This celebrated Old Trafford figure left Manchester United despite the manager wanting him to stay
Andrei Kanchelskis became a cult hero at Goodison Park
Andrei Kanchelskis became a cult hero at Goodison Park(Image: Daily Mirror)
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Andrei Kanchelskis publicly demanded to leave Manchester United for Everton despite Sir Alex Ferguson wanting him to stay - a decision the Russian icon now regrets. The 57-year-old enjoys quite a reputation with both clubs, who face each other at Hill Dickinson Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
The former winger first made his name known at Old Trafford when signing for the Premier League giants in 1991 from Shakhtar Donetsk. Virtually unknown upon his arrival, Kanchelskis soon became a fan favourite in Manchester.
He spent four years at the club and played 161 games across all competitions and scored 36 goals. He was a key member of United's inaugural Premier League title-winning team, who went on to defend the title successfully the following season.
The former Russia international enjoyed a career-best campaign in the 1994/95 season, scoring 15 goals in 39 games. United lost the championship on the last day of the season to Blackburn Rovers, which eventually curtailed Kanchelskis' career in Manchester.
He announced his desire to leave United, with reports suggesting that a breakdown in his relationship with Ferguson and a disagreement with a club physio were behind his decision.
Ferguson - who ended up replacing Kanchelskis with David Beckham - admitted his confusion over the Russian seeking an exit. He said at the time: "You wonder if someone has got to the boy. He's been told he's valued here but he seems confused."
In the decades after joining the Toffees in a then-club record £5million deal, Kanchelskis said leaving Manchester was undoubtedly a mistake. He told FourFourTwo: "Fergie tried to persuade me to stay at United. Deciding to leave was a mistake, but when I left David Beckham started to play.
Manchester United line up for a group photo as they celebrate with the League trophy following the presentation after the FA Carling Premiership match between Manchester United and Coventry City at Old Trafford on May 8, 1994
Andrei Kanchelskis won two Premier League titles at Old Trafford (Image: Bob Thomas Sports Photography via Getty Images)
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"If I’d stayed, maybe nobody would have heard the name David Beckham," he joked. Despite his importance to United during his four-year spell, the club only became more of a powerhouse after his departure.
They went on to win five of the next six league titles, as well as achieving the historic Treble in the 1998/99 season. Kanchelskis revealed that Ferguson's inability to keep him at the club left the legendary Scotsman ready to apologise to his squad.
"When I left United, Ferguson was ready to apologise to the whole team," he told Sport-Express. While silverware was lacking for Kanchelskis in the two years he spent at Everton, he became a cult hero with 21 goals in 62 games.
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Sir Alex Ferguson almost left Manchester United in 2001
Sir Alex Ferguson was unable to keep Andrei Kanchelskis from leaving Old Trafford(Image: ANDREW YATES/AFP via Getty Images)
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However, he left for Fiorentina in 1997 in a £6m deal to become the most expensive Russian player ever, at the time. Unable to repeat his influence on the pitch in Italy, he returned to the UK a year later to sign for Rangers and won six trophies in four years.
United will hope to follow up their 5-2 rout of Ipswich with another three points against David Moyes' side. The Toffees are one of nine teams to remain unbeaten in their opening two games.