Why Fergie was right - and still is about Southgate's lack of pedigree

SIR Alex Ferguson was so opposed to Gareth Southgate's first managerial appointment he said he was unqualified.

- SAMUEL LUCKHURST

Southgate is nearly 20 years older but still unqualified to occupy the seat in the home dugout at Old Trafford.

In 2006, Ferguson was a committee member of the League Managers' Association that lobbied for coaches to have their Uefa prolicence badge. Southgate lacked that qualification yet replaced Steve McClaren at Middlesbrough.

The majority of Premier League managers gathered at the Hilton on Deansgate to raise a glass to Ferguson to commemorate his 20th anniversary as United manager in November that year. Southgate was conspicuous by his absence.

"Managers and coaches should be completely qualified if we want to raise the standards of our game," Ferguson said. A month later, Ferguson branded Southgate 'naive' after he accused Cristiano Ronaldo of diving in United's 2-1 win at Boro.

"Gareth's very naive, of course," the league's oldest manager said about the league's youngest manager. "He's just a young manager. We'll have to give him a chance to settle in."

United won two more penalties against Middlesbrough that season in the FA Cup quarter-final.

Ronaldo was felled by Jonathan Woodgate in the replay and the Boro bench was up in arms again. Ronaldo converted and dedicated the winner to Southgate, catching his eye and making a yapping gesture as he jogged back for the restart.

Southgate dubbed it a 'dodgy penalty!

James Morrison made clearer contact with Ronaldo than Woodgate in his attempt to amputate him. He was expelled and Ferguson's assistant, the usually placid Carlos Queiroz, had to be restrained from confronting Middlesbrough staff.