Although Alan Brazil is well-known in football and on the radio, there was almost a violent altercation between him and one of his previous managers.
During their time together in East Anglia, Brazil and Robson developed a close bond. Regretfully, he did not agree with Ferguson’s style of management when he took over following Robson’s appointment as England manager in 1982.Alan Brazil talked candidly about a risky altercation he had with Bobby Ferguson, the former Ipswich Town manager.
The TalkSPORT radio broadcaster was a player for Tottenham and Manchester United, but he was most successful with the Tractor Boys. He played for Sir Bobby Robson’s team at Portman Road, which won the FA Cup in 1978 and the UEFA Cup in 1981.
“Then another time I was up the gymnasium, and we were arguing. And I said: ‘What’s wrong with you? You just hate me’. He said: ‘What’d you say?’
“And he was a Geordie, people thought because his name was Bobby Ferguson he was Scottish. But he wasn’t, he was a Geordie. And I ended up saying: ‘You’re a Jock with no brains,’ and that was it. He had a bag of about 20 keys on him.
“He threw it at me, and if he hit me, he’d have killed me. He’s ordered everyone out, picked the keys up, ran over, locked the gymnasium door.
Brazil was a member of Ferguson’s team for just one season, but it was enough time for fireworks to start. In an interview with the Formula for Success podcast, Brazil provided details about a heated argument between the two.
“What happened was Bobby Robson went off to do other things, and there was this new guy who came in [as Ipswich manager] called Bobby Ferguson, and we did not get on, okay,” recalled the 64-year-old.
He would come in and make fun of me a few times in the baths, which are these large shared tubs. Eventually, I simply said, ‘Come on, let’s have it.'” Then he would stand up and exhort them to “come on then, give it your all.”
“Like meerkats, little heads popped up to check who was going to see the battle as everyone hurried down the steps, around the corner, and up the other stairs to a viewing balcony. I had to leave since everything was in disarray.”
Brazil succeeded in eluding the illustrious coach and his keys. Then, in 1984, he would leave Portman Road to join Tottenham, and a year later, he would go again for United.
Brazil’s time at Old Trafford was ruined by a serious back injury that prevented him from progressing, even though they won the FA Cup in 1985. After that, he was abruptly sent to Coventry City as part of a 1986 trade that brought Terry Gibson to Old Trafford.
