Former Man Utd coach reveals Sir Alex Ferguson’s two targets instead of David de Gea | Football
TL;DR – Two-minute read
In October 2011, Sir Alex Ferguson selected David de Gea as Manchester United’s new goalkeeper, opting for him over Hugo Lloris and Manuel Neuer, according to former goalkeeping coach Eric Steele. The £18.9 million transfer from Atletico Madrid marked De Gea as the second most expensive goalkeeper at the time, succeeding Edwin van der Sar.
David de Gea was chosen by Sir Alex Ferguson to replace Edwin van der Sar at Manchester United in 2011, according to former goalkeeping coach Eric Steele. This decision, confirmed during an appearance on the Talk of the Devils podcast, was significant as it marked a pivotal moment in the club’s goalkeeping history. De Gea was signed for £18.9 million from Atletico Madrid, making him the second most expensive goalkeeper at that time.
Eric Steele stated that he scouted several goalkeepers, including Hugo Lloris and Manuel Neuer, before Ferguson ultimately trusted his judgement on De Gea. Steele had observed the Spanish goalkeeper live 17 times, which influenced Ferguson’s decision. De Gea went on to make 545 appearances for the club before departing in 2023.
Steele shared his experiences while scouting, recalling a match at Anfield where De Gea’s impressive foot save convinced him of the young goalkeeper’s potential. “I turned to Ray Clemence and said, ‘I’ve seen enough,’” Steele remarked. He noted that Ferguson acknowledged his earlier challenges with selecting goalkeepers, expressing his confidence in Steele’s recommendation.