It is reported that Sir Alex Ferguson once banned young players at Manchester United from driving a specific brand of car, despite the club having reached a significant sponsorship deal with the brand.
Ferguson is one of the greatest coaches in football history, and part of his success can be attributed to his ability to effectively manage players. The Scottish coach was known for his strict micromanagement, aiming to control every aspect of players’ lives to ensure they remained focused on their game.
For example, he had previously banned young players from wearing colored football boots, insisting they wear only black ones. Then, in 2012, despite Manchester United entering into a multi-million-pound sponsorship deal with Chevrolet, Ferguson continued to ban young players from driving luxury sports cars.
In 2012, Manchester United entered into a massive partnership with the American car manufacturer, which saw Chevrolet become the club’s shirt sponsor in 2014. As part of the agreement, Chevrolet offered a range of luxury cars to Manchester United players, including its iconic Corvette sports car.
The price of a Corvette ranges from £80,000 to as high as £90,000 depending on the model.
A Manchester United spokesperson confirmed: “As with most automotive partnerships, Chevrolet will provide players with a car. The specific model will depend on how long they have been at the club and their driving experience.” However, Ferguson banned players under the age of 23 from ordering any Chevrolet vehicle, regardless of their status within the team.
This meant that players such as Danny Welbeck, Phil Jones, Chris Smalling, and Rafael da Silva, who were already regulars in the Premier League, were still forbidden from driving vehicles that did not meet Ferguson’s requirements.
Ferguson’s move was a typical example of his strict management style, ensuring young players remained humble and did not become too arrogant.
In an interview with talkSPORT, Manchester United legend Wayne Rooney explained why his former coach required young players to drive ordinary vehicles. He said: “When Ferguson was still around, if you were under 25, you couldn’t drive a sports car. These are small details that foster discipline, and older players can help them in this regard.”