Transfer Tales: Ferguson’s first signing

Transfer Tales: Ferguson’s first signing

Viv Anderson is recognised as Sir Alex Ferguson’s first signing as Manchester United manager.

The defender joined the Reds in the summer of 1987, following the Scot’s appointment in the previous November.

While a deal to buy Brian McClair from Celtic had also been struck around the same time, a tribunal was required to fix the fee for the Scotland striker and finalise the transfer.

Anderson was a player with vast experience, winning the Division One title and two European Cups with Nottingham Forest.

Viv Anderson was an engaging guest on the UTD Podcast.

Now with Arsenal, he had shown remarkable character to rise to the top of the game.

Famously, the first black England international, he had also bounced back from leaving United as a schoolboy to resume his studies, so perhaps this was a case of unfinished business at the age of 30.

Like McClair, a tribunal would set the amount United had to pay the Gunners for his services, deciding on £250,000 for the right-back.

Anderson’s big personality and reputation as a tough competitor who had been around the block appealed to Ferguson.

The seasoned campaigner had always been a United fan and was desperate to force the move through, after his contract expired at Highbury.

Ferguson had noted Anderson’s impeccable appearance record and the fact he was rarely injured, despite him reaching his thirties.

“I had a chance to stay at Arsenal,” Anderson told the UTD Podcast. “I had a contract but he [Ferguson] convinced me when I went up to see him that he was driven and he wanted to make United great again, so I wanted to be part of that.

“So the driving force behind it was always him – and Kathy Phipps at the desk as you come in! She was fantastic. So she convinced me, as well as Sir Alex, that it was the right move for me.”

Former Red George Graham was in charge of the north Londoners and did not want the defender to leave but was powerless in the end, with Anderson heading north to realise a long-held ambition.

An older head would clearly prove valuable in defence and ousted John Sivebaek, the opening scorer of the Ferguson era, from the starting line-up.

A regular in his first season, Anderson later emerged as an option in the centre of defence before leaving for Sheffield Wednesday in 1991, on a free transfer. He was haunting his former club, a couple of years later, with an inspirational display at Old Trafford, until Steve Bruce’s late headers turned around a one-goal deficit and propelled United towards our first title since 1967.

Yet Viv rightly remained hugely popular within the club and worked for MUTV after retiring.

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