Sir Alex Ferguson is a world-acclaimed super coach who has won many awards for self and his club, the Manchester United Football Club otherwise known as Man Utd. According to the findings of Daily Star, Ferguson sold 29-star players in his reign as the Coach of the Man Utd.
How have they fared ‘since Cristiano Ronaldo, Ravel Morrison and Ben Foster are amongst the diverse players sold?
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Sir Alex Ferguson didn’t get much wrong during his remarkable tenure at Manchester United.
He made some controversial decisions in the transfer market and was sometimes known to ruthlessly move on from players who had played a big role.
But, more often than not, the legendary Scot was proved right.
That’s certainly the case right until the end of his tenure when he sold no fewer than 30 players in his final four seasons in charge.
Whilst some have gone on to achieve success elsewhere, Ferguson largely seems to have got things right.
In the week which marked seven years since his retirement, here’s a look at how all those sold by Ferguson between 2009 and 2013 have fared since departing Old Trafford.
Sir Alex Ferguson sold Cristiano Ronaldo to Real Madrid for a world record fee in 2009.
Cristiano Ronaldo
In reality, Sir Alex Ferguson had little choice when it came to selling Cristiano Ronaldo to Real Madrid in 2009.
Having already become the best player in the world at Old Trafford, the Portuguese superstar decided it was time for a new challenge.
He netted the Red Devils a world record £80million as he headed for Real Madrid, allowing Ferguson to reinvest as he went on to establish himself as one of the greatest of all-time.
Lee Martin
Manchester United beat off plenty of competition to land Lee Martin as a youth prospect from Wimbledon.
He made a handful of first-team appearances in the League Cup and was on the bench for two Champions League group games in 2005/06.
But he failed to kick-on and, after a string of loan spells, the midfielder was allowed to join Ipswich for an undisclosed fee in 2009, where he went on to make over 100 league appearances.
The 33-year-old is still going at Exeter City.
Fraizer Campbell of Manchester United celebrates scoring their first goal with Anderson during the pre-season friendly match between Glentoran FC and Manchester United
Fraizer Campbell was allowed to leave Man Utd as a youngster.
Fraizer Campbell
Big things were expected of Fraizer Campbell but it never quite happened for him at Old Trafford.
Handed his Premier League debut in the Manchester derby in 2007, he impressed on loan at Royal Antwerp and Hull City.
But he flattered to deceive at Tottenham on loan, and Ferguson was ultimately vindicated in his decision to let him leave permanently for Sunderland for £3.5million in 2009.
He scored just six league goals in four years with the Black Cats and, after a relatively successful spell back at Hull he joined Huddersfield last summer.
Manucho
A classic left-field Ferguson signing, Manucho was tipped for big things when plucked from Angola in 2008.
He impressed Fergie on an initial trial but never made the grade in the first team, being sold to Real Valladolid for an undisclosed fee the following year.
He scored 19 times for the Spanish club and spent four years with Rayo Vallecano but his career now appears to be over after the 37-year-old left Cornella at the end of last season.
Manucho never delivered after being plucked from obscurity to join Man Utd
Danny Simpson
Once tipped as Gary Neville’s successor, Danny Simpson was another Manchester United youngster to spend time at sister club Royal Antwerp.
He played three Premier League games for United, making his debut in 2008, before being loaned to Newcastle United shortly afterwards.
The move worked out for both parties and Ferguson opted to sell for a fee of around £750,000.
Simpson played over 100 games for the Magpies and won the Premier League with Leicester City in 2015, now lining up alongside Fraizer Campbell at Huddersfield.
Ben Foster
Foster was spotted by Ferguson whilst on loan at Wrexham and playing alongside son Darren Ferguson back in 2005.
He played 12 Premier League games for the Red Devils and has now doubt developed into a top-class stopper, being a regular in the Premier League over the past decade including for Watford over the past two seasons.
Whilst he never quite made the grade at Old Trafford, being sold to Birmingham in 2010, the eight-cap England stopper has gone on to enjoy a fine career away from the club.
Ben Foster was plucked from Wrexham and been a Premier League star since leaving Man Utd
But, after a loan spell with Koln, he departed for CSKA Moscow for a fee believed to be in the region of £8million just a year later.
Whilst he has gone on to enjoy a good career in Russia and earned over 70 Serbia caps, Ferguson netted a tidy profit and is unlikely to have any regrets over letting the clearly talented winger depart.
Now 33, Tosic joined Chinese League One side Taizhou Yuanda from Partizan Belgrade earlier this year.
Craig Cathcart
Like many players on this list, Craig Cathcart has gone on to have a creditable career, even if not at United.
The defender never played a Premier League game for the Red Devils but won the Jimmy Murphy Young Player of the Year award in 2006/07 after his impressive youth team performances.
After a loan spell with Watford, he was signed permanently by Blackpool in 2010 and went on to play over 100 games before heading to Watford in 2014, where he remains a key player in the Premier League.
