Sir Alex Ferguson directly contacted one ex-Manchester United star who played under him at Old Trafford and he “played a huge part” in his life.
The 83-year-old legendary former Manchester United manager has been out of the Old Trafford dugout since his retirement from football in 2013.
Sir Alex Ferguson enjoyed incredible success at the Red Devils and he led United to their last Premier League title win in the 2012-13 season.
The iconic Scotsman engineered all 13 of the Red Devils’ Premier League title wins during his 26-year reign and Ferguson also led United to an iconic treble in 1999.
Ferguson is widely considered one of the best managers of all time and the United legend had a remarkable impact at both the Red Devils and at Aberdeen in Scotland.
Despite walking away from management at the end of the 2012-13 Premier League campaign, the former United boss has remained an ever-present figure in football.
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Photo By David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile via Getty Images
Photo By David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile via Getty Images
What Man Utd legend Sir Alex Ferguson told Brighton striker Danny Welbeck during a phone call after a key moment
Danny Welbeck came through the Manchester United youth academy before the forward broke into the Red Devils’ first team under Sir Alex Ferguson.
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The 34-year-old striker was part of the last United team to win the Premier League title and he had been tipped for a bright future after Ferguson’s retirement.
However, Danny Welbeck made his Old Trafford exit in 2014 after former United manager Louis van Gaal allowed him to leave and he went on to sign for Arsenal.
Welbeck had a sensational impact for Brighton after he came off the bench and scored the winner in the second half of extra time against Newcastle in the FA Cup.
The former United and England star revealed that Ferguson contacted him after he netted in Brighton’s fifth-round FA Cup win at St James’ Park earlier this month.
“[Ferguson] actually phoned me after the Newcastle goal,” Welbeck told Football Focus, as per BBC Sport.
“He talked about the goal and the performance.
“He was buzzing and to have that sort of connection, he is a manager who is always looking out for his players, always wants the best for them, and still to this day is in contact.”
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Brighton star Danny Welbeck names former Man Utd manager Sir Alex Ferguson as one of two major influences on him
Danny Welbeck’s spell at Premier League side Arsenal was disrupted by injuries after he left United and the Brighton star would leave the Gunners in 2019.
The former Three Lions star would sign for Watford in 2019 and he had a brief spell with the Hornets before he went on to sign for current side Brighton.
Welbeck said that former United manager Ferguson and legendary ex-Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger both played an important part in his life outside of football.
“Sir Alex Ferguson got success in his own way, Arsene Wenger had success in his way,” he added.
“There’s different ways to reach success. Them two managers played a huge part in my life, not just my career.”
Welbeck has made 27 appearances across all competitions for Brighton in the 2024-25 campaign and the former United talent has netted eight times for his side.