SAF’s legacy at Manchester United
Sir Alex Ferguson has built an imposing legacy at Manchester United - 20 years, 9 league titles and a glittering array of stars. His impact on the game can be judged in different ways, such as the number of former players who are now successful managers. He has taught, he has won, and most importantly, he has reinvented.
The current Manchester United squad - being rebuilt into SAF’s 3rd great team - retains SAF’s core principles (fast, aggressive, defend and attack in packs) and is one that is respected across England and in the Premiership. A lot of it is based on the club’s attraction and financial strength, but it’s up to the manager to get the players to play together and to their strengths, and Alex Ferguson is a master at doing that.
This time last season there was talk of SAF leaving Manchester United - and there I said that Ferguson should be given time till the end of the 2007/2008 season before any decisions are taken. This season just goes on to prove that Ferguson still has what it takes to succeed with United. However, this season has also brought through a couple of potential successors for Ferguson.
If Sir Alex Ferguson is to ever leave Manchester United (and he will, eventually), only a manager of the highest quality should be brought in. Experience is necessary but not over-riding - we need a manager who demands instant respect, is tactically astute, buys the right players and can get the team winning immediately.
It’s a tough ask, and right now only three-four managers have a track record that fits the description - Jose Mourinho, Roy Keane, Steve Coppell and possibly Mark Hughes.
Right now, it’s way too early to talk about successors - Ferguson in my mind is still good to stay till 2010 - but if anyone has to be watched, I’d watch Keano and Coppell.
And before anyone forgets - in recent years SAF has been quite successful with his transfer market moves - EVDS, Vidic, Carrick, Park, Evra, Larsson, Rooney, Saha, Smith, Kuszczak. He’s had the odd miss (Miller) but overall his record his good. Nani, Anderson and Hargreaves will hopefully be good signings as well.
Let’s just hope Fergie doesn’t fight with another superstar.
This article is Part 5 of our 7-part Manchester United 2006/2007 season review coverage at Soccerlens.
- Manchester United 2006/2007 Season Review
- This is an Arsenal team with balls of steel
- Manchester United don’t need Barton, can’t have Richards
- Can Manchester United win the title?
- Why can’t Manchester United score after the 70th minute?
Discussion - 10 Responses
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Firstly you mention the way in which United play “fast, aggressive, defend and attack in packs” this would all change were Jose Mourinho to take charge, we’d become more pragmatic and defensively minded which I dont’ think would be to the fans liking.
Secondly are you basing Keane’s inclusion in that list purely on one season in the Championship? Whilst it would be a hacks dream to have Keano replace SAF I’m not yet convinced, so lets see how the next 3-4 years pan out.
I always try and think of it this way, if the Arsenal’s, Milan’s, Madrid’s, Chelsea’s, Liverpool’s etc of this world were looking for a manager who would be on their radar? We should possibly be looking at these sorts of people rather than ex players whose appointment would be based more on the romantic than the practical.
Why would we want to look at who Liverpool or Chelsea are after? Liverpool have never replaced Dalglish, and Benitez is not up to scratch. He gets wound up when Mourinho says they are a cup team because he knows it’s true. They won’t win the league for a long time, and CFC got lucky with Mourinho - their managerial appointments have not exactly been inspiring. AC Milan tend to bring in their own, and I wouldn’t want an Italian anyway - they’d put an insomniac to sleep the way they play.
Continuity is a good thing, but only if it is well thought out. Roy Keane would be an awesome choice. This is based on two things. 1) Sunderland were 4th bottom when he went there and went up as champs. 2) SAF himself used to allow him to give 1/2 time team talks and gave him a lot of rope. The guy is a winner, and if you would like proof…think Turin 1999. He epitomises United.
Bryan Robson is an average club manager, but not for us. As is Brucie, and a few others. Steve Coppell doesn’t really seem to like the limelight, so that’s out, and the rumuor is, is that Ryan Giggs is a very, very good coach who is very similar to SAF - apparantly even Fergie was surprised.
