The_Rev Posted November 6, 2012 Share Posted November 6, 2012 Love him or hate him you have to respect the guy. Today is the 26th anniversary of him taking the Manchester United job. To last that long in any job is remarkable, but in a job as volatile as football management? It's a ridiculous achievement. Speaking of which, at Manchester United he has won: 2 European cups 12 League titles 5 FA Cups 4 League Cups 1 European Cup Winners Cup 1 European Super Cup 1 World Club Championship And some other minor stuff too like Charity/Community shields. I guess it's worth listing what he did at Aberdeen too, as it is easy to forget just how successful he was at breaking up the Rangers/Celtic duopoly. In eight years at Aberdeen he won: 3 Scottish league titles 4 Scottish cups 1 European Cup Winners Cup 1 Scottish League Cup Dunno when he will retire, but I am guessing he will be quite pleased with how things worked out when he finally does. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pelle Posted November 6, 2012 Share Posted November 6, 2012 One of the greatest, both manager and word removed. Is there any other manager through the history of football who comes close to that? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jarpie Posted November 6, 2012 Share Posted November 6, 2012 I don't think his achievements or the time he has been in ManU will ever be passed by anyone, the game has changed so much in the last 26 years. Even though he is at least sometimes obnoxious and annoying bastard, I dont think there's anyone who can say that he's not one of the greatest managers of all time. Manchester United might be in big trouble when he finally leaves, and who replaces him has helluva lot of pressure on his shoulders. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The_Rev Posted November 6, 2012 Author Share Posted November 6, 2012 One of the greatest, both manager and word removed. Is there any other manager through the history of football who comes close to that? It's difficult to measure because some people put more weight on achievements with multiple clubs over a short period of time. Fergie has really only had two clubs, but then why would he leave Manchester United? Also has Fergie ever had a side as good as Sacchi's Milan team of the early 90s or Guardiola's Barcelona? If you counting impact on the game and honours won then I think you also have to throw in names like Clough, Paisley, Shankly, Trappattoni, Cappello, Lippi, Hitzfeld and Mourinho in the mix with Fergie too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shillzz Posted November 6, 2012 Share Posted November 6, 2012 I think you have to look at the bigger picture concerning Fergie. Yes he has won a massive amount of trophies, but there's a lot more to it than that. Manchester United were massively underachieving when he took charge, and they have been arguably the biggest club in the world since, they were no AC Milan or Real Madrid back in '86. He has helped them grow into the biggest franchise in sport, not just football. He may seem like a bit of an asshole, but his no nonesense policy has gone a long way to maintaining MUFC's squeeky clean image around the globe. United have always been in the top 2 or 3 clubs in the country, there've been no catastrophic periods of time or prolonged periods of absense from the end of seasons honours list. For me, he is by far the greatest manager of all time, he built Manchester United into what it is today. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The_Rev Posted November 6, 2012 Author Share Posted November 6, 2012 Yeah, but he was also incredibly fortunate that his period of success coincided with all the money coming into the English game. Had is happened five years earlier or all the money had gone to, say, France instead would we still think the same of Manchester United? They are a huge club because of the exposure this league gets and a lot of that is beyond Ferguson's control. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shillzz Posted November 6, 2012 Share Posted November 6, 2012 True, a lot of the league's success is beyond Fergies control, but I'd also say that a lot of the leagues success is as a result of the global branding of big clubs, no more so than Manchester United, the club that Fergie built. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zatman Posted November 6, 2012 Share Posted November 6, 2012 a great manager but as a person very underrated. Apparently he will call any manager starting out and will offer them advice and also sent United fans to go to Anfield to show respect days after Hillsborough. though can never forgive him for giving McLeish that reference 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jarpie Posted November 6, 2012 Share Posted November 6, 2012 Didn't he say about ex-manure players who became managers "I taugth them everything they know, but not everyting I know" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CI Posted November 6, 2012 Share Posted November 6, 2012 Bit off more than he could chew when he took on Coolmore over Rock Of Gibraltar. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Troglodyte Posted November 6, 2012 VT Supporter Share Posted November 6, 2012 An absolutely unbelievable manager. No-one can really argue with that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dudevillaisnice Posted November 6, 2012 Share Posted November 6, 2012 Fantastic manager, will never forgive him for the McLeish stuff though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coda Posted November 6, 2012 Share Posted November 6, 2012 That damn letter (and the club's embarrassing promotion of it) eclipses all his achievements for me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AVFCforever1991 Posted November 6, 2012 Share Posted November 6, 2012 Word removed Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kurtsimonw Posted November 6, 2012 Share Posted November 6, 2012 Hadn't Villa won more than United at the time he took over? Look at the gap now! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
R.I.C.O. Posted November 6, 2012 Share Posted November 6, 2012 Great manager, but he's had his fair share of luck. If that 17 minutes of injury time hadnt happened in 1993 he may not have been where he is today. He also wrote the book on gamesmanship and intimidating refs, something which Manure will suffer from when he retires (unless they appoint Mourinho of course) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maqroll Posted November 6, 2012 Share Posted November 6, 2012 The greatest football manager ever, in my opinion. Master tactician, master evaluator of talent, master motivator and master mind game player.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darrenm Posted November 6, 2012 Share Posted November 6, 2012 Utter tosser, cheat, and should never have had a knighthood. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zatman Posted November 6, 2012 Share Posted November 6, 2012 I think the greatest thing he has done is evolve his style of management. In the 80s/90s I dont think he would have tolerated Ronaldo attitude and lesser extent Rooney but he has sat back and let them do it as they got away with it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The_Rev Posted November 6, 2012 Author Share Posted November 6, 2012 I think that is because the cost of replacing such players became increasingly expensive. And of course, he was at his least tolerant when he had that youth team coming through. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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