The two players hated each other despite being United teammates (Image: Sunday Mirror)
Manchester United’s extraordinary dominance in the late 1990s and early 2000s unfolded against the backdrop of a bitter feud between their two most influential players. It is widely known that Andy Cole and Teddy Sheringham did not see eye to eye during their four years together at Old Trafford, which included winning the historic treble in 1999. However, few know the cause of the animosity between the two that ultimately led to a physical altercation in the tunnel, although Roy Keane, of all people, temporarily intervened as mediator.
It all started in 1995, two years before Sheringham joined United from Tottenham. Both players represented England, with Cole making his debut as a substitute for Sheringham in a friendly against Uruguay. Although the two men barely knew each other, Cole was deeply embarrassed when Sheringham declined his offer to shake hands.
In 2010, Cole wrote for the Independent, saying: “I don’t even know the player, so there’s no way he could have a problem with me. We’re the same England player and this is my debut, but he despises me. From that moment I knew Sheringham wasn’t for me.”
In the same column, Cole confessed that he would rather have tea with defender Neil Ruddock, who broke two ankles after being tackled in a reserve game, than Sheringham.
Despite their rocky relationship, the two formed a great partnership on the pitch.
Cole added: “I’ve never spoken a word to him. People wonder how on earth you can function like that.[United defender]Gary Pallister once said to me, ‘I know you don’t talk to Teddy and I know he doesn’t talk to you, but at least you play well together.'”
“We did that and we did not mean to criticize Sheringham’s talent as a top-class footballer for club or country. I have personally hated him for 15 years.”
The two were more likely to fight than to chat. There was an infamous incident in 1998 in which there was Keane’s notable intervention after Sheringham blamed Cole for a goal after a draw with Bolton.
In his autobiography, Cole wrote, “Teddy turned around, looked me in the eye, and growled, ‘Their goal was your fault.’ What? I scored the tying goal and now he’s saying that!”
“I run up the tunnel and just as he gets to the locker room, I’m ready to go in. I’m all kinds of screaming and trying to throw punches, but everyone sides with me and separates us.
Andy Cole and Teddy Sheringham didn’t see eye to eye for decades (Image: Richard Sellers/Sports Photo/All Star via Getty Images)
“The next thing I knew, Roy Keane was pushing me against the wall and shouting in my face, ‘What are you doing, Corey? Get ready. We’re a team.’
But Cole said Keene quickly turned himself into an aggressor.
Cole continued, “I can’t hear him, but as he calms down, all of a sudden Roy attacks Teddy and cuts into him. Now it’s our turn to try to separate them.”
“‘What the hell is going on, Skip?’ I asked a clearly furious Keane. ‘You saying you want to fight him reminds me of how great he was to me at Nottingham Forest!’
However, an unexpected encounter in a nightclub brings their bitter rivalry to an amicable end.
Speaking to talkSPORT in 2023, Mr Sheringham revealed that the pair were initially bracing themselves for another showdown before they finally shook hands.
he said: “I thought, ‘Hey, this could be kind of gross.’ I don’t know if he’s going to put it on me or what.
“He came up to me and said, ‘Ted, bygones are bygones, let’s just forget what happened and move on.’
“He put his hand out and I thought, ‘Wow, I wasn’t expecting that from Andy.’ But yeah, I was happy to do it and I put out my hand and shook his hand.”
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