Sir Alex Ferguson is infamous for giving the “hair dryer treatment” to his players over his many storied and accomplished years at Manchester United. The hair dryer treatment is reknowned as the epitome of tough love, hard-line leadership in the football world.
Although it would inevitably make you better in the long run, it was something that you definitely did not want to be on the receiving end of.
United Captain Wayne Rooney wrote in his book that there was nothing worse than receiving it.
However, Sir Alex Ferguson is quoted in The Sun at the World Business Forum in Milan as saying that much of the legend and mythology surrounding the “hair dryer treatment” is very overblown:
“There was a lot of myth about it. It happened about half a dozen times in 27 years and the players will tell you that.”
“The problem for me was if a player answered me back, I headed towards them. That was my problem.”
“[Former Celtic and Scotland boss] Jock Stein always said to me, ‘Leave it until Monday to talk to them,’ but I said I couldn’t wait until Monday. So, on a Saturday after the game, I told them exactly how I felt, because we had trained at a level all week that I expected to win every game.”
“I told them exactly the truth and the truth works. All the players understood that and it was never held against me. Then the next day it is pushed aside and I’m prepared to win again. I never ruled by fear.”
“Name a Manchester United team that played with fear. My job was to get a positive attitude into that team, for them to express themselves, never give in and enjoy playing for the club. That is sacrosanct.”
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net, partnered with FOX Sports Engage Network. and News Now. Banks, a former writer for the Washington Times, currently contributes regularly to the Chicago Tribune’s RedEye publication and Bold Global.
He also consistently appears on numerous radio and television talk shows all across the country. Follow him on Twitter and Instagram and Sound Cloud.