Management jobs are very different in terms of responsibility, support structure and expectation. It is interesting that Rijkaard took Sparta Rotterdam down and then went on to success at Barcelona.(The mind boggles at the decision makers who make these appointments!)

The point may be that it is easier to be successful with a big club where you inherit an already very good side, have lots of transfer money available and an experienced (and large) coaching staff. Maybe even a director of football. The wonder is, however, that young, completely inexperienced managers are sometimes given these roles. You would never see any parallel in industry or other businesses.

On the other hand, expectations are higher and you may get longer at a smaller club that just want to survive in their league.

It seems that clubs often just want a high profile figurehead, someone to appease the fans and, a bit like the theory on some Presidents, work on the basis that the manager is a front man and the backroom/support organisation will, in reality, be running the show.

However, you have to say it makes sense to serve an apprenticeship.

Managers need two key ingredients: Luck and Resources.

Depending on how much of either they get can absolutely be the difference between them becoming successful or falling onto the scrap heap, and the margins are very fine.

This will never be a science but by and large I agree with Mr Houllier.

Neither of them have been succesful as managers in comparison to the other managers that have been listed. I would go so far as to say that Robson has been a relative failure at most of his positions and Southgate will only be able to hold his team in the lower half of the table or relegation.

The great managers listed by Houllier have learnt a lot about developing their tactics, developing players to the next level and player management from years of experience at other clubs.