Sir Alex Ferguson was known for his no-nonsense approach to management - but he also played cupid to help keep his Manchester United players on the straight and narrow.
The legendary United boss, who wasn't afraid to give David Beckham the hairdryer treatment or show Roy Keane the door, also took on the role of wingman, convincing his players' partners they were perfect husband material. He believed that tying the knot would help keep his players out of trouble.
It turns out that Ferguson was not purely focused on his squad's ability on the pitch but also on their skills to find the right partner. The 82-year-old was known for his ruthless streak when it came time to sell players, but consistency was also key for Ferguson, who relied on a core of key players for almost two decades.
The treble-winning boss worked some of his magic on the Class of '92, helping to mould the personal lives of players who would win dozens of trophies for the club. Speaking on their Greatest Eras podcast, United icons Nicky Butt and Paul Scholes recalled how Ferguson saw the 1994 FA Cup final as the perfect opportunity to strengthen their relationships.
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"He wanted us to settle down," Butt said. "When we took our girlfriends to the FA Cup final against Chelsea, he made a big fuss... and sat down with them. When you look back at it he just wanted us mired down, so we couldn't go out. Very clever."
Scholes agreed with his ex-teammat and remmaber how Fergie once tipped off his parents that he had been "out drinking too much", and nudged him towards buying a house in the suburbs to avoid any temptations that might hamper his career.
Incredibly, this isn't the first time former United players have revealed Sir Alex's curiosity about their romantic relationships. Paul Ince revealed the three questions that Ferguson would ask new signings, with the first being, 'Have you got a girlfriend?'
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If the answer was yes, the following two questions were, 'How long have you been with her?' and 'When will you get engaged?' While many other managers may not have adopted such a hands-on approach to their players' love lives, Ferguson's methods yielded unquestionable results, with the Scot guiding United to 13 Premier Leagues and two Champions League triumphs before retiring.
His matchmaking skills also proved fruitful off the pitch, with Scholes tying the knot with his childhood love Claire Froggatt in 1999. Considering United are currently struggling in 12th place after a disappointing start to the new season, perhaps Erik ten Hag should consider becoming a cupid-like figure for his squad.
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