Manchester United were an incredibly hard club to turn down under Sir Alex Ferguson, though the former manager almost missed out on top target Teddy Sheringham previously.
On this day, twenty-five years ago, the England international joined the Red Devils from Tottenham Hotspur in a deal worth £3.5million. However, there was a time when the deal didn’t look like it would happen.
After Eric Cantona retired, Ferguson desperately needed to bolster his ranks in the final third and wanted a top player to come in and slot in seamlessly. Sheringham was without a trophy to his name at 31 and had prioritised that at his next club – so the move itself made sense.
But soon after signing his contract with United, Sheringham has revealed that he didn’t answer phone calls making him aware of United’s interest in him in the summer of 1997 because he was on holiday in Florida. Speaking at the press conference where he was revealed as the Red Devils’ new striker, he said: "It was half-past one yesterday afternoon when I realised the deal was on.
"I'd only just returned when my mum and dad called saying they'd been trying to get hold of me because United were interested. It was the best call I have ever had in my career. It's about time I won something and now I hope I can do it here."
Sheringham spent four years at Old Trafford, making 104 Premier League appearances for the club during that time. The forward won the league three times during that time, whilst also helping the Red Devils to success in the FA Cup and Champions League in the historic 1998/99 campaign.
The striker didn’t extend his stay at United after penning a four-year deal with the club, returning to Tottenham rather than competing for a spot in the starting eleven with new signing Ruud van Nistelrooy. The Red Devils did offer Sheringham the chance to stay on for another season, but it was declined.
Sheringham was an experienced head in the United dressing room that improved with age and was able to help young players develop due to his natural quality. And therefore, he knows what is needed to captain the club.
After several worrying years at United, Erik ten Hag is expected to weigh up whether Harry Maguire will keep the captain’s armband at the Theatre of Dreams next season – and Sheringham has weighed in on the debate. He told Lord Ping : “I like McTominay. He understands the club and can help other players. He has the right mentality and commitment. Is he a good enough player to be an inspirational leader at a club like a Terry or an Adams, players that let everyone else understand the culture, the standards and lead by example as well as being world-class footballers?
"You need a leader on the pitch — someone that can do the manager's bidding when the whistle blows and grab a game by the scruff of the neck. McTominay might not be the ideal choice for flair and that Manchester United swagger, but he understands and he has a bit of drive about him. He would be the one player I would pick from the current crop."
