Arsenal legend Arsene Wenger is ‘the scariest Premier League manager ever’, not Man Utd’s Sir Alex Ferguson, says Mike Dean

MIKE DEAN insists Manchester United legend Sir Alex Ferguson is NOT the ‘scariest Premier League manager ever’

Instead, the legendary referee insists the award should go to Arsenal favorite Arsene Wenger.

2

2

dean53, has seen it all since taking charge of England’s top games in 2000.

The no nonsense Ref will call it a day this summer before moving in a permanent VAR position.

And he believes Wenger, not Fergie, is the toughest manager in Prem’s history.

Dean sent Wenger into the stands during Arsenal’s 2-1 defeat at United in 2009.

And he firmly believes the Frenchman was a threat in the technical field due to his passion for Arsenal.

Dean told BBC Sport: “[Scariest manager?] It must have been Arsene when he was at Arsenal.

“I’ve always found it difficult not to manage Arsenal in general but to manage Arsenal when he was the manager.

“It was just his presence, he wanted what was best for Arsenal all along and if he could find a way to get one over you he would.

GRAND NATIONAL WETTING SPECIAL – LATEST OFFERS AND DEALS

“Ever since he got off football I’ve seen him and he’s been great. Cross the white line and everyone is different, like referees. We are normal people.”

As for Sir Alex, who has often spent much of games berating officials, Dean insists the Scot was much more lenient when he appeared on the touchline.

Dean added, “He [Fergie] used to get a lot of stick and said he would come in and slam the door.

“He would come in every now and then to give his opinion when something was really wrong.

“But he wasn’t as bad as people made him out to be.”

As for player intimidation, Dean had to look no further than former Wenger and Fergie captains. Patrick Vieira and Roy Keane.

He laughed: “They had massive players with big personality, the Keanes, Vieira, they were everywhere back then.

“For me, coming from the Football League to the Premier League and managing these players… it was just a massive step.

“I was a little nervous and a little scared of making a decision.”