‘Disgrace’ - Sir Alex Ferguson Wanted Liverpool Star Booted Out of English Football

Not many would disagree with the notion that Sir Alex Ferguson is the greatest manager of all time. His legacy at Manchester United is unparalleled, with a trophy cabinet to back up his status.

Collecting 13 Premier League titles, the most out of any manager in the competition's history, along with two Champions League honours, the Scotsman built multiple squads that dominated both domestic football and on the continent. But over the course of his 27-year spell at Old Trafford, he clashed with several opposition players and managers.

One of those individuals was Luis Suarez. The Liverpool player, having been banned for racially abusing Patrice Evra during a 1-1 draw against United in October 2011, infuriated Ferguson in February the following year by snubbing the Frenchman when the two sides faced off once again.

Suarez's Evra Snub Left Ferguson Irate

Suarez was fined £40,000 and banned for eight matches for abusing Evra at Anfield. Having served his suspension, all eyes were on the pair when the two clubs played the return fixture at Old Trafford, but tensions boiled over before a ball was even kicked.

As the players lined up at the Theatre of Dreams and shook hands with one another, the cameras focused on Liverpool's number seven, who proceeded to snub Evra while walking down the line. The Frenchman then grabbed his opponent's wrist, but Suarez continued to ignore him.

The pair continued to clash throughout the game, with Stuart Downing detailing how players fought in the tunnel at half-time after Suarez angered the home support further by kicking a ball at the United bench. Wayne Rooney proceeded to score a brace to seal a 2-1 win for the hosts, but after Evra celebrated the win right next to Suarez, it all kicked off again.

Despite the victory on the day, though, United boss Ferguson was still seething with what had happened before kick off. He lambasted Suarez for his actions, stating that he shouldn't be allowed to play for Liverpool again.

"I just could not believe it - he’s a disgrace to Liverpool and they should get rid of him.

"I had a chat with Patrice in the morning and he said he was going to shake his [Suarez’s] hand because he had nothing to be ashamed of and wanted to keep his dignity. And then Suarez refuses. He is a disgrace to Liverpool football club and players like him should not be allowed to play for Liverpool again. The history that club has got, and he does that. And in a situation like today it could have caused a riot. I thought it was really disappointing."

Ferguson: Dalglish Defending Suarez Got Him Sacked

Despite Ferguson's ire, Liverpool boss Kenny Dalglish continued to defend Suarez. He stated that the Uruguayan should not have been banned after initially racially abusing Evra, and he also said that anyone who suggested the striker was at fault for what happened at Old Trafford was, "bang out of order."

Both Dalglish and Suarez were eventually forced to apologise for what happened in Manchester, but only after the club's owners had intervened. It was a sour note in what proved to be the Scotsman's final months as manager, as he was sacked in May that year after the Reds finished eighth in the league.

But Ferguson believed it was Dalglish's handling of the Suarez-Evra situation which ultimately got him fired, rather than the poor results. He said: "I wasn't surprised at Kenny leaving. Their owner John Henry has obviously looked at that [incident] and felt it wasn't handled in the right way.

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