WAYNE ROONEY made a huge gaffe when he rang Sir Alex Ferguson for the first time – despite being warned!.
Ex-Manchester United sports therapist Rod Thornley revealed the then-teen sensation's uncool call ahead of his move from Everton in 2004.
Rooney went on to become a Red Devils' legend, winning the Champions League and five Prem titles as their 253-goal record scorer.
But Thornley has now explained how the future England skipper briefly got on the wrong side of all-time great manager Fergie's wrong side.
He was with Rooney on Three Lions' duty when the saga unfolded.
Thornley told Fore Four 2: "He [Rooney] said to me 'If I'm going to call your boss, what do I call him?'
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"I went 'what, do you mean Sir Alex? He's my boss so I'd call him boss but you'd call him Sir Alex because you don't really know him. Are you going to ring him? Are you coming to us?'
"He said 'well, what do you think? – I'm going to ring your boss'.
"I said 'right, well, just call him 'Sir Alex'.
" And I'm buzzing now because my mate's going to come and sign for us. I'm thinking 'aww brilliant'.
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"So he gets his phone out there and then whilst he's away with England…. 'Alright, Alex, it's Wayne'.
Thornley knew Fergie's mood could become something like a dark knight if he wasn't fully respected.
He explained: "I know Sir Alex and he doesn't like to be called Alex, he likes to be called 'Sir Alex'.
" I've seen him many a time say to someone who's gone 'Alex, can you sign this for someone' and he'd go 'did I go to school with you? It's Sir Alex to you'.
"That's what he was like Sir Alex."
But of course not many players have made it up better to Fergie than Rooney.
He spent 13 heady years at Old Trafford before returning to Everton in 2017.
And he's never recaptured the pomp of his peak United years – either on the pitch or in the dug-out.
After a brief spell with DC United Rooney was Derby player-boss for two years.
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And since returning to DC as manager in July 2022 he's had a mixed time.
Perhaps he should call Sir Alex for help.
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