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James: I thought Phil Neville was an absolute p****... then I realised he was an exemplary part of Fergie's United mafia
By Declan Warrington
PUBLISHED: 10:08 GMT, 12 May 2013 | UPDATED: 14:05 GMT, 12 May 2013
David James has compared Sir Alex Ferguson's reign at Manchester United to that of a mafia Don and revealed that despite prolonged exposure to many of the manager's players, each consistently refused to share the secrets behind his or United's workings during his 27 years in charge.
Contrasting Ferguson with a man who had been considered a serious contender to succeed him in his United role, Jose Mourinho, James has described the managerial great as 'unapproachable' and believes him to be entirely responsible for the apparent vow of silence and unique approach that has surrounded his squads during his time at Old Trafford, believing that to be the reason so little is known about the Scot's private life.
'I call it the Manchester United mafia, led by Sir Alex Fergu-don,' James wrote in The Observer. 'In 25 years of professional football, a period in which I have played Ferguson's teams on many occasions, I have never exchanged more than a hello and a nod with the man. Whereas a manager like José Mourinho will give you the time of day, Ferguson is unapproachable.
Change of scenery: David James' most recent career move took him to IBV in Iceland
'If there is a code of silence, Ferguson's players are bound to it. Despite being friends with Rio Ferdinand and Wayne Rooney, among others, I have never – ever – heard them say anything about Ferguson.
'All those hours of sitting around at England camps or on bus rides, and not once did any United players ever reveal anything to me about their team-mates, their dressing room or their manager. In an industry renowned for its gossip I find that extraordinary.'
While at Anfield, James was the goalkeeper of a Liverpool team that challenged United for the Premier League title but the side were also accused of a lack of professionalism and nicknamed The Spice Boys.
He was also a regular in England squads alongside many members of Ferguson's successful teams, Phil and Gary Neville, David Beckham, Paul Scholes and Wayne Rooney among them, and cited one conversation with the younger Neville who he briefly considered 'an absolute p****', as typical of the approach United's players always adopted.
'On one occasion I remember sitting with Phil Neville for a chinwag and, like a typical footballer, ranting about a team-mate of mine who I found annoying at the time. When I'd finished I expected Phil to reciprocate.
'But there was not a word. "What an absolute p****!" I thought, red-faced after pouring my heart out only for him to remain tight-lipped. But later I concluded that his approach was an exemplary – and clever – way to carry yourself through a career in football.
'All the United players were the same, no one would ever say a bad thing about their team-mates.
'It all contributed to that sense of separation: there were United players, and then there was the rest of us.
'And I have little doubt that it was Ferguson himself who encouraged that segregation. For it was Ferguson who was the first manager to ban opposition players from entering the home players' lounge for a drink after a game.
'Until then post-match mingling had been a tradition. But while Ferguson famously enjoys a glass of red with rival managers at Old Trafford, he was quick to ensure there was no such socialising among his players. At the time the football fraternity was horrified. There was this feeling of, "Just who do you think you are?" Little did we know.
'Everyone keeps asking whether [new manager] David Moyes can control the United dressing room, but United players police themselves. Ferguson created an environment in which players would control each other, so that he didn't have to.
'The presence of Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes was significant. Two players who had won more trophies than anyone else meant that there were authority figures in the team, whom younger players dared not question.'
Enlarge
Mafia Don? How Ferguson might appear in such a role
By Declan Warrington
PUBLISHED: 10:08 GMT, 12 May 2013 | UPDATED: 14:05 GMT, 12 May 2013
David James has compared Sir Alex Ferguson's reign at Manchester United to that of a mafia Don and revealed that despite prolonged exposure to many of the manager's players, each consistently refused to share the secrets behind his or United's workings during his 27 years in charge.
Contrasting Ferguson with a man who had been considered a serious contender to succeed him in his United role, Jose Mourinho, James has described the managerial great as 'unapproachable' and believes him to be entirely responsible for the apparent vow of silence and unique approach that has surrounded his squads during his time at Old Trafford, believing that to be the reason so little is known about the Scot's private life.
'I call it the Manchester United mafia, led by Sir Alex Fergu-don,' James wrote in The Observer. 'In 25 years of professional football, a period in which I have played Ferguson's teams on many occasions, I have never exchanged more than a hello and a nod with the man. Whereas a manager like José Mourinho will give you the time of day, Ferguson is unapproachable.
Change of scenery: David James' most recent career move took him to IBV in Iceland
'If there is a code of silence, Ferguson's players are bound to it. Despite being friends with Rio Ferdinand and Wayne Rooney, among others, I have never – ever – heard them say anything about Ferguson.
'All those hours of sitting around at England camps or on bus rides, and not once did any United players ever reveal anything to me about their team-mates, their dressing room or their manager. In an industry renowned for its gossip I find that extraordinary.'
While at Anfield, James was the goalkeeper of a Liverpool team that challenged United for the Premier League title but the side were also accused of a lack of professionalism and nicknamed The Spice Boys.
He was also a regular in England squads alongside many members of Ferguson's successful teams, Phil and Gary Neville, David Beckham, Paul Scholes and Wayne Rooney among them, and cited one conversation with the younger Neville who he briefly considered 'an absolute p****', as typical of the approach United's players always adopted.
'On one occasion I remember sitting with Phil Neville for a chinwag and, like a typical footballer, ranting about a team-mate of mine who I found annoying at the time. When I'd finished I expected Phil to reciprocate.
'But there was not a word. "What an absolute p****!" I thought, red-faced after pouring my heart out only for him to remain tight-lipped. But later I concluded that his approach was an exemplary – and clever – way to carry yourself through a career in football.
'All the United players were the same, no one would ever say a bad thing about their team-mates.
'It all contributed to that sense of separation: there were United players, and then there was the rest of us.
'And I have little doubt that it was Ferguson himself who encouraged that segregation. For it was Ferguson who was the first manager to ban opposition players from entering the home players' lounge for a drink after a game.
'Until then post-match mingling had been a tradition. But while Ferguson famously enjoys a glass of red with rival managers at Old Trafford, he was quick to ensure there was no such socialising among his players. At the time the football fraternity was horrified. There was this feeling of, "Just who do you think you are?" Little did we know.
'Everyone keeps asking whether [new manager] David Moyes can control the United dressing room, but United players police themselves. Ferguson created an environment in which players would control each other, so that he didn't have to.
'The presence of Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes was significant. Two players who had won more trophies than anyone else meant that there were authority figures in the team, whom younger players dared not question.'
Enlarge
Mafia Don? How Ferguson might appear in such a role
