Hearts manager Derek McInnes receives valuable guidance from Manchester United legend Alex Ferguson as the team pursues a historic Scottish Premiership title.
Longstanding Friendship Fuels Mentorship
McInnes forged a friendship with Ferguson, who retired as United manager in 2013, during his playing days at Rangers under Walter Smith in the 1990s. The duo maintains regular contact, and the 84-year-old Ferguson plans to attend Hearts’ upcoming match against Aberdeen on Saturday. This visit comes as the leaders aim to edge closer to their first league crown since 1960.
McInnes stands on the brink of becoming the first manager outside Celtic or Rangers to secure the title since Ferguson achieved the feat with Aberdeen in 1985.
Current League Standings
Hearts hold a four-point lead over second-placed Rangers and sit six points ahead of third-placed Celtic, who have one game in hand.
Ferguson’s Insights and Support
“I spoke to him again today, actually. He’s coming to our game on Saturday, so I’m looking forward to catching up with him,” McInnes shared. “He knows my players, he’s well aware of who’s who, and some of them still can’t get their head around that when I tell them.”
McInnes cherishes access to Ferguson’s expertise, drawn from a career that includes 13 Premier League titles and two Champions League triumphs at United. “He’s good to give you little pointers and little nuggets of experience that he had in run-ins and things like that, so he’s been good as gold,” McInnes noted.
“Every conversation I have with him I feel privileged and I always get something from it because he’s lived it. He’s done title wins and these sort of situations when there’s a lot of high pressure. There’s so much that he says is valid and worthwhile. It’s nice that he’s reached out to me and been speaking a lot recently.”
When asked if Ferguson supports Hearts in breaking the Old Firm dominance, McInnes replied: “I’m pretty sure that is the case!”
