “Wayne Rooney gave the ball to Welbeck but he missed the penalty.”We lost the game but it was a friendly, like a 45-minute game. Patrice Evra claims Samir Nasri told him he made a mistake snubbing Man Utd for City”When we got back into the dressing room, Ferguson [shouted] ‘Welbeck!’ “Me and Welbeck were in the toilet, he was having a pee, but Ferguson was shouting. “‘Who the f*** do you think you are, coming in the first team, taking a penalty?’ “I was like, ‘Boss, it’s just a friendly game.’ “He was like, ‘F*** the friendly game.'”I hope your leg is broken, a United player cannot cry at AnfieldSir Alex FergusonFerguson’s approach – however controversial and harsh it was – clearly had the desired effect.He won 38 trophies during his 26 years as Old Trafford boss, including 13 Premier Leagues, five FA Cups and two Champions Leagues. But the attitude he instilled in his United players, especially the senior members of the squad, led to some brutal treatment of some team-mates. Jamie Carragher’s shocking lunge into Nani at Anfield in 2011 left the Portuguese winger with a bleeding gash down his shin.But the likes of Paul Scholes allegedly said “f*** that” and refused to back Nani when they spotted him crying on the floor.’WE WERE BAD PEOPLE… WE DIDN’T CARE’According to the Frenchman, Ferguson fumed: “I hope your leg is broken, a United player cannot cry at Anfield.”Evra added: “We were bad people.”I want to apologise to all the youngsters who trained with us. We were animals.”After the game, we were waiting for the next day when we were going to kill Nani, to tell you how nasty we were, we didn’t care. “If you’re bleeding and you cry, you’re done, you’re not part of us. Read More on The Sun”Ferguson had to give him a week off to recover from that because we were waiting to kill him. “Even now in the United WhatsApp group, we still put that picture of Nani crying at Anfield.”Ferguson was notoriously harsh – even in friendliesCredit: Getty Images – GettyJamie Carragher cut Nani’s leg open with this horror tackle in 2011Credit: Sky SportsFerguson and Paul Scholes let rip at Nani for crying at AnfieldCredit: GettyDavid Beckham had stitches above his left eye after Fergie kicked a boot at himCredit: AFPEvra won five Premier League titles under Sir AlexCredit: EPAUnited’s players still joke about the Nani incident on WhatsAppCredit: Alamy More

WE ALL know management is stressful… so much so that it makes your hair fall out.Just ask Nuno Espirito Santo.Nuno Espirito Santo is known for his bald head and grey beardCredit: PAThe stresses of management came to the forefront on SundayCredit: AFPThe Nottingham Forest gaffer, 51, has led Nottingham Forest back into Europe for the first time in 30 years.Forest still have a chance of qualifying for the Champions League – although Sunday’s painful draw at home to already-relegated East Midlands rivals Leicester dented those dreams. And their manager has a very distinct look – the bald head and the grey beard. But it turns out that has not always been the case.READ MORE ON FOOTBALLIn fact, Santo once had a shaggy mop of hair back in his playing days as a goalkeeper.The Portuguese spent 18 years as a senior pro across eight different clubs.That included two stints at Porto, where he scored a penalty and was part of the Champions League-winning squad under Jose Mourinho. And he did so with a full head of curly, dark hair.Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITSPhotos from his playing days show off the thick mop, making him barely recognisable from the man we have got used to seeing in the dugout over recent years at Wolves, Tottenham and Forest. And although it does start to recede towards the end of his career on the pitch, Santo still has a decent amount of hair.Nuno Espirito Santo argues with Nottingham Forest owner on City Ground pitch moments after disastrous drawThe goalkeeper retired in 2010 but fast forward to his days as Valencia manager and it is a very different story.Gone are the curls and replaced with the buzzed shaven look, with his dark beard grown out. He spent just over a season in charge at Valencia – where he was replaced by Gary Neville – before one campaign with Porto.Then Santo arrived in England with Wolves in 2017, enjoying four years at Molineux before his brief 17-game nightmare at Spurs. Santo played as a goalkeeper for 18 yearsCredit: RexHe used to have dark curly hairCredit: APHis look was very different to what it is nowCredit: .The former shot-stopper started receding by the end of his careerCredit: APHe was part of the Porto squad that won the Champions LeagueCredit: AFPHe regrouped at Al-Ittihad before heading back to the Premier League to take over at Nottingham Forest in December 2023. Forest finished 17th last season but Santo has masterminded an incredible surge towards the top of the table this term. However, a run of one win in their last six matches has threatened to derail the team who were third from December to April. Nuno Espirito Santo’s coaching careerRio Ave 15 May 2012 to 19 May 2014 – P80 W32 D17 L31 Win % 40.00Valencia 4 July 2014 to 29 November 2015 – P62 W32 D16 L14 Win % 51.61Porto 1 June 2016 to 22 May 2017 – P49 W27 D16 L6 Win % 55.10Wolverhampton Wanderers 31 May 2017 23 to May 2021 – P199 W95 D49 L55 Win % 47.74Tottenham Hotspur 30 June 2021 to 1 November 2021 – P17 W8 D2 L7 Win % 47.06Al-Ittihad 4 July 2022 to 7 November 2023 – P56 W36 D12 L8 Win % 64.29Nottingham Forest 20 December 2023 to Present – P68 W26 D19 L23 Win % 38.24Total P531 W256 D131 L144 Win % 48.21The draw with Leicester saw Forest drop to seventh with two games left to try and get back into the top five – and crucially they host Chelsea on the final day of the season. But the 2-2 stalemate was arguably most notable for what happened after the full-time whistle when owner Evangelos Marinakis stormed on to the pitch to confront Santo.The fiery Greek businessman’s frustration was over the confusion regarding Taiwo Awoniyi, who got injured late on when he clattered into the post. After initially suggesting he could carry on, Santo used his final substitution window to take off Elliot Anderson – meaning Awoniyi could not be replaced despite realising he could not continue. SunSport revealed Marinakis erupted again and far more ferociously in the tunnel – at Santo, Awoniyi and the club’s medical staff. Read More on The SunAwoniyi, meanwhile, underwent an urgent surgery on Monday with the rest of the procedure unable to be completed on Tuesday.That meant doctors placed the Nigerian striker in an induced coma and hope to conclude the surgery on Wednesday. Santo shaved his hair by the time he was Valencia gafferCredit: AFP More