David O'Leary has disclosed that he was under consideration to become Manchester United manager after receiving Sir Alex Ferguson's endorsement. Ferguson declared his intention to step down at the conclusion of the 2001/02 campaign, sparking the hunt for a replacement. O'Leary was making a significant impact at fierce rivals Leeds United at the time, guiding the club to the Champions League semi-finals in 2001 following a third-place finish in the Premier League the previous year.
Ferguson's Shortlist
When Ferguson was consulted about a potential successor, the Scot put forward O'Leary, who had taken over from George Graham at Elland Road in 1998, alongside two other candidates. Speaking on The Overlap's Stick to Football, O'Leary confirmed the approach: "Michael Kennedy [his solicitor] did, yeah, [hear] about it. Alex had recommended about three people or something like that. It never went any further than that. One of the chosen ones, yeah."
Retirement Reversal
O'Leary and the other 'chosen ones' never received their opportunity after Ferguson reversed his decision, resulting in him staying in charge for a further 11 years. Ferguson has since acknowledged that announcing his retirement was an error. He stated: "The biggest mistake I made was announcing it at the start of the season. I think a lot of them had put their tools away. They thought, 'Oh, the manager's leaving.' But when I changed my mind in the January, I started thinking about United again and how we could get back on top."
At that point, chief executive Peter Kenyon had been overwhelmed by agents representing some of the globe's most sought-after managers, all eager to seize the chance of succeeding Ferguson. England boss Sven-Goran Eriksson later claimed he had secretly signed a contract to become United manager following the 2002 World Cup finals.
O'Leary's Career After United
Meanwhile, O'Leary was dismissed by Leeds in 2002, before the club plunged into a period of financial chaos. At the time, rumours circulated that his relationship with the club had soured over the proposed transfer of Rio Ferdinand to United. Now, 24 years on, Ferguson has not been consulted regarding the current managerial situation at Old Trafford, though he is believed to be supportive of the anticipated appointment of Michael Carrick, who has made a strong impression as interim boss since taking the reins in January.
