The decade of speculation is over. Sir Alex Ferguson will retire after 1500 games in charge at Manchester United at the end of the 2012/13 English Premier season, and he will go down in sporting legend as not only the most successful manager ever involved in British football, but as the greatest coach in history.
Now I know that there are and have been a number of great coaches across different sporting codes including Vince Lombardi, Phil Jackson and Jack Gibson a bit closer to home. However, what makes him the greatest is this:
Almost 39 years of coaching, 27 at Manchester United. At this one club he has won 13 Premier League titles which has taken them past Liverpool, five F.A. cups, 4 League Cups, 10 Community Shields, two Champions Leagues, one FIFA Club World Cup, one Super Cup and one European Cup Winners Cup.
That is 37 trophies by my count, which means he averages more than one trophy a season at this club.
This is an unprecedented achievement in any sport, let alone arguably the greatest football league in the world. These numbers alone cement him as an incredible human being.
The past few seasons highlight why Alex Ferguson is such an incredible football manager.
He has had teams of superstars during his tenure, including the treble-winning team of 1999 which saw the likes of Beckham, Giggs, Keane, Schmeichel and Yorke line-up on the field. The team that won the 2008 Champions League had Ronaldo doing whatever he wanted.
However, 2010/11 though saw Ferguson take a bunch of almost no names not only to a record breaking 19th title (making them the most dominant club in Premier League History along the way) but also the final of the Champions League for the third time in four seasons and fourth in 12 years.
He then followed this up by losing last year’s title merely on goal difference, a score that was settled with aplomb after securing Robin Van Persie as Rooney’s partner upfront, and what an incredible managerial move that proved to be.
These 27 incredible years have all been possible because Alex Ferguson provides his players with the two greatest qualities any sportsman can have: passion and confidence.
He arms his players with these weapons, making them feel invincible, and it is for this reason that Manchester United will keep winning titles once he is gone.
He has left them with the perfect balance of age and youth, a heritage that will continue to be built upon and never surpassed, and a mindset of winning that is invaluable.
The game will miss you Sir Alex; take a well deserved bow.
nickoldschool
Roar Guru
Agree hardcore, Moyes would get my vote too. And tbh would just like the job at Utd to stay with a British rather than someone from the continent. As an aside, the Cantona years will always be, for me, the best of Ferguson's tenure at the club. You had Beckham, Giggs, Scholes, Canto, Schmeichel and a few other legends of the club on the pitch at the same time. I just love this era as there was still some authenticity and magic in the EPL. France and England were sh*te and couldnt qualify for the 94 WC so had to focus solely on domestic football.
Cameron
Roar Guru
The simple fact is Moyes has held his own at Everton without the financial strength that Sir Alex Ferguson was afforded. He may not be as good, but time will tell and he's still learning.
Matt Watson
Roar Rookie
I agree Matt and Hardcore, I just focused the article on his Manchester United career to concentrate its focus I'm glad to see others like me do appreciate his Aberdeen exploits.
Matt Watson
Roar Rookie
I believe Moyes will get it. He is cut from the same stone as Ferguson. Plus, I do not believe that Mourinho would come to the club with Ferguson staying on as Director (as the rumour mill goes)
HardcorePrawn
Roar Guru
The best managers eh? Hmmm... Dave Sexton? Tommy Docherty? Ron Atkinson? Frank O'Farrell? It's easy to forget that prior to Ferguson's tenure some of United's past managers, while moderately successful elsewhere, weren't of Ferguson's standard. I suspect that for a lot of them the pressure of having to follow in the footsteps of Matt Busby rather overawed them. I imagine that could also affect Moyes (and whoever may eventually succeed him) too.
maximillian
Guest
haha thats brilliant! I just dont rate Moyes that highly to be honest. The current ManU squad is not as strong as Man City IMO & I believe the main reason they still won the title was the managerial skills of Ferguson. If Moyes was the Manager of Man U this year would they still have won the title? I dont believe so. However if Mourinho was in charge of ManU this year I think hes good enough to win the title with the current players. United always strive for excellence as they look to develop the best youth programs, sign the best players, & also get the best managers - that surely is Mourinho.
