Sir Alex Ferguson made an exception to his golden rule for Mark Bosnich - by giving a man who turned his back on Old Trafford a second chance.

Alan Shearer was also afforded this special privilege, but when it comes to the Australian goalkeeper, it is clear his relationship with Manchester United was born under a bad sign.

So now he will rebuild his football life at Chelsea - and attempt to re-establish his one-time reputation as a member of Europe's goalkeeping elite.

Bosnich was supposed to be taking the natural next step in his career when he joined Manchester United on a Bosman free transfer from Aston Villa in June 1999.

If anyone was looking for a sign that it was not going to be a smooth ride second time around, this was certainly it.

Bosnich's amiable exterior has always come with an edge, with the happy-go-lucky Aussie courting controversy with a series of scrapes.

In 1996 he was fined �1,000 and censured by the FA after he was found guilty of misconduct by upsetting Spurs fans with a Nazi salute at White Hart Lane.

The following year he was in the headlines again when he stormed out of Pride Park after only being named as substitute by then Aston Villa boss Brian Little.

Bosnich was at the centre of speculation throughout the 1998/99 season when it became clear he was not going to sign a new deal at Villa.

Boss John Gregory lost patience when he was ordered off the team coach, ironically before a game against Manchester United at Old Trafford.

He eventually signed for Manchester United, but even then he was dogged by suggestions that his purchase was more the idea of chairman Martin Edwards than manager Ferguson.