Rio Ferdinand recently shared an amusing but cautionary tale about former Manchester United defender Wes Brown, describing him as a “funny drinker” whose antics occasionally crossed the line.
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During a Christmas party in the Sir Alex Ferguson era, Brown drank so much that he ended up being carried out before midnight—a moment he’d likely prefer to forget.
Brown, who played 362 matches for United between 1996 and 2011, contributed to the club’s success during a golden era, winning seven Premier League titles, two Champions League trophies, two FA Cups, and two League Cups.
However, his off-pitch antics at team events became legendary for all the wrong reasons.
Speaking on his podcast, Ferdinand said, “Wes was carried out at our Christmas do after drinking all day. I’ll never forget it.
He was trying to get Roy Keane to drink, but Roy wasn’t having it and warned him to stop. Wes had to be told to back off.”
Former teammate Owen Hargreaves echoed the sentiment, explaining the challenges footballers face with alcohol.
“Most of us couldn’t really drink. With games every three days, there’s no time for it,” he said.
Brown wasn’t the only United player to face Ferguson’s wrath over drinking. Ex-striker Daniel Nardiello recalled a stern warning from the legendary manager after indulging in a “Wes Brown special” at a nightclub—a potent concoction of triple gin, triple whiskey, and triple vodka.
Ferguson reportedly told Nardiello, “If you go out in Manchester again, you’re out of the club.”
These stories serve as a reminder that even in football, discipline off the pitch is as vital as performance on it.
