Mike Dean snubs Man Utd legend Sir Alex Ferguson for most intimidating manager

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Mike Dean has sensationally snubbed Manchester United legend Sir Alex Ferguson when naming the most intimidating manager throughout his time in the Premier League.

The vociferous Scotsman, 80, was known as a nightmare for officials during his tenure at Old Trafford due to his belligerent nature on the touchline. Constantly appealing every decision, 'Fergie Time' was a concept brought about due to a referee supposedly needing a Man Utd goal to avoid the hairdryer treatment themselves.

Dean though, who is hanging up his boots after 22-years as a Premier League, has named another as his most intimidating manager when speaking to BBC Sport. The Wirral whistler-blower acknowledged retired Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger as the man he most feared in the dugout.

When asked who the most intimidating manager was, Dean replied: "It has to be Arsene [Wenger] when he was at Arsenal. I always found it tough, not refereeing Arsenal in general but refereeing Arsenal when he was the manager.

"It was just his presence – he wanted the best for Arsenal all the time and if he could get any way of getting one over you he would do. Since he has finished football I have seen him and he has been great. Cross the white line and everyone is different, like referees. We are normal people."

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One of the Premier League's most iconic referees due to his no-nonsense approach and hysterical expressionist style, Dean is well-recognised as a marmite figure for football fans. The 53-year-old is rumoured to be taking a lead as a VAR official upon retirement, though there are also reports of him entering the jungle as an I'm a Celebrity contestant.

Having already tamed a few on the touchline, Dean should have no problem with creepy crawlies and snakes. But the retiring referee regards Sir Alex as a teddy bear in comparison to Wenger.

Dean added: "He [Ferguson] used to get a lot of stick saying he'd come in and bang the door down. He would come in now and then to express his views if something had gone really badly, but he wasn't as bad as people made him out to be."

• Premier League
• Sir Alex Ferguson
• Manchester United FC

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