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Man Utd doctor reveals truth of Ferguson sacking

Source: unwall.app

TL;DR

Dr Mike Stone recounts his decade as Manchester United's first full-time club doctor during the glory years under Sir Alex Ferguson.
Ferguson sacked him on the spot in 2006 for continuing side work at the English Institute of Sport despite being told to stop.
Stone denies the sacking stemmed from Wayne Rooney's metatarsal injury and shares insider stories on Beckham's boot and Ferdinand's drugs test.[[1]](https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-15700621/Manchester-United-club-doctor-Mike-Stone-Ferguson-Rooney-Beckham-Ferdinand.html)

The story at a glance

Dr Mike Stone, Manchester United's first full-time club doctor from the late 1990s to 2006, details his experiences in a Daily Mail article drawn from his autobiography Set in Stone. Key figures include Sir Alex Ferguson, who sacked him abruptly, Wayne Rooney, David Beckham, and Rio Ferdinand. The piece comes out 20 years after Rooney's 2006 World Cup metatarsal saga, amid ongoing interest in United's Ferguson era.[[1]](https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-15700621/Manchester-United-club-doctor-Mike-Stone-Ferguson-Rooney-Beckham-Ferdinand.html)

Key points

Stone served 10 years at United, covering the 1999 Treble and peak successes; he was sprayed with champagne by Peter Schmeichel during celebrations.[[1]](https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-15700621/Manchester-United-club-doctor-Mike-Stone-Ferguson-Rooney-Beckham-Ferdinand.html)
In late 2005, Ferguson casually told him to stop part-time work at the English Institute of Sport; Stone got approval from chief executive David Gill to continue quietly.[[1]](https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-15700621/Manchester-United-club-doctor-Mike-Stone-Ferguson-Rooney-Beckham-Ferdinand.html)
Tensions existed with assistant manager Carlos Queiroz, who communicated through physiotherapists rather than directly with Stone.[[1]](https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-15700621/Manchester-United-club-doctor-Mike-Stone-Ferguson-Rooney-Beckham-Ferdinand.html)
At season's end 2006, Ferguson summoned Stone, accused him of disobeying orders, and dismissed him immediately: "Clear your desk and leave."[[1]](https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-15700621/Manchester-United-club-doctor-Mike-Stone-Ferguson-Rooney-Beckham-Ferdinand.html)
Rooney, recovering from his April metatarsal break against Chelsea, was the first to learn of the sacking when Stone returned to his office in shock.[[1]](https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-15700621/Manchester-United-club-doctor-Mike-Stone-Ferguson-Rooney-Beckham-Ferdinand.html)
Stone says media wrongly blamed Rooney disputes; he believed Rooney fit for World Cup knockouts, and no such issue was raised in his dismissal.[[1]](https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-15700621/Manchester-United-club-doctor-Mike-Stone-Ferguson-Rooney-Beckham-Ferdinand.html)
The article teases details on Beckham's boot incident (2003) and Ferdinand's 2003 missed drugs test but focuses mainly on the sacking; club cited a "non-football, non-clinical" difference.[[1]](https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-15700621/Manchester-United-club-doctor-Mike-Stone-Ferguson-Rooney-Beckham-Ferdinand.html)

Details and context

Stone started as United's first full-time doctor around 1998-99, replacing part-time arrangements, during a time of dominance with multiple titles. He provided personal care, like treating Ferguson's grandchild on Christmas morning, showing close ties before the fallout.[[1]](https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-15700621/Manchester-United-club-doctor-Mike-Stone-Ferguson-Rooney-Beckham-Ferdinand.html)

Rooney broke his fourth metatarsal in a April 2006 match vs Chelsea, sparking club-vs-country tension; Stone oversaw rehab, but Ferguson and media later speculated it caused the sacking—Stone insists not, as Ferguson never mentioned it.[[1]](https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-15700621/Manchester-United-club-doctor-Mike-Stone-Ferguson-Rooney-Beckham-Ferdinand.html)[[2]](https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/international/rooney-doctor-sacked-after-dispute-with-ferguson-479420.html)

Ferdinand's 2003 drugs test miss led to an eight-month ban and Euro 2004 absence; Stone notes Ferdinand later dedicated his book to him humorously. Beckham's 2003 boot injury from Ferguson strained relations but happened earlier in Stone's tenure.[[1]](https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-15700621/Manchester-United-club-doctor-Mike-Stone-Ferguson-Rooney-Beckham-Ferdinand.html)

Stone's book critiques insecure roles for sports doctors, employed by clubs but vulnerable to managers like Ferguson; his stepdaughter publicly called out the club for lacking loyalty after his decade of service.[[1]](https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-15700621/Manchester-United-club-doctor-Mike-Stone-Ferguson-Rooney-Beckham-Ferdinand.html)

Key quotes

‘You have still been working at that institute, I told you not to, I can’t have my staff disobeying my orders. I want you to clear your desk immediately and leave.’ — Sir Alex Ferguson to Mike Stone.[[1]](https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-15700621/Manchester-United-club-doctor-Mike-Stone-Ferguson-Rooney-Beckham-Ferdinand.html)

"There is nothing to say, just leave." — Ferguson cutting off Stone's response.[[1]](https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-15700621/Manchester-United-club-doctor-Mike-Stone-Ferguson-Rooney-Beckham-Ferdinand.html)

"Those who matter know the truth as to why you sacked Dr Stone... You should be utterly ashamed of yourself." — Stone's stepdaughter Eloise in an email to the club.[[1]](https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-15700621/Manchester-United-club-doctor-Mike-Stone-Ferguson-Rooney-Beckham-Ferdinand.html)

Why it matters

This reveals the intense power dynamics under Ferguson at United, where even long-serving staff faced instant dismissal without thanks after years of loyalty.

Fans and ex-players get rare firsthand insight into medical handling of iconic incidents, plus warnings for doctors in elite sport about job insecurity.

Watch for book sales of Set in Stone or reactions from United figures, though Stone notes Ferguson's era of absolute control has ended.[[1]](https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-15700621/Manchester-United-club-doctor-Mike-Stone-Ferguson-Rooney-Beckham-Ferdinand.html)