Two decades have passed since Wayne Rooney’s metatarsal injury captured the spotlight ahead of England’s 2006 World Cup campaign in Germany. The anticipation surrounding his recovery was palpable, with tense negotiations between club and country. Ultimately, Rooney was deemed fit to play—a decision that did little to alleviate Sir Alex Ferguson’s frustrations—as he joined Sven Goran Eriksson’s squad. Despite his efforts, England’s journey was cut short in the quarter-finals against Portugal, highlighted by Rooney’s infamous red card for a foul on Ricardo Carvalho in Gelsenkirchen.
Rumors swirled that the Rooney incident played a pivotal role in Ferguson’s decision to dismiss Manchester United’s club doctor, Mike Stone, just before the World Cup. But was this truly the case? For the first time, Dr. Stone shares the details of his fateful meeting with Ferguson at Carrington, where he was abruptly let go.
This revelation sheds light on the challenges faced by medical professionals in elite sports environments, reminiscent of Eva Caneiro’s high-profile disagreement with Jose Mourinho at Chelsea. The narrative raises important questions about the security and autonomy of doctors working under intense pressure in top-tier sports.
Reflecting on a day in late 2005, Dr. Stone recounts a seemingly casual encounter in the manager’s office. As he prepared to leave, Ferguson offhandedly remarked, “Oh and you should stop working at that institute.” Little did he know, this comment foreshadowed the end of his tenure at Manchester United.
Dr Mike Stone was Manchester United’s first full-time club doctor, and was there for the glory years – including being sprayed with champagne by Peter Schmeichel
Stone (third right) fell out with Ferguson over his work at the English Institute of Sport
One day towards the end of 2005, I was in the manager’s office for some other reason and as I was leaving he said in an off-hand manner: ‘Oh and you should stop working at that institute.’
I left the office without saying anything. I had been rather taken aback. Over the next couple of days I thought about this and rather naively came to the conclusion that as I was an employee of the club and not the manager, I would talk again to United’s chief executive David Gill. This I did and he reiterated that he could see the potential benefits to the club of me being exposed to ideas from lots of other sports and said that provided I kept a low profile and it didn’t interfere with club duties, I could continue.
Carlos Queiroz had rejoined the club as the assistant manager in 2004 and it would be fair to say that I did not get on well with him. The senior physiotherapist, Rob Swire, had a meeting with Carlos each morning to discuss who was available for training and those for whom training should be modified.
I was aware of these issues as a result of regular discussions with the physiotherapists and so did not see the point of attending these meetings. What did concern me was the fact that virtually all communication Carlos had with me was through Rob. Was I an important member of the team? Or someone who could be replaced at a moment’s notice regardless of my contract?
I had always got on with all the coaching staff at United and the fact that there was now a coach in post who I definitely did not get on with probably influenced my desire to continue at the English Institute for Sport. I had the club’s permission to continue so I did not discuss it further with the manager.
In retrospect, I definitely should have done. Knowing the influence the manager had at United, it should have registered with me that being employed by the club and not the manager would make absolutely no difference to him.
I continued doing my weekly session at the English Institute of Sport and at the end of the 2005-06 season, I was in my office making certain everything was up to date before going on holiday.
My phone went, it was the manager who asked if I could come to his office. He asked me to sit down, sat down opposite me and said: ‘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. Sort out with Mr Merrett (the club secretary) whether you are due anything.’
Stone tends to Park Ji-sung’s head wound on tour in Japan in 2005
‘I can’t have my staff disobeying my orders. I want you to clear your desk immediately and leave’
Carlos Queiroz (right) was the first coach I did not get on with at United, and his influence was growing
At that, he stood up and went back to sit behind his desk. I started to say something, and he said: ‘There is nothing to say, just leave.’
I walked back to my office in a state of shock. Before I even managed to sit down Wayne Rooney, who was recovering from his metatarsal fracture, came in asking for something. He was the first person to know I had just been sacked.
During the six-and-a-half years I worked full-time at the club I had been called on to provide individual medical advice for the manager in many ways, including visiting his home one Christmas morning to attend to one of his grandchildren. No mention was made of any of this. No ‘thank you for your work over the last 10 years’, no ‘thank you for your advice and support’, just: ‘I have been disobeyed, get out.’
