Sir Alex Ferguson might be better known for his time in charge of Manchester United but as a player the former Scotland striker once adorned the blue of Rangers.
In fact, growing up in Govan, the famous Glasgow Rangers are the boyhood club of Sir Alex Ferguson and that’s why he couldn’t resist signing for the Gers way back in 1967.
Rangers paid £65k to bring Sir Alex to Ibrox from Dunfermline, a record fee for a transfer between two Scottish clubs, but it was a spell that would only last two years.
Reflecting on his time at Rangers, Sir Alex Ferguson spoke of a sad time in his Rangers story where he wishes he told one Ibrox director where to go.
Sir Alex Ferguson on Ibrox director regret
The Protestant and Catholic divide might still exist in Scotland, but back in the 60s relationships between the communities and by proxy Rangers & Celtic were at their most tense.
Sir Alex Ferguson reflected on his time at Rangers and claims that one Ibrox director asked him an untoward question about his marriage to catholic wife Cathy.
It’s a moment of real regret for Ferguson, and should be for Rangers too, with the former Manchester United manager admitting he should’ve told the Gers director to ‘**** off’.
“Glasgow is a city where there is a divide. It is Protestant and Catholic, Rangers and Celtic,” Ferguson told the Never Give In documentary on his life.
“I heard Rangers wanted to sign me and of course having supported Rangers as a boy and having lived 200 yards from the ground I was pretty excited about it.
“I put on my best suit and went across to Ibrox. The big marble hall, it is quite impressive.
“When I signed for Rangers, one of the directors asked me about Cathy.
“He says, ‘I have to ask you a question about your wife. I believe she is Catholic, were you married in a chapel?’.
“I said, ‘No we got married in the registry office,’ and he says, ‘Oh, that’s OK’.
“I should have told him to **** off.
“I really should have but having supported Rangers as a boy and having the opportunity to go out and play for Rangers, you are prepared to take nonsense.
“I let myself down there and I let my wife down – that was the most important thing – because she was a devout Catholic.
“My memories with Rangers weren’t very happy.
“I was completely bombed out, training on my own [after the 1969 Scottish Cup Final defeat to Celtic].
“I can only assume it was because of Cathy being a Catholic. I’m sure of it.”
’Rangers are a great football club’
Whilst the culture of the day had a huge impact on Sir Alex Ferguson’s time at Rangers, it has not dampened his impression of what he describes as a ‘great football club’.
Sir Alex has been back at Rangers several times since the events of his playing days, taking Aberdeen and Manchester United teams to Govan.
The great man also spoke at the legendary Walter Smith’s funeral, whilst he’s been a guest in the Rangers director’s box and even conducted a lengthy interview with RangersTV in 2023.
Rangers also removed the unspoken ’no Catholic’ signing policy with the arrival of Maurice Johnston under Graeme Souness in 1989, a titanic moment in the history of Scottish football.
A total of 36 years later and Rangers are a multicultural dressing room from across a number of faiths, including Catholicism, and those days are in the past at Ibrox.
Referencing his childhood club, Sir Alex standing on the terraces of Ibrox Stadium as a boy growing up in Glasgow, the impact Rangers have had on the now 83-year-old has been monumental.
It’s an experience the legendary manager took with him through St Mirren, Aberdeen and eventually Manchester United, who Rangers face in the Europa League this week.
“When I left Rangers Football Club the one thing I took out of there was understanding the expectation of a great football club,” Ferguson told UA92 university graduates in 2023.
”And all my life after that, expectation, I knew what expectation was.
”And that why, especially these players that I had as young players, expectation.
”You should have your own expectations but aim high, without a doubt.
”39 years as a manager but I have to say it wasn’t the rosiest, there were times when you had to fight your way through things, determined depended on it.
”The most important point I want to make to you, because it will happen, is failure. Failure.
”Disappointment, it will happen, it’s a part of your life. You cannot let it go without confronting it. Believe me.
”This is where you find yourself. This is where you understand who you are, when this happens.
”All the education and training that you’ve had before will help you but confront it, don’t accept it.”
