In a remarkable football revelation, former Arsenal striker Alan Smith has detailed the moment he turned down a personal transfer plea from the legendary Sir Alex Ferguson, choosing instead to join the Gunners.
The Fateful Phone Call During Coronation Street
The year was early 1987, and Alan Smith was a prolific young striker at Leicester City, where he had netted 84 goals since 1982. His form had attracted the attention of Manchester United's new manager, Ferguson, who had been in the Old Trafford hot seat for only a few months.
Smith vividly remembers being at his parents' house, watching the iconic ITV soap Coronation Street, when the phone rang in the hall. His mother answered and announced, 'Alan, it's Alex Ferguson on the phone for you.' Smith initially thought she had misheard the name.
Speaking on the Seaman Says podcast with former teammate David Seaman, Smith recounted the surreal moment. He explained that at the time, United were struggling, and Ferguson was not yet the iconic 'Sir Alex' of later years, though he was still a major figure as manager of Manchester United.
Choosing North London Over Manchester
In the hallway, Ferguson made his pitch, asking Smith to wait until the summer when his Leicester contract expired and he would be a free agent. However, Smith had already set his heart on a move to George Graham's Arsenal, who wanted to sign him on deadline day.
'I said, 'Mr Ferguson, I'm sorry but I've made up my mind, I want to join Arsenal,'' Smith revealed. The conversation was short, and after hanging up, the young striker was left wondering if he had made the right choice by rejecting the Manchester United manager.
His doubts were partly fuelled by United's subsequent struggles; the club went four or five years without winning a major trophy, and Ferguson came close to being sacked before his historic success.
A Decision Vindicated by Silverware
Smith's move to Arsenal was finalised in March 1987, though he was immediately loaned back to Leicester for the rest of the campaign. Any lingering regrets were soon erased by a glittering spell in North London.
He became a club hero, scoring in the legendary 1989 title-decider against Liverpool at Anfield, a match Arsenal won in stoppage time to end an 18-year championship drought. Smith was Arsenal's top scorer for four consecutive seasons and added further major honours.
His trophy haul with the Gunners included:
- Another First Division title in 1991
- The League Cup and FA Cup double in 1993
- The 1994 European Cup Winners' Cup, where he scored the winning goal against Parma
Smith retired in 1995 and, now aged 63, works as a respected co-commentator and pundit for Sky Sports.
For Sir Alex Ferguson, the failed transfer was a minor setback in a monumental career. He won his first trophy with United, the FA Cup, in 1990, and secured his first Premier League title in 1993. He would go on to become the most successful manager in English football history, claiming 13 league titles before his retirement.