I am fully aware of a number of other doctors working in elite sport who have been treated in a similar way. I would advise that any doctor taking up a position in elite sport makes certain they are employed by the club, that the terms and conditions of their employment have been agreed and are not left open ended. It will not guarantee job security, but it will help. The days of the all-powerful manager seem to have come to an end.
The statement eventually issued by the club was that there had been ‘a difference over a non-football and non-clinical issue as a result of which Dr Stone felt it was in the best interests of himself and the club for him to leave’. I had agreed that statement but I now wish I had insisted on the specific reason. It wouldn’t have made much difference but it would have made me feel better.
Following my dismissal, my eldest step-daughter Eloise sent this email to the club: ‘Those who matter know the truth as to why you sacked Dr Stone, Mr Ferguson. The Doc didn’t leave because he felt it was in “his and the club’s best interests” as your well-oiled press machine claimed earlier on the official Manchester United website – you sacked him. Not only have you taken away his job, you’ve taken away his passion for the club he’s followed all of his life and you’ve left him devastated.
‘You speak of loyalty to yourself and the club, don’t make me laugh. Loyalty is supporting you, your family and the staff and players at Manchester United over the last ten years. You should be utterly ashamed of yourself and judging by the support shown by players, staff, medical professionals and even fans from around the world over the last 24 hours, I’m not the only one who thinks so.’
I couldn’t have put it better myself. I was and still am very proud of her.
During six-and-a-half years at the club I had provided medical advice for Sir Alex in many ways, including visiting his home one Christmas morning to attend to one of his grandchildren
I had agreed my leaving statement but I now wish I had insisted on the specific reason. It wouldn’t have made much difference but it would have made me feel better
There was a great deal of speculation in the press that the reason I had been sacked was because of disagreements about Wayne’s fractured metatarsal. But this isn’t true
There was a great deal of speculation in the press that the reason I had been sacked was because of disagreements about Wayne’s fractured metatarsal. But this was a traumatic injury that had happened at the end of April in a game against Chelsea, weeks before the 2006 World Cup, not an overuse injury that had brought much notoriety to the metatarsal fracture.
He was making an excellent recovery and, in my opinion, should have been available for at least the knockout stages of the World Cup. In the days before scans it was the type of fracture that could easily have been missed on a simple X-ray.
At no time was my opinion on Wayne’s fitness for the World Cup mentioned as a cause for my sacking, apart from by the press. I do wonder though whether it may have contributed.
It was very surprising to find myself for a few days in the eye of the storm. Journalists ringing the doorbell and wanting my side of the story, offering to help write a book. I believe that when I opened the door to one of them dressed in my dressing gown I was likened to Hercule Poirot in an article that appeared the following day.
I received a great many phone calls and letters from both players, staff and supporters saying that they were very sorry to see me go. Occasional phone calls from ex-players asking for medical advice many years after I had left were always very much appreciated and I was very pleased to help.
I took appropriate legal advice, signed the compromise agreement and left the club. Diane Law, the press officer, and Kath Phipps, the long-serving receptionist, could have verified that there were tears in my eyes the last time I left Carrington.
When Becks got the boot
The worst injury I had to deal with while at United was the fracture dislocation of the ankle suffered by Alan Smith while playing at Anfield in 2006. His foot was pointing at 90 degrees to where it should have been and I remember Alan saying to me: ‘Why the f*** is my foot pointing to Hong Kong?’
Before trying to reduce the dislocation he was given analgesia, the fracture was immobilised, he was placed on the stretcher and we took him off the pitch. When we got him into the medical room, I could remove his boot and sock. Occasionally with these injuries the blood supply to the foot can be obstructed, but thankfully in Alan’s case his foot pulses were easily felt.
The worst injury I had to deal with while at United was the fracture dislocation of the ankle suffered by Alan Smith while playing at Anfield in 2006
The foot would not easily realign, so as the circulation was intact we took him to hospital without further attempts at realignment. As the injury had happened near the end of the match the police wanted us to wait until the crowds had dispersed. I declined this offer and said we should leave immediately.
Apart from the ambulance being sprayed with beer and having a few pint pots thrown at it while passing a pub close to the ground we made it to the hospital. The foot was realigned without problem and we returned to Manchester for his definitive treatment.