Rodrigo Possebon
Brazil-born Italian was another spotted by United by chance, recognised as the club followed up interest in Rafael and Fabio Da Silva in South America.
Possebon signed in January 2008 and soon made his Premier League debut as a substitute before being injured in a horror tackle by Emanuel Pogatetz in a League Cup game with Middlesborough.
After failing to kick-on and falling out of favour, he headed to Braga for an unsuccessful loan spell then returned to Brazil permanently with Santos in 2010.
His career has fizzled out, falling down the leagues and last playing for Vietnamese side Ho Chi Minh City, being released in February 2018 and left without a club since despite still being only 31.
James Chester
Centre-back James Chester made United’s bench in a couple of League Cup games before being sent on loan to the Football League.
After impressing at Carlisle, Hull City made an offer of around £300,000 for the Welshman which was accepted by United in 2011.
He played over 150 league games for the club before again hitting a century for Aston Villa, helping them back to the Premier League.
One of Wales’ Euro 2016 heroes, the 31-year-old is currently on loan at Stoke City.
Magnus Rolff Eikrem
Picked up from one of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s coaching schools in Norway, Eikrem was recommended to Manchester United as a youngster and flourished in their youth side.
But after failing to step up to the first-team, he was sold in 2011, heading back to Molde to play under future United boss Solskjaer.
After a brief Premier League spell under Solskjaer at Cardiff, failing to score a goal in nine games, he played for Malmo and Seattle Sounders before returning to Molde in 2018, where he is still playing, aged 29.
Cameron Stewart
Former England youth winger Cameron Stewart was allowed to join Hull City permanently after impressing on loan in 2011.
He spent four years at the club but failed to kick-on, spending time with Championship rivals Burnley, Blackburn, Charlton and Leeds on loan.
Still only 29, Steward has failed to fulfil his early promise and has been without a club since being released by Lincoln City at the end of the 2017/18 season.
Corry Evans
Another Manchester United youngster to find his way to Hull City via a loan spell, Corry Evans made his move to Humberside permanent in 2011.
He played 75 league games over the next two seasons before joining Blackburn.
The former Manchester United man, nominated by then-coach Ole Gunnar Solskjaer for the Reserve Player of the Year award in 2008/09, has played 180 games for the Ewood Park club and has earned 59 Northern Ireland caps.
Joe Dudgeon
Where did Dudgeon end up after leaving United? You guessed it, Hull City.
The defender played 33 games after signed for an undisclosed fee but was loaned to Barnsley after falling out of favour when he came back from a serious knee injury.
Like Stewart, he has dropped out of the game and been without a club since his Hull contract ended back in 2015.
Nicky Ajose
Former youth star Nicky Ajose has carved out a creditable career in the lower leagues.
He impressed on loan at local club Bury when still on the books at United, earning a permanent move to Peterborough, with Darren Ferguson buying Ajose from his dad in a £300,000 move in 2011.
The journeyman enjoyed his best spell at Swindon Town, scoring 24 goals in their 2015/16 season and is currently at Exeter City.
Wes Brown
After playing over 200 games for United, Sir Alex Ferguson decided it was time for Wes Brown to move on in 2011.
In hindsight, the timing was right. He joined Sunderland, playing 76 Premier League games in five years during a tough spell for the Black Cats.
After brief spells with Blackburn and Kerala Blasters, the former England defender called time on his career in 2018.
John O’Shea
Like Wes Brown, experienced Irishman John O’Shea was a victim of Ferguson’s 2011 clear. out.
He also went to Sunderland, playing over 200 games and becoming club captain but being present for their fall from the Premier League to League One.
After their fall from grace, he spent a year at Reading where he played just nine Championship games before announcing his retirement in 2019.
Gabriel Obertan
Another player expected to achieve big things, Gabriel Obertan failed to deliver on his initial promise at Old Trafford.
Signed from Bordeaux, the French winger failed to score in 14 Premier League games and Sir Alex Ferguson opted to sell him on after just two years in 2011.
Gabriel Obertan in action as manager Steve McClaren looks on Gabriel Obertan failed to impress after his Man Utd departure.
Whilst some felt he acted too hastily, he was ultimately proved right. Obertan spent five years at Newcastle without ever becoming a star, and he is now at Turkish club BB Erurumspor.
Darron Gibson
After earning the trust of Ferguson early in his United career, Darron Gibson fell out of favour.
In January 2012, he was sold on to Everton, where he played 51 Premier League games in five years.
Spells with Everton, Sunderland and Wigan followed whilst the Irish midifelder, now 32, signed for Salford City in February having been left without a club.
Danny Drinkwater
Danny Drinkwater never managed a first-team appearance for Manchester United before being sold to Leicester in January 2012 for an undisclosed fee.
He helped transform the Foxes, rising into the Premier League and becoming a shock title winner with the club alongside fellow former United youngster Danny Simpson.
