Legally Red - by Maurice Watkins

About the Book

The man who hired Sir Alex Ferguson recalls his years at Manchester United. From Ronaldo to Beckham to Schmeichel Maurice Watkins worked with the greatest players and the greatest manager of the 90s and noughties, and was the lynchpin that kept the great club together.

Book Synopsis

At Old Trafford, in the corridors of power, Maurice Watkins was the guiding force. As the club solicitor, and later a director, for thirty-six years he was the man to whom Manchester United turned to negotiate the legal minefields. In his autobiography, written before his passing in 2021, the layers of secrecy are peeled back to expose the brilliance of a character who shaped the club's destiny.

From the sacking of Tommy Docherty, through the late-night drive to Scotland to lure Alex Ferguson to the hot seat, to the courtroom defence of Eric Cantona for his 'kung-fu kick' on an abusive fan, Maurice Watkins was the key figure behind the scenes at United. Yet he was also front and centre for the triumphs under Ferguson and the rise of players such as David Beckham and Cristiano Ronaldo. Later, a lifelong love of sports made him a natural for leadership roles throughout the sporting world.

Legally Red takes you into the boardroom of one of the greatest football clubs in the world in one of its most successful eras. But, ultimately, it's a story that goes beyond the legal battles of Manchester United. It reveals the human stories, heroics and heartaches that shaped Watkins's remarkable journey.

About the Author

Maurice Watkins CBE was one of the world's leading sports lawyers and sports administrators, a long-time director of Manchester United and the club solicitor. He was the Senior Partner and Head of Sport at Brabners LLP, the Chair of British Swimming - overseeing Team GB's successes in the Rio de Janeiro (2016) and Tokyo (2020) Olympics, Chair of the British Basketball Federation and a director of Lancashire County Cricket Club. Away from sport, Maurice Watkins was the Chair of Governors at his former school, The Manchester Grammar School, and Chair of the Royal Manchester Children's Hospital charity appeals board where he helped raise £68 million for the NHS. He was made Commander of the Order of the British Empire in Queen Elizabeth II's Birthday Honours 2011 for services to charity. He died on 16 August 2021 aged 79.