- Sir Alex Ferguson has mentored fellow Scot Dougie Freedman over recent years
- The pair were spotted leaving exclusive private members club Oswald’s together
- Plymouth job will be the one that makes or breaks Wayne Rooney’s managerial career – Listen to the It’s All Kicking Off podcast
Sir Alex Ferguson was spotted at swanky private members club Oswald’s in Mayfair on Friday night.
Legendary Man United manager Ferguson was back in London a week after watching on at Wembley as the Red Devils won the FA Cup by beating Man City 2-1.
The 82-year-old, who is expected to be at the national stadium again on Saturday for the Champions League final between Borussia Dortmund and Real Madrid, was pictured leaving the venue which is one of the most exclusive private members club in the capital.
Oswald’s, which has no social media presence, has seen celebrities and royalty such as Prince William, Beyonce, Victoria Beckham, Boris Johnson, Amber Heard and Prince Albert II of Monaco visit in recent years.
One article in The Times even described it as: ‘A private dining club that has become one of the capital’s most exclusive havens for senior members of the government, deep-pocketed donors, stars of show business looking to party privately, and members of the royal family.’
Ferguson stopped to pose for photos and sign autographs for fans, before he headed into a car as he departed the area.
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Perhaps surprisingly, Dougie Freedman was pictured alongside Ferguson as he left the venue, although the Crystal Palace sporting director is believed to have a strong relationship with his fellow Scot.
Mail Sport previously reported how Freedman has been mentored for many years by Ferguson.
The pair first met when Freedman’s Crystal Palace upset United in the League Cup at Old Trafford in 2011, and they became neighbours and friends the following year when he moved north to manage Bolton.
Freedman was hugely respectful, always referring to him as Mr Ferguson in the way Scots usually call their seniors out of respect, but the one time he politely rejected Fergie’s advice has worked out in his favour.
In 2017, having lost his jobs at financially-stricken Bolton and Nottingham Forest, Freedman found himself canvassed by Hearts to be their manager, only to a receive a counter-offer from Palace chairman Steve Parish to become their sporting director.
Fergie urged the younger man not to be dismissive of Hearts – ‘it’s a big club’ – but Freedman opted for a shift in career and headed south.
So well has he done recruiting the likes of Marc Guehi, Michael Olise, Adam Wharton and Eberechi Eze, that he has been a man in demand over recent times.
He was strongly linked with a move to United as they continue to reshape their technical structure under Sir Jim Ratcliffe, while he was a leading contender to replace Dan Ashworth as sporting director at Newcastle.
However, the 50-year-old snubbed interest from Eddie Howe’s side, as he instead signed a new contract at Crystal Palace, who finished the campaign in fine form and have high hopes for next season.