Greater Western Sydney Coach Kevin Sheedy will meet up with veteran Manchester United coach Sir Alex Ferguson this month and pick the brains of Britain’s most successful football manager.
Sheedy will sit down with Ferguson two days after watching the English Premier League (EPL) derby clash with champions Manchester City on December 10, and said he’ll be asking the Scot about how he revived United’s fortunes when he took on the job in 1986.
United had not won the league since 1967 when Ferguson took over but, under his management, have enjoyed unprecedented success, claiming 12 Premier League titles, two European Cups, five FA Cups and four League Cups.
Sheedy, who won four premierships with Essendon in a 26-year spell, is heading to northern England for one of the biggest games in the EPL season with GWS Giants’ CEO David Matthews.
And he hopes one day his fledgling club and the Sydney Swans will have a similar rivalry to City and United.
“I think, in the end, if we can get something like that with the Sydney Swans and the mighty Giants in New South Wales, Sydney and Canberra – that’s what we’re after,” Sheedy said on Tuesday.
The 64-year-old said he would be looking into what was the spirit behind Ferguson’s success.
“I know that Matt Busby was there before him, but there was a lull and he had to build the Man United club up again from where it was,” he said.
“That journey will be a fantastic learning experience for myself and my manager.
“He’s 70, so he inspires me. I might have another five years, you never know old fellow.”
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