Sir Alex Ferguson was once so angry that he smashed the cellphone of a player waiting for an update from his wife in the hospital

• Sir Alex Ferguson once smashed a player's phone to pieces during a half-time rant, a new book claims.
• Steve Bruce was waiting for a call from his wife in the hospital when Ferguson launched it into a trash can.

Legendary Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson was famous for his furious tirades, once famously hitting star player David Beckham in the face with a stray boot.

But a new book tells a fresh anecdote of Fergie's infamous mid-game rage, detailing a time when he got so angry that he launched a player's phone into a trash can during an enraged half-time speech.

The book, "Fergie Under The Hairdryer," details the former United manager's infamous "hairdryer treatment," in which he would shout angrily at his players during a poor performance. It was so-called because of the volume and heat of the air coming out of Ferguson's mouth as he shouted.

Former United defender Paul Parker claims that the Scotsman once smashed current Newcastle United manager Steve Bruce's cellphone to pieces when it rang in the changing room.

"The first half of a game hadn't gone too well and you could tell we were in for a rollicking because as soon as the boss came into the dressing room he slung off his jacket, which was an indication that he meant business.

"He started laying into some of us big time. Suddenly a phone starts ringing and the first person he looks at is me because for some reason he always associated me with a mobile phone."

Parker says Bruce was waiting for an update from his wife who was in the hospital with a back problem.

"Thankfully I wasn't guilty and so he started going along the line of players, staring at each one, trying to find where the sound was coming from," Parker said.

"Woe betide the person who owned it.

"Eventually, with his ears pricked, he arrived at Brucey's jacket, pushed his hand into it and pulled out the mobile phone.

"Without a second thought he hurled it with force into a bin, completely smashing it. No-one said a word."

Bruce played under Ferguson for nine years at United. He has since become a manager and is the current head coach of Newcastle United.

Insider approached Bruce and Newcastle United for comment, but is yet to receive a response.