Revealed: How close Graeme Souness came to replacing Alex Ferguson at Manchester United

The history of England's two most successful clubs could've been so different.

Graeme Souness, who captained Liverpool to European Cup glory in 1984, almost became Manchester United manager in 1989, according to Simon Hughes, author of Men in White Suits. The book charts Liverpool during the 1990s, and features a chapter on Souness, who succeeded Kenny Dalglish as manager in 1991, and who's tenure is generally regarded as when the club's glory days came to an end. However, the chapter in Hughes' book, serialised on the Anfield Wrap, reveals that Souness was very close to not only taking charge of Liverpool's great rivals, but replacing the club's greatest ever manager.To put some context on the extract. Souness was managing, and experiencing great success, with Rangers at the time. While Ferguson had yet to taste significant success with United. Martin Edwards, the club's chief executive, had agreed a £10million sale of his stake to businessman Michael Knighton, who dressed in a full United kit, and performed keepie-uppies on the Old Trafford pitch on announcement of the deal. The sale would fall through, and Souness would join Liverpool, but things could've been very different.

"Had Michael Knighton completed his takeover of Manchester United in 1989, Souness would have replaced a then struggling Alex Ferguson. Knighton had agreed to buy Martin Edwards’ stake for £10million and appeared on the pitch at Old Trafford before a game dressed in a full United kit to publicise his proposed purchase. At a meeting in Edinburgh, Knighton discussed the project until the early hours of one morning with Murray, who planned to make a considerable investment in United. It was agreed that Souness should be United’s new manager and Walter Smith would earn promotion at Ibrox from his role as Souness’s assistant. Knighton’s acquisition, however, fell through when  (David) Murray (the Rangers chairman) had second thoughts."