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Imagine being invited to take a seat beside Sir Alex Ferguson in the United dugout in the middle of a crucial European match. How would you react?

To photographer Magi Haroun, this became a reality on a storm-lashed night in Moscow in 1992. Drenched from the horizontal rain, she was presented with an unlikely choice: a perfect yet wet shooting position or a dry seat between Ferguson and his right-hand man Brian Kidd.

As the pioneering woman photographer to gain top-division accreditation, unusual situations were par for the course. She opted for the dugout.

'Take a Seat Next to Us'

After a goalless first leg in Manchester, the return fixture in Russia was just as chaotic as the conditions. Haroun describes never seeing rain that severe. Her equipment was drenched, and her cameras were likely to fail of breaking down.

Noticed by Ferguson in the second half, he asked, "Are you a bit wet?" before telling her to "Come between Kiddo and myself." She passed the rest of the match there, even if she would have preferred behind the goal for superior shots.

After a second 0-0 draw, United lost on penalties. Centre-back Gary Pallister, who failed to convert the decisive kick, was left crying into his shirt. Facing the dugout, he presented Haroun with a perfect back-page photograph.

With her flash ready, she knew Ferguson would be annoyed. True to form, the manager looked at her and declared, "Do that, I'll never speak to you again!"

'My Gender Made Me a Target'

Despite her long-standing family ties to Manchester United—with family members having served as chairmen—Haroun's journey as a woman in a male-dominated field was not always easy.

She found it tough to be respected and believed she was often "picked on" by stewards and police as the "easiest target." The discrimination even led to an incident at a fiery Leeds vs. Manchester United match, where crowd trouble erupted.

"It was me that got arrested because they saw me as the weakest link, I'm a woman," she said.

Remembering the Wright Way

Being close to the action came with physical risks. Haroun was on one occasion "knocked out" by missiles thrown by supporters at an Aston Villa match in Turkey.

The danger wasn't limited to the players themselves. Shots from stars like Wayne Rooney and Denis Irwin also sent her sprawling. After one such incident, Bryan Robson allegedly joked, "If you're going to kill a photographer, Denis, make sure it's not the chairman's cousin!"

However, players could also be accommodating. Prior to an Arsenal match, she told iconic striker Ian Wright to celebrate her if he scored. He scored, but at first ran the opposite way.

To her relief, Wright realised, halted, turned back, and ran towards her with arms outstretched, allowing for the "ideal picture" she had hoped for.

A Feline Named Carrington

Away from football, Haroun is a known feline enthusiast. Her family of seven cats on one occasion grew thanks to an surprise call from the receptionist at Manchester United's Carrington training ground.

Told of an abandoned cat, Haroun was reluctant—she already had 23 at the time. But, a recognisable Scottish voice came on the line and instructed her: "Magi, take the cat!"

Following Sir Alex Ferguson's directive, she took in the cat and named her Carrington.