Erik ten Hag is following in Sir Alex Ferguson and Jose Mourinho’s footsteps by making a defender his first signing for Manchester United…
It would appear that Manchester United are close to making their first signing for Ten Hag, with Tyrell Malacia set to arrive from Feyenoord. Ten Hag can only hope the full-back is more successful than most of his predecessors’ first recruits…
Ron Atkinson – Frank Stapleton
Upon taking over from Dave Sexton, Atkinson needed a new striker, with Joe Jordan heading for AC Milan and club record-signing Gary Birtles proving to be a massive dud.
So Atkinson turned to Republic of Ireland centre-forward Stapleton, who bagged 108 goals – including one in an FA Cup final against United – in 300 Arsenal appearances after being rejected for an apprenticeship at Old Trafford. The two clubs could not agree a fee so it went to tribunal, with United ordered to pay the Gunners £900,000.
Stapleton finished as United’s top scorer in his and Atkinson’s first season at the club – but the striker was not the most important signing of the campaign. Atkinson promised United’s board that Bryan Robson was “not even a gamble, it’s guaranteed” and their faith in paying a British record £1.5million to West Brom was repaid many times over.
Stapleton remained at Old Trafford throughout Atkinson’s reign, scoring 78 goals before before becoming one of the first to be culled by Sir Alex Ferguson. The new boss later wrote that he was shocked at how Stapleton had become “a shadow of his former self”, adding: “He had lost his mobility and he just didn’t look like he would ever score a goal.”
Johan Cruyff, though, took the then-31-year-old to Ajax to replace Marco van Basten. Tough gig.
Persdag van Ajax. Van links naar rechts: Jan Sørensen, Hennie Meijer , Johan Cruijff en Frank Stapleton. #ajax pic.twitter.com/clmpV3zUt9
— Lennart (@Lennart56) March 6, 2017
Sir Alex Ferguson – Viv Anderson
Fergie followed Big Ron’s lead by making his first signing an experienced international from Arsenal who had been rejected by United as a schoolboy.
After being looked over for an apprenticeship at Old Trafford, Anderson went to Nottingham Forest and won two European Cups under Brian Clough before becoming the first black player to represent England. From Forest he went to Arsenal, where George Graham was keen to renew the 30-year-old’s contract in 1987. But Robson called his England team-mate and told him…
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