Man Utd tried to replace icon with Villa star before Ferguson snub and drugs ban
Peter Schmeichel’s boots - or more accurately gloves - were certainly hard to fill for those that followed at Manchester United... as Mark Bosnich soon discovered.
The Australian had two spells at Old Trafford during his career. He initially arrived in Manchester in 1989 after moving over from his home country. Bosnich made just three appearances before subsequent moves to Sydney United and Aston Villa.
But he returned after impressing Sir Alex Ferguson while in the West Midlands, moving back to Old Trafford on a free transfer after legendary Dane Schmeichel called it a day. And Bosnich was in no doubt about returning.
Speaking in 2022, Bosnich revealed: “After one conversation with Sir Alex Ferguson, I was pretty certain I was going to re-join United in 1999/2000. I was watching when they then went on to win the Champions League – I was especially delighted for my best friend, Dwight Yorke – and I signed a few days later, meaning that we had an appearance in the Intercontinental Cup final to come before the end of 1999.
“When I joined, I definitely had a feeling of unfinished business with United. I’d been lucky enough to play three games for the club as a young player, but this time around I wanted to win trophies. United had just won the Treble, so where do you go from there? Well, you try to win it all again and become world champions too. There was so much for me to look forward to.
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“Coming back to United really did feel like coming home. We were still based at the Cliff for the first six months before we moved to Carrington, and I used to live five minutes’ walk away on Lower Broughton Road. It felt great to be back.”
Unfortunately, it did not work out for Bosnich. Despite helping the Red Devils to the 1999/2000 Premier League title, he did not convince before being replaced by Fabian Barthez.
Mark Bosnich was signed as a replacement for Peter Schmeichel (Getty Images)Who is Man United's worst ever signing? Share your thoughts in the comments below
Speaking about his time as a United player, Bosnich said: “It was very successful as was shown by winning two prestigious trophies in one year. I also had amazing experiences such as playing for the club in the Bernabeu as well as playing regularly at Old Trafford.
“Although, it was disappointing that it ended the way that it did. I should have played there for much longer but such is life. That is the way things work out sometimes.”
After just 18 months he moved to Premier League rivals Chelsea. His exit would be explosive. Upon making his switch to Stamford Bridge official, Bosnich penned a statement via his agent. He noticeably left Alex Ferguson out of his list of thanks.
"Mark is absolutely delighted to be joining Chelsea," said Bosnich's agent Steve Kutner. "They are a very successful club with ambitions that mirror Mark's own.
“At this time Mark does not wish to dwell on the past but only look towards a brighter future with Chelsea. Mark would like to thank the players, directors and supporters of Manchester United for the respect and friendship that they always showed him.”
Mark Bosnich made just seven appearances for Chelsea before failing a drugs test (Getty Images)Bosnich did not make a single appearance for Chelsea during his debut campaign, while he accumulated just seven outings during the next season.
In September 2002, Bosnich failed a drugs test for cocaine and he was banned from football for nine months. He was also forced to pay £10,000 to an FA commission.
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The ban saw Bosnich take a step back from the sport for around six years before eventually making a return in Australia with the Central Coast Mariners. Ferguson never became a fan after slamming the former goalkeeper as a “terrible professional” in his autobiography.
Bosnich eventually hung up his gloves in 2009 - to far less fanfare than the man he had been unable to replace.
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