We need to have someone who ‘understands’ Manchester United. Everyone claims to understand us, but very few seem to ‘really’ understand. We are MANCHESTER UNITED and we have to perform, and perform well.
SAF’s legacy will be remembered for a long time for many different reasons, but the one I will always remember is the fact that he brought Manchester United back to be Manchester United again. When he took over he made the comment of “I’ll be knocking Liverpool right off their fu**in perch!” to a journalist…you would have to say that he’s more than do that. At that time (86)it was unheard of for Liverpool not to win the league.
Whoever we have after SAF (Post 2010 I hope) is going to need to know the intricacies of United. For my money it is going to be either Roy Keane or Ryan Giggs.
You’re absolutely right Lee about the need of having someone who ‘knows’ Manchester United. This is what sets United apart and is the reason why the list of possible candidates is relatively short. Like you say Keano is an obvious choice and a couple of seasons sharpening hes teeth with Sunderland won’t do him any harm. I actually think Coppell is a dark horse. He seems to have found a system at Reading that works quite well and is certainly getting the best of his team and he has that United education. Id be gutted if Mourinho came not only because of his negative style but also because i dont think he’s fit to manage United. He is permanently tarnishing Chelsea’s image and is contantly in conflict with Kenyon and Roman. Sparky has potential no doubt. There is only one foreign manager that i would feel comfortable taking the reigns. Lippi. He has the integrity, tactical nouse, bags of experience and knows how to win, and for an Italian coach, he plays very entertaining, technically good football. Either way, we’ve got a couple of season before crunch time, lets hope the Glazers make the right choice for United, and give him the freedom and control that Fergie has. I’d hate to see them tighten control when Fergie does go. It’ll be the biggest job/decision in football.
Well, roy keane is the top chioce since he knows what to be expected of ManU and is quite a good manager, shown from his recent Sunderland performance.He also have the experience and knows what it is like to be a ManU player.Jose should be out of the picture and copell is also a dark horse but i say Keane is top on the list
“successful with his transfer market moves - EVDS, Vidic, Carrick, Park, Evra, Larsson, Rooney, Saha, Smith, Kuszczak”
HaHAHAHAA
How can you say that Saha, Kusczak and Park have been good transfers!
Even Carrick hasnt justified his 18.6 million price tag
Stupid article
I would like to see Keano as manager but the way that it’s going it looks like it will be Carlos Queiroz because of the connection he has with the portuguese players and perhaps with these signings he is starting to build his team. It’s Queiroz’s to lose.
Jose Mourinho - No. He will sacrifice United’s attacking principles in favour of 1 - 0 wins. Nothing wrong with that, Chelsea fans will say but I disagree. As Eric Cantona once pointed out, United is not just about winning, it’s doing it with STYLE and Mr Mourinho is unlikely to do that. And whilst he’s an entertaining person, he gets into a lot of silly run-ins with the press and authorities.
In addition, Fergie knows how to lose with grace (or has been forced to learn that) and the United players themselves follow his act. Mourinho is the exact opposite and I don’t fancy my team turning into a bunch of whingers.
Robson is average. Coppell - took the job at a “massive” club once and couldn’t take the pressure. United might be a bridge too far for him.
In a fantasy land, the future United manager would be Keano but a successful run in the Championship is not yet proof of a brilliant PL manager. Let’s see how Sunderland works out first.
Kuszczak - cheap and very reliable as a backup.
Park - good player, for the money we paid for him that is.
Saha - whenever he’s played, he’s been scoring. Despite the injuries, he’s a decent buy for us.
Anything else?
Liam O’Kelly you re right.100% spot on.
Carlito Queirozinio will be our next man and I really hate him. I also like keano to be our next and we all know what mentality he brings to his players.I can see him coming after Carlos’s dark yeas.
AMEN.
carrick is not good anoth to play for man united!park and saha are both good players they just need to stay injury free.sir alex is the best manager in the world hands down….liverpool should be so lucky to have a manager of his quality