But one of the most minor injuries that I had to treat caused the most publicity. It was the infamous boot incident.
Tempers often flare in the dressing room after a poor result, and on this occasion Sir Alex was having a go at David Beckham after a 2-0 home FA Cup defeat by Arsenal. The manager kicked out at a boot (I imagine expecting it to fly across the floor) but instead it accidentally struck Becks just above his left eye. Little damage was done and he left the ground without any dressing over the small abrasion.
When he had got home I received a phone call from David’s wife Victoria saying the abrasion was still bleeding and would I please have another look. I went round to his house and closed the superficial damage with a couple of Steri-Strips.
Never have two Steri-Strips been photographed so avidly. The injury healed without problem.
Never have two Steri-Strips been photographed so avidly than when Sir Alex accidentally kicked a boot at David Beckham
Rio’s missed drugs test
‘To Da Doc, how the bloody hell did I forget!’ Rio Ferdinand wrote this on the front page of his autobiography when he kindly sent me a copy in November 2006, two years after the ban that cost him a place at Euro 2004.
I have no idea of the answer. It seemed a routine unannounced drug test – the testers arrived as usual at the training ground and Rio was one of the names picked. He came and signed the forms but went back to the changing room to have his shower.
He was reminded by me on a number of occasions not to forget his test. I probably should have told the security guards on the gate at Carrington not to let Rio leave without contacting me but I didn’t. I had no reason to believe he would miss his test. He did.
I tried to contact him by phone and when he eventually phoned me from Manchester the drug testers had just given up hope and left. They had waited around for almost two hours from the end of training. A further test was arranged a day or two later which he passed.
I had been asked by a lawyer to take him through exactly what happened, which I did, and the next I knew was that the club had requested a formal hearing with the FA, at the then-Reebok Stadium in Bolton.
The bare facts of the case were that Rio had missed his test. I was a witness at the hearing and brought up the point that he had not been chaperoned, but as at the time this was not compulsory within the regulations, I don’t think it was of much help. At times I almost felt that I was on trial.
I probably should have told the security guards on the gate at Carrington not to let Rio leave without contacting me but I didn’t. I had no reason to believe he would miss his test
In the event Rio was banned from football for eight months and fined £50,000. I wondered at the time, and still do today, what would have happened if the club had just accepted the facts, provided all the supporting evidence and character references they could muster.
Would the punishment have been as severe?
Ruud awakening
Ruud van Nistelrooy first arrived from PSV Eindhoven for a United medical in 2000 with a history of a recent injury to the medial collateral ligament (MCL) of his knee. Because of this, full examination of the knee was somewhat difficult but both United’s club surgeon Jonathan Noble and myself felt the knee was more unstable than would have been expected with just damage to the MCL.
An MRI scan was arranged and this suggested to the radiologist that Ruud’s anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) had also ruptured. The transfer was put on hold and I contacted the PSV doctor. He confirmed that the scan done in the Netherlands had been reported as only showing MCL damage and without hesitation agreed to bring these scans to Manchester for further discussion.
The difference of opinion persisted and following a number of discussions with the chief executive, members of the board and Ruud’s representatives, the transfer did not go ahead. There were comments in the press about Ruud refusing to have an arthroscopy. This was correct and in his situation I would not have had an arthroscopy either.
The advice he was being given by the PSV medical staff was that he had only damaged the MCL. That is what they believed and they did not recommend in their eyes an unnecessary operation. The only way to be 100 per cent sure of whether his cruciate was ruptured or not was to have an arthroscopy.
Ruud van Nistelrooy first arrived at United in 2000 for a medical, with a knee that I thought required further inspection
It took a year, but eventually Ferguson got the deal done for the Dutch poacher – and 150 United goals soon followed
Ruud went back to the Netherlands and within a week, during a rehabilitation training session, his knee gave way. PSV maintain that this was when his cruciate ruptured, but I think it was an incident waiting to happen because he had already ruptured it.
No matter who was right, his knee was successfully repaired. He returned to Manchester the following year and I drove him to Jonathan Noble’s house for the final examination to complete the medical.
I don’t think I have driven a more happy and relieved player back to Old Trafford to complete the formalities of his transfer. The rest is history.
Set in Stone is published by Empire Publications and on sale now at www.empire-uk.com and
