SIR ALEX FERGUSON SENT DARREN FLETCHER WARNING BEFORE TAKING MAN UTD JOB

Darren Fletcher will get the chance to manage Manchester United in Wednesday's clash with Burnley, having learned from one of the very best in Sir Alex Ferguson

Darren Fletcher played 342 games under Sir Alex Ferguson(Image: Clint Hughes/Getty Images)

Wednesday will see Darren Fletcher become the fifth player from the school of Sir Alex Ferguson to manage Manchester United for at least one game. Fletcher, 41, has been installed as the club's interim manager following the sacking of Ruben Amorim on Monday.

The former United midfielder, who came through their academy before making 342 appearances for the first-team, will lead the Red Devils in their trip to Burnley, joined by ex-team-mate Jonny Evans as part of his coaching staff. Fletcher has no experience of first-team management but he's been learning his trade in the world of coaching over the past few years.

In July, the Scot was appointed as head coach of United's under-18 side. Fletcher previously worked in assistant roles under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Erik ten Hag, and became the club's first ever technical director in 2021.

Having been diagnosed with a chronic bowel disease in 2011 and been forced to stop playing temporarily, the five-time Premier League winner delved into coaching. A decade and a half later and he'll be on the touchline as United's interim boss.

Fletcher joins Solskjaer, Ryan Giggs, Michael Carrick and Ruud van Nistelrooy as those to have played under Ferguson and gone on to stand where he did for the best part of 27 years. But not everyone is cut out for management in the long term, Ferguson has warned.

In 2017, the legendary former United manager spoke to West Bromwich Albion about Fletcher's prospects as a coach. "I think his long-term position will be as a coach," Ferguson explained.

"Maybe even management. He's got the presence, he's got the sacrifice. When you become a manager, Martin (interviewer), it's a sacrifice.

"You give up your family life, which I did. I scouted my own players, I went to games every week - midweek and everywhere. That's the kind of sacrifice and you need to have the type of wife who understands that."

Sir Alex Ferguson warned Darren Fletcher about the sacrifices of being a manager(Image: Shirlaine Forrest/Getty Images)

While coaching at youth level brings its own pressures, nothing compares to a top job, especially at Old Trafford. Still, managing United is Fletcher's dream job.

"When I take my first steps on the management ladder, the goal is to become Manchester United manager because that's the pinnacle for me," he told the UTD Podcast in 2019. "Nothing tops that, nothing's bigger."

The road to becoming United's full-time manager may well start at Turf Moor. Currently, Fletcher is also expected to be remain in charge for Sunday's FA Cup tie at home to Brighton.

- Nathan Ridley