Dein recalls when Sven told Fergie to 'f**k off' and admits he wanted Man Utd legend at Arsenal
Former Arsenal co-owner and vice-chairman David Dein claims he put forward the name of Sir Alex Ferguson to become the Gunners' new manager in 1986.
Ferguson won 13 Premier League titles, five FA Cups, four League Cups and two Champions Leagues during his 27 years as Manchester United manager.
After Don Howe left Arsenal as manager in 1986, Dein was one of the board members responsible for finding his replacement.
The highest rated player of the season of any Premier League club so far…
Dein wanted to make Ferguson the new Arsenal boss, but they eventually opted for George Graham after another Arsenal board member suggested him.
He wrote in the Daily Mail: "I had this idea to have Alex Ferguson take over from Don Howe, while another board member suggested George Graham. George ticked a lot of boxes. He looked the part and, as a former player in the 1971 doubles team, he knew Arsenal's values.
“It had a lot of influence on the board. Some particularly big names came up, including Terry Venables and Johan Cruyff, but in the end it was really between Alex and George. management thought George could do the job. He was young, aspiring, and hungry. He was smart and always well-dressed. He started low to learn the ropes of management.
"He knew a lot of lower division players, which was an asset in England, to try to shape something with smart recruitment.
"But while George had the Arsenal connection, he hadn't cut his teeth in the big time yet. He was at Millwall in the lower divisions and it was his first managerial job. I thought it could be a risk. Alex, on the other hand, had more experience and more success.
"His Aberdeen side were a revelation and won impressively, including in Europe. So I floated the idea of a double act - that we bring Alex in as a No.1 with George to be his #2.
"The combination could be a dream ticket, with the two Scots combining a lot of qualities with the potential to be even more ambitious in the Premier League in England. I knew Alex and knew Aberdeen chairman Dick Donald. I carefully probed him to see if Alex would be interested.
"In the end, I went along with the decision to appoint George. He wanted more money, which we ended up offering. I remember him saying, 'That's not what I wanted. was looking for, but if I succeed, I won't be cheap!"
"True to his word, he came to the office the day after winning a trophy to remind us."
Dein was also vice-chairman of the Football Association and he revealed that Ferguson frustrated former England boss Sven Goran Eriksson so much that he told him to 'f**k off'.
He added: "The only time I saw Sven annoyed was when Sir Alex Ferguson called him at our World Cup base in 2006.
"Fergie was furious that Wayne Rooney was going to play at the World Cup, while England were betting on his recovery from a broken metatarsal.
""You're done", he shouted. Sven lost it. "F**k off", he said. "Alex, I'll pick Rooney. Have a great holiday. Ciao, goodbye.'"
Former Arsenal co-owner and vice-chairman David Dein claims he put forward the name of Sir Alex Ferguson to become the Gunners' new manager in 1986.
Ferguson won 13 Premier League titles, five FA Cups, four League Cups and two Champions Leagues during his 27 years as Manchester United manager.
After Don Howe left Arsenal as manager in 1986, Dein was one of the board members responsible for finding his replacement.
The highest rated player of the season of any Premier League club so far…
Dein wanted to make Ferguson the new Arsenal boss, but they eventually opted for George Graham after another Arsenal board member suggested him.
He wrote in the Daily Mail: "I had this idea to have Alex Ferguson take over from Don Howe, while another board member suggested George Graham. George ticked a lot of boxes. He looked the part and, as a former player in the 1971 doubles team, he knew Arsenal's values.
“It had a lot of influence on the board. Some particularly big names came up, including Terry Venables and Johan Cruyff, but in the end it was really between Alex and George. management thought George could do the job. He was young, aspiring, and hungry. He was smart and always well-dressed. He started low to learn the ropes of management.
"He knew a lot of lower division players, which was an asset in England, to try to shape something with smart recruitment.
"But while George had the Arsenal connection, he hadn't cut his teeth in the big time yet. He was at Millwall in the lower divisions and it was his first managerial job. I thought it could be a risk. Alex, on the other hand, had more experience and more success.
"His Aberdeen side were a revelation and won impressively, including in Europe. So I floated the idea of a double act - that we bring Alex in as a No.1 with George to be his #2.
"The combination could be a dream ticket, with the two Scots combining a lot of qualities with the potential to be even more ambitious in the Premier League in England. I knew Alex and knew Aberdeen chairman Dick Donald. I carefully probed him to see if Alex would be interested.
"In the end, I went along with the decision to appoint George. He wanted more money, which we ended up offering. I remember him saying, 'That's not what I wanted. was looking for, but if I succeed, I won't be cheap!"
"True to his word, he came to the office the day after winning a trophy to remind us."
Dein was also vice-chairman of the Football Association and he revealed that Ferguson frustrated former England boss Sven Goran Eriksson so much that he told him to 'f**k off'.
He added: "The only time I saw Sven annoyed was when Sir Alex Ferguson called him at our World Cup base in 2006.
"Fergie was furious that Wayne Rooney was going to play at the World Cup, while England were betting on his recovery from a broken metatarsal.
""You're done", he shouted. Sven lost it. "F**k off", he said. "Alex, I'll pick Rooney. Have a great holiday. Ciao, goodbye.'"
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