HardcorePrawn
Roar Guru
Too true Kellett, there's a good analogy on the Guardian's website, in an article about whether Moyes is the right man for the job: "Mourinho has pretty much wandered across the dancefloor, written his number on a piece of paper and suggested they hook up at some point. United have put it in the nearest bin and found someone considerably less glamorous but maybe more dependable and trustworthy. And that's clearly important when they are looking for a long-term relationship rather than a brief fling." http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/blog/2013/may/08/david-moyes-manchester-united-jose-mourinho
Marc
Guest
Yeah Ferguson has had his eyes on Moyes for sometime. Moyes knocked back the opportunity to be Ferguson's assistant in 1999.
Cameron
Roar Guru
Mourinho would come and then go... Moyes would at least stay.
Cameron
Roar Guru
Fingers crossed now that he is no longer coach that we may stand a chance again, but I doubt it. For the mean time that is.
maximillian
Guest
This article tells us that Ferguson has won on average more than 1 trophy a year which is staggering! The culture & legacy of United is 1 of winning & I think Mourinho typifies this quality better than anyone. Moyes is a good manager but he has limited experience in Europe compared with Mourinho which is important, but if you're right & he's already got the job then good luck to him.
Alexander Grant
Roar Pro
Let us dwell on our dismal team. Respect to a man who blitzed passed our record and managed some of the most exciting teams of the modern era.
HardcorePrawn
Roar Guru
According to reports from the UK, it appears that David Moyes has been given the job. I'd imagine that Man Utd (and even Ferguson himself) have had their eye on him for a while. It should be remembered that while Everton don't get the column inches overseas that Utd, Chelsea, Liverpool etc generate, they are a massively well supported club, albeit one with some financial difficulties (so, a bit like United then ;) ). Moyes' ability to consistently have his Everton sides amongst the top 8 or so clubs in the Premier League without the vast resources afforded to his peers shouldn't be forgotten. I reckon he's definitely a better fit for Utd than Mourinho (who a lot of Utd fans don't like) would have been.
MV Dave
Guest
According to the BBC David Moyes from Everton, has the job. Looks like the Scottish managers in the EPL will continue to do well.
maximillian
Guest
the question now is who replaces him? I think Mourinho has the pedigree required for a club like Man U.
matty
Guest
I suppose the biggest question now is who replaces him. Jose Mourinho would be my pick!
HardcorePrawn
Roar Guru
Seconding what Matt Anderson said To achieve what Ferguson has done at Manchester Utd is impressive and unlikely to be equalled in my lifetime I think. But to also have achieved so much at Aberdeen on limited resources was absolutely phenomenal. At this time Ferguson's Aberdeen and Jim McLean's Dundee Utd temporarily broke the Auld Firm's dominance of Scottish football. Again, even with Rangers' enforced relegation, this is unlikely to happen again anytime soon. It should also be noted that Ferguson had great success at St Mirren in the 1970s too, taking what was effectively a youth team to a Div 1 title. With his retirement he's sure to be missed, his teams were always watchable (and I say that through gritted teeth having seen his United sides regularly thrash my beloved Sunderland), committed, and played well. I pity whoever takes over though, whether it be David Moyes or not, as the next incumbent of that hotseat is sure to be unable to emulate Ferguson's success.
Ian
Guest
incredible human being is debatable. incredible football manager definitely. a legacy that will last as long as football exists on this planet. so that should be a while.
Matt Man
Roar Rookie
I'm a Chelsea man myself, but respect Ferguson. Don't forget the success he had at Aberdeen in Scotland. "Under Ferguson's guidance, the club won three league championships, one Drybrough Cup, four Scottish Cups, the European Cup Winner's Cup, the European Super Cup and a League Cup – all in the space of seven years." (Wikipedia). The club has achieved little since.
Cameron
Roar Guru
I'm no Manchester United fan but what he's been able to achieve is phenomenal. My poor old Liverpool have not stood a chance. Good luck with your future endeavours and hopefully there are more joyful years to come in your life.