Sir Alex Ferguson once gave Kieran Richardson his debut in order to bank him a £12,000 winner’s bonus.
The young midfielder was a talented young player with Manchester United and was given the chance to be a part of the first team squad on his 18th birthday when the Red Devils faced Olympiacos in the Champions League in October 2002.
While teenagers in the modern day boast lucrative contracts worth tens of thousands of pounds, the early noughties was a time when Richardson and any other talented youngster would need to prove themselves to before earning the big bucks.
But telling the brilliant story of Ferguson’s generosity, Richardson revealed how the notoriously stern Man United legend changed his life in the space of two minutes.
Speaking on the Broadtalks podcast, Richardson said: “I never signed a pro contract until late.
“I remember first going in as YTS (Youth Training Scheme) at 16 or 17 and I was on like £90 a week and the next year I doubled it and United wanted to give me a pro contract.
“I never wanted to sign it because me and my father always thought I don’t want to be a pro until I’m worthy of being a pro – I wasn’t a regular in the first team or anything like that.
“It’s weird how I used to think and all my other teammates signed their pros before me and it was weird because they were making £1000 or £2000 a week and I was on like £180 a week.
“I remember, I’ll never forget it, it was my 18th birthday and I was on the bench in the Champions League and the gaffer – Sir Alex Ferguson – knows that I’m the guy who hasn’t signed a pro.
“I swear down, it was extra time with two minutes to go and he said ‘Kieran, get on the pitch now – no warming up – ref, do the thing now, get him on’ because Fergie knew the bonuses that United were getting for winning the game.
“At the time I think we would get £12,000 a win and I’m the guy who is on £180 a week.
“I’m like ‘s***, get on quick’ and getting my clothes on and when I’m going past him to go on the pitch he was like ‘happy birthday son’ – bang, £12,000. Sick.
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“I remember that month when it came in and my wages had been so crap and I saw £12,000, Champions League bonus and I was like ‘get me down to the Trafford Centre and I’m buying some jeans and trainers.
“I was in the changing room after and thinking, ‘woah, there’s big dough coming in’ – it was such a nice touch, what a nice guy.”
After a hugely successful loan spell with West Brom, Richardson went on to make 81 appearances for Manchester United before leaving the club for Sunderland in 2007.
During his time at Old Trafford he also won eight senior England caps, scoring two goals.
