Imagine being invited to sit next to Sir Alex Ferguson in the Manchester United dugout in the middle of a crucial European match. What would you do?
For photographer Magi Haroun, this wasn't a hypothetical on a torrential night in Moscow in 1992. Drenched from the sideways rain, she was presented with an extraordinary choice: an ideal yet wet vantage point or a spot in the stands between Ferguson and his right-hand man Brian Kidd.
As the first female photographer to gain Premier League accreditation, remarkable situations were all in a day's work. She opted for the dugout.
'Come and Sit Between Kiddo and Me'
Following a goalless first leg in Manchester, the second match in Russia was just as chaotic as the weather. Haroun describes never seeing rain like it. Her equipment was soaking, and her cameras were likely to fail of failing.
Spotted by Ferguson in the second half, he called out, "Are you a bit wet?" before telling her to "Come between Kiddo and myself." She passed the rest of the match there, though she would have preferred behind the goal for superior shots.
After a second 0-0 draw, United lost on penalties. Defender Gary Pallister, who failed to convert the decisive kick, was left sobbing into his shirt. Looking towards the dugout, he presented Haroun with a potential back-page photograph.
With her flash ready, she thought Ferguson would be furious. True to form, the manager looked at her and declared, "If you take that picture, I'll never speak to you again!"
'I Was Picked On Because I'm a Woman'
Regardless of her deep family connections to Manchester United—including relatives having served as directors—Haroun's journey as a woman in a male-dominated field was far from easy.
She struggled to be respected and believed she was often "singled out" by stewards and police as the "weakest link." The discrimination even led to an arrest at a volatile Leeds vs. Manchester United match, where crowd trouble erupted.
"I was the one that got arrested because they saw me as the weakest link, I'm a woman," she said.
Try to Run the Wright Way
Proximity to the pitch came with physical risks. Haroun was on one occasion "knocked out" by rocks thrown by supporters at an Aston Villa match in Turkey.
The hazard also came from the players themselves. Shots from stars like Wayne Rooney and Denis Irwin at times sent her sprawling. After one such incident, Bryan Robson reportedly quipped, "Pick a different target, Denis, make sure it's not the chairman's cousin!"
Yet, players could also be accommodating. Prior to an Arsenal match, she told legend Ian Wright to celebrate her if he scored. He did find the net, but at first ran the wrong way.
Fortunately, Wright realised, halted, turned back, and ran towards her with arms outstretched, allowing for the "perfect picture" she had hoped for.
A Feline Named Carrington
Beyond football, Haroun is a dedicated feline enthusiast. Her collection of multiple cats once grew thanks to an surprise call from a long-serving staff member at Manchester United's Carrington training ground.
Informed of an stray cat, Haroun was hesitant—she was caring for 23 at the time. However, a recognisable gruff voice came on the line and instructed her: "Magi, take the cat!"
Heeding Sir Alex Ferguson's directive, she adopted the cat and christened her Carrington.
