Hairdryer treatment! Man Utd & England star Ella Toone explains why she was told off by legendary former Red Devils boss Sir Alex Ferguson

The Red Devils icon delivered 13 Premier League titles and a couple of Champions League crowns during his reign at Old Trafford, before heading into retirement back in 2013. Since then, Ferguson can often be seen filling a seat in the stands.

He has mellowed slightly since walking away from the dugout, but will always be a demanding character that expects those around him to toe the line. Toone – who is now a talismanic presence for England and United’s women’s team – has found that out to her cost in the past.

Toone, who is a passionate United supporter, has told The Tooney and Russo Show of her interactions with a childhood hero: “I’ve met Alex Ferguson now a few times. Every time I speak to him, I’m just in awe. I grew up watching his Manchester United team. He won everything and was just what made my fall in love with Manchester United as a club. To now have times where I’ve sat next to him at games, I’ve spoken to him a few times, and I’m just like ‘wow, you are an amazing man’. He actually came in and spoke to us before we played Arsenal at the Emirates. We were all sat there like this (mouth open). Then I went to one of the games and actually was sat in front of him. He was talking to me and then I came back out for the second-half and I was a couple of minutes late and he was like ‘you’re late Mrs Toone!’ I was like ‘I’m sorry!’ He’s such a nice person and someone who every time he speaks, you just want to listen to every word that he has to say.”

Toone, who previously turned out for United’s arch-rivals Manchester City, now has a major honour to her name with the Red Devils after opening the scoring in spectacular style during the Red Devils’ 2024 FA Cup final win over Tottenham.