Rio Ferdinand has revealed that Sir Alex Ferguson only allowed one person to mock him – his favourite dinner lady Carol.
The Scot led Manchester United for over 25 years in a trophy-laden era.
But he was known for his powerful managerial style which led to the exits of any players who clashed with him.
The likes of Roy Keane, Jaap Stam and Rudd van Nistelrooy all left United during his tenure.
Ferguson though didn’t mind Carol having a laugh at his expense as Ferdinand recalls a story when she mocked his choice of trousers.
He told The Sun: “Carol was a very funny lady. I loved speaking to her and having a laugh over a cup of tea at the training ground.
“She would treat everybody the same, academy players, Premier League champions or Sir Alex Ferguson, one of the biggest names in the history of football.
“I remember once he walked in wearing a smart pair of cream chinos as I was talking to Carol.
“She stopped our conversation and just said to him ‘what are you wearing?!’ which made us all laugh.”
Carol is a long-serving dinner lady at United’s Carrington training base.
Alex Ferguson, Rio Ferdinand are posing for a picture: Sir Alex Ferguson was a ruthless operator© The Daily Mirror Sir Alex Ferguson was a ruthless operator
Ferdinand, who spent a decade at Old Trafford, reconnected with the Carol as part of a BT +1 inniative that is aiming to tackle loneliness over the festive period.
He said: “During the 12 years I spent at Manchester United I saw Carol almost every day at the training ground.
“She was part of the fabric of the club and always there through the good and bad times.
“I saw her more than I would see some members of my family. But then after I retired, I didn’t see her for a couple of years… so the chance to reconnect with her was amazing.”