The randomised Premier League fixture list tends to rattle many cages, but few managers were as unhappy by their schedule as Sir Alex Ferguson in 2009
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MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - MAY 25: A general view of Old Trafford ahead of the Premier League match between Manchester United FC and Aston Villa FC at Old Trafford on May 25, 2025 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Ash Donelon/Manchester United via Getty Images)
One former Manchester United manager was particularly angry with their fixture list
(Image: Ash Donelon, Manchester United via Getty Images)
The Premier League was once forced into issuing a statement after Sir Alex Ferguson launched a remarkable tirade against Manchester United's fixture list in 2009.
The schedule for the 2025/26 season will be unveiled on Wednesday at 9am, laying out the structure for the 380 matches to be contested among the 20 sides. The process, according to Premier League insiders, is carried out at random by an external IT firm called Atos.
Ferguson, however, expressed discontent with the sequence of games his side had at the start of 2009, suggesting the fixtures were arranged to purposefully disadvantage the Red Devils. In the 2008/09 season, the Red Devils were scheduled to play away against nine of the top ten teams from the prior season in the first half of the campaign.
Adding to his frustration, Ferguson noted the Red Devils had to play away immediately after each of their three Champions League fixtures on the continent. Addressing the media before an FA Cup third-round match against Southampton more than 16 years ago, the legendary manager held no punches with his views on the situation.
Ferguson said: "I've been saying this for a few months, but our fixture programme didn't do us any favours. I think we have been handicapped by the Premier League. They tell me it's not planned - bloody hell!"
After reporters probed further into whether he felt the Premier League actively sought to impede United, Ferguson said: "I've got my doubts. I'm not saying what they do down there.
"But next year we'll be sending somebody to see how it happens, I can assure you. I just don't understand how you can get the fixtures like that."
Sir Alex Ferguson of Manchester United speaks during a press conference at Carrington Training Ground on January 9 2009, in Manchester, England
Ferguson was furious with the way in which the fixtures fell(Image: Photo by Matthew Peters/Manchester United via Getty Images)
The previous summer, United had the chance to voice any concerns about the Premier League fixture list but opted not to. The league's officials responded to Ferguson's remarks with a robust statement.
It said: "The Premier League fixtures are put together through as random a process as possible. The initial list is created by specialist software before going to the Fixtures Working Party, which is made up of representatives from the Premier League, Football League, FA, clubs and supporters.
"The police also approve it before it is sent to the clubs, at which point they can raise any objections they may have. There are various factors that go into the structuring of the fixture list - police requests, club requests, involvement in European or FIFA competitions for example - but the overriding factor is the luck of the draw."
Manchester United players celebrate with the English Premier League trophy after the 0-0 draw with Arsenal in the English Premier League football match at Old Trafford, Manchester, north-west England, on May 16, 2009
United went on to win their third Premier League title in a row
Despite the challenging fixture schedule, United managed to clinch the Premier League title, edging out Liverpool by four points. During that era, Ferguson was not the only figure who expressed doubts about the scheduling.
At the start of the 2005/06 season, Jose Mourinho, then in his second term at Chelsea, told the People newspaper: "It is always Chelsea who get the worst games, the worst fixtures to play, while Arsenal always have the best ones."
His remarks were made soon after the fixture list was revealed. Chelsea were down to play away matches following their first five Champions League games, while Arsenal were set to play at home after their European fixtures. Similarly to United, it did not stop the Blues from winning the Premier League that campaign.