Alex Ferguson 'red face' quip after title loss that led to 14-year feud with Gary McAllister

Sir Alex Ferguson returns to Pittodrie this week for the unveiling of a bronze statue in tribute to his phenomenal success at Aberdeen.

But former Scotland captain Gary McAllister revealed how a joke about his “red face” led to a long-held grudge by the managerial legend.

Ferguson’s fiery temper led to more than a few fallouts with his rivals - and even some of his own players - during an illustrious career.

And one-time Rangers No. 2 McAllister told how the Old Trafford great refused to speak to him for 14 years after an off-air jibe was picked up by the then Manchester United gaffer.

McAllister was part of the Leeds United side that pipped the Red Devils to the Premier League title 30 years ago.

The Scot spent six seasons at Elland Road and helped the Yorkshire side to title glory during an enthralling campaign in 1991/92.

Their status as champions was secured when United lost to bitter rivals Liverpool at Anfield in the penultimate game of the season.

Leeds had beaten Sheffield United 3-2 the previous day and after United’s defeat McAllister, Lee Chapman, Eric Cantona and David Batty celebrated with a TV crew invited.

However, McAllister was mic’d up and connected to the studio at Anfield and made a quip which Ferguson hard.

The current assistant to Steven Gerrard at Aston Villa explained: “I could hear everything which was going on in the studio.

"Liverpool win 2-0 and Leeds United win the league, we're p****d. After the game, we're watching the pictures coming across and the interviews after the game and I can hear in my ear the director saying 'Get to the tunnel, we've got Fergie’.

“Milliseconds later he's up on the TV and Fergie comes on. His face is bright red. His first comments, as you can expect, were,