“I’ve never spoken about it because I’ve never felt I had to justify myself. By trying to justify the move I would have dragged the name of Leeds United through the mud and been disrespectful to Man Utd, by suggesting I only went there because I had to. I did say on telly that I’d never play for Man Utd. But Leeds always said they’d never sell me and I thought they’d never get relegated.



“The new owners of the club told me that if I didn’t sign for Man Utd, there was a chance Leeds might go under.

"Man Utd weren’t offering the most, but they were paying up front. I understood why people slagged me off – I did it myself when Eric Cantona left Leeds for Man Utd. But I was joining the biggest club in Britain, and it was a massive honour that Sir Alex Ferguson wanted me.”

Younger football fans might wonder why the cross-Pennine rivals are considered rivals at all, given that Leeds haven’t played in the same division since Smith left. But that just demonstrates how far Leeds United tumbled.

Smith scored 10 goals in his first season at Old Trafford before Ferguson tried to convert him into a central midfielder. But the defining moment of Smith’s Manchester United career happened in an FA Cup tie against Liverpool in February 2006, when he broke his leg and dislocated his ankle attempting to block a John Arne Riise free-kick. The sight of Gary Neville wincing and Ronaldo looking to the heavens told you all you needed to know about the severity of the injuries. Smith, he admits, was never the same player.



“The surgeon told me it was touch and go if I’d play again. And while I was out injured, I did think that maybe it was all over. It would have been so easy to walk away but it made me mentally stronger. That injury is the reason I still appreciate football so much and do everything to maintain my playing career.”



A week after suffering the injuries, Smith watched his team-mates thrash Wigan Athletic 4-0 in the Carling Cup final, in which he was meant to have started. They collected the trophy wearing T-shirts bearing the legend: ‘For you Smudge.’ Laid up in a hospital bed, Smith struggled to hold back the tears.