Danny Drinkwater can still save Premier League career – he just needs time and patience
His career has unravelled in recent years since his ill-fated Chelsea move and having failed to make much of an impact during his loan at Aston Villa he is hopeful of being able to regroup when football resumes.
Mame Biram Diouf
Factor Mame Biram Diouf under the ‘projects’ category of Sir Alex Ferguson signings.
Snapped up after a prolific run for Molde, he headed back to Norway on loan immediately after signing before getting his chance for the Red Devils.
He scored once in five Premier League games but did not impress on loan at Blackburn.
With Ferguson deciding he wasn’t up to scratch, he was sold to Hannover in January 2012 in search of regular first-team football.
He returned to the Premier League with Stoke City in 2014, where he is still playing in the Championship.
Ravel Morrison
The hype around Ravel Morrison was huge Rio Ferdinand revealed Sir Alex Ferguson had pinpointed him as one of the best talents he had ever seen when he was just 14.
Morrison made cup appearances for United but never featured in a Premier League game as he failed to fulfil his potential.
Ravel Morrison impressed with the Manchester United youth team but never made a Premier League appearance for the Red Devils
Ravel Morrison was tipped for stardom as a Man Utd youngster
His ability was clear on occasions as he was sold to West Ham for an undisclosed fee in 2012, and there must have been times Ferguson feared he had sold the youngster too soon.
But he has so far failed to settle at any club, joining Middlesbrough on loan from Sheffield United in January as the 27-year-old looks to unlock his ability before it is too late.
Ritchie De Laet
Signed from Stoke in 2009 before ever making a first-team appearance, Ritchie De Laet was named United’s Reserve Player of the Year in 2009/10.
He played three Premier League games and impressed on a number of loan spells but Ferguson ultimately decided he did not have a future at the club in 2012.
Like Drinkwater, he was purchased by Leicester City, helping guide them back to the Premier League before being displaced by ex-United youth prospect Danny Simpson.
A loan spell at Middlesbrough went he achieved the unique feat of winning the Premier League and promotion to the top flight in 2015.
After a tough stint at Aston Villa, he is now back at Royal Antwerp, where he started his career.
Ritchie De Laet never made the grade at Man Utd but has had a solid career.
Matty James
Matty James followed Ritchie De Laet to Leicester in a double transfer for an undisclosed fee in 2012.
The duo made their debuts alongside Jamie Vardy and they helped the club gain promotion.
James missed all of Leicester’s title-winning season with a serious knee injury, but he remains at the club having spent 2017 on loan at Barnsley and worked back to fitness.
Oliver Norwood
Seven years after leaving Manchester United without ever playing a Premier League game, Oliver Norwood is making an impact in the top flight.
Norwood was sold to Huddersfield in 2012 after rejecting a new contract at United in order to play first-team football.
He has built up his experience and also played over 50 times for Northern Ireland and is now a key figure for Sheffield United after helping them earn promotion last year.
Park Ji-sung
Unsung hero Park Ji-sung was part of some of United’s greatest ever teams.
But his time was up at the end of the 2012 season as the ageing South Korean was sold to QPR and instantly made club captain.
Ferguson sold Park Ji-sung to Man Utd shortly before his retirement
He failed to score in 20 games and was loaned to PSV Eindhoven, the club from whom he joined United in 2005.
Problems with knee injuries saw him call time on his career in 2014, and he has returned to United as a global ambassador.
Dimitar Berbatov
Like Park Ji-sung, Dimitar Berbatov’s best days were behind him when he left Manchester United for west London in 2012.
Unlike his former team-mate down the road at QPR, Berbatov made an impact at Fulham, scoring 19 Premier League goals in 51 games.
He joined Monaco in 2014, playing alongside a young Anthony Martial and recommending him to United.
After spells with Panathinaikos and Kerala Blasters, he retired in 2018 after a memorable career.
Joshua King
Norwegian striker Joshua King almost headed back to Manchester United in January – seven years after he left.
King was linked with a late move to solve their striker crisis before the arrival of Odion Ighalo.
After years as a reserve team regular and several loan spells, Ferguson finally opted to sell King to Blackburn Rovers in January 2013.
Bournemouth striker Josh King was offloaded by United in 2013
He struggled at Ewood Park and joined Bournemouth in 2015, where he has flourished with 46 league goals in 154 games.
Back in 2015, he scored the winner against United and later claimed Sir Alex Ferguson never spoke to him during his time at the club.
Robbie Brady
Having been highly-rated as a youngster, Robbie Brady featured just once for Sir Alex Ferguson in the United first-team.
He was sold permanently to Hull City after two loan spells in January 2013, shortly before Ferguson’s retirement.
He has gone on to play 46 times for the Republic of Ireland and play for Norwich City and Burnley, where he remains under Sean Dyche.y
Culled From Daily Star
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