The North-East has much to thank Ferguson for

While some recognise his achievements and count him among the footballing greats, there will be others who, for all of his success, could not bring themselves to admire a man whose watchwords in management were ‘power and control’, who used mind games to destroy his opposition managers.

North-East football fans will have seen their teams ripped apart by Ferguson’s Manchester United more times than they can remember.

They’ll have seen his teams swagger to the Premier League title 13 times under his charge – once at Newcastle United’s expense – and they’d have seen the Red Devils pick up the FA Cup four times – again, once at Newcastle’s expense.

The Premier League’s bestever goal came courtesy of a Ferguson player, Eric Cantona, lobbing a stranded Lionel Perez as his side dismantled Sunderland in 1997.

And his comments just this year about Newcastle being a ‘wee club in the North-East’ did not endear Ferguson to Magpies supporters, who saw their team surrender a 12-point lead over United in 1996.

But the North-East – even Newcastle – has a lot to thank Sir Alex Ferguson for.

Three of the region’s clubs were managed by former Ferguson charges: Chris Turner at Hartlepool; Bryan Robson, Steve McClaren and Gordon Strachan at Middlesbrough, and Roy Keane, followed by Ricky Sbragia and Steve Bruce at Sunderland.

Keane, after being jettisoned by United after the captain made derogatory remarks about his teammates on MUTV, spent time at Celtic before retiring at the end of the 2005-06 season, before Niall Quinn made him his first managerial appointment.

The former United captain – who Ferguson had once remarked that Sunderland was a “bloody big club” – signed Liam Miller from his old team, before Ferguson loaned him Jonny Evans and Danny Simpson. Keane’s remodelled team would go on to win the Championship in 2006-07, a remarkable achievement considering they were bottom when Keane took over.

A season later, Ferguson loaned Evans back to the Black Cats in their first season back in the Premier League, with Keane going on to sign Kieran Richardson and Phil Bardsley before leaving in 2008.

When Bruce took charge in 2009 – taking over from former United coach Sbragia – the hotline to Salford was once again established – Danny Welbeck being dispatched on a season-long loan. His contribution helped Sunderland deliver a top-ten Premier League finish.

Bruce said of Ferguson’s famed hairdryer treatment: “It was his mentality to have people around him who were born winners like he was. He would just shout right in your face. We all answered him back, but there was only ever one winner – him, and rightly so. For all of us who had it, you just accepted it. It made you stronger.”

Ferguson’s influence was larger at Middlesbrough. The Teessiders were in Division One when Bryan Robson left Manchester United to take up a player-manager role at Ayresome Park in 1994. A year later, Boro were back in the Premier League, credit to the management team of Robson and former United centre-half Viv Anderson.

Their next manager was to have United roots again.

McClaren was Ferguson’s assistant at Old Trafford before moving to Boro.

Top ten finishes and a European final followed before McClaren was appointed England manager.

Former United captain Strachan took over from Gareth Southgate in 2009, his reign on Teesside lasting just over a year.

Despite Ferguson’s comments about Newcastle’s status this season – he soon apologised – his fondness for the North-East as a hotbed of football was never in doubt.

He spoke at Sir Bobby Robson’s funeral, admitting that Sir Bobby influenced his career.

Why are the links so strong, and why can Ferguson relate to this area?

North-East people are resolute, strong-willed, working-class folk. In every Gary Pallister, Steve Bruce and Bryan Robson, Ferguson saw a little bit of himself.

If David Moyes is half as successful as Ferguson was, Manchester United will be in safe hands.