Cristiano Ronaldo is only as good at heading as the King of Hearts, says Sir Alex Ferguson

By Henry Winter

Ronaldo’s towering leap in the Bernabeu last week reminded Ferguson of Willie Bauld, who scored a famous header in Heart of Midlothian’s 1954 League Cup final win over Motherwell in the rain at Hampden Park.

“Willie Bauld played in the great Hearts teams in the Fifties and was unbelievable in the air, fantastic in the air,’’ said Ferguson.

“You can get him on Youtube. I was told that by a Hearts supporter.”

It is actually incredibly difficult to find footage — or headage — of the ‘King of Hearts’, who partnered Alfie Conn (Snr) and Jimmy Wardhaugh in the ‘Terrible Trio’ attack that plundered more than 500 goals.

Bauld fell out with the club after they deducted the cost of the match ball from his testimonial takings. He eventually returned to Tynecastle to great acclaim but sadly passed away in 1977. “He was only 49 when he died,’’ added Ferguson.

It is typical of Ferguson that he could quickly place Ronaldo’s header in a historical context. It is also typical of Ferguson to voice his affection for Ronaldo, even joking that United would have loved to have kept “a great player” after he popped into their dressing room. “He’s still in the hamper!’’

Taken from telegraph.co.uk