Adam Dennehey WAFU manager
25 years is a long time in any job, it’s a long time full stop. It’s amazing to think that this Sunday marks the 25th anniversary of Sir Alex Ferguson’s spell in charge of Manchester United. It’s an incredible feat that in today’s football will probably be unmatched for years to come.
We all know the story about how United were struggling, a proud club seemingly down on its knees begging for a brave yet powerful man to step up and not just steady the ship but sail proudly into a trophy-laden spell of goals, great players and history.
Sir Alex was that man and whilst there were a few early bobble’s along the way, nobody can deny that the Scot who replaced Ron Atkinson on the 6th of November 1986 after leaving Aberdeen, has not gone onto be arguably the greatest manager club football has seen certainly within the last 20-30 years and possibly of all-time.
Whilst it’s easy to understand the argument put forward by neutrals that United and Sir Alex have been successful due to having plenty of money to spend, an incredible youth system and a brilliant scouting network, the fact remains that only the best managers in the world can cope with the demands of running one of the world’s leading clubs.
Take a look at some of the managers who have struggled at the likes of AC Milan, Barcelona and Real Madrid. They have all had plenty of money to spend and the pressure of going into every game with the expectation of winning it, but have been unable to get success despite having a first-team squad of 20-25 outstanding players to choose from.
Whilst it’s been clear to see that Sir Alex has had the advantage of not having an owner/chairman meddling in the day-to-day running of his team, like managers of the aforementioned clubs on the continent have done – the fact remains that the wise gentleman of the Premier League still has the drive, hunger and tenacity to keep building teams and chasing even more success.
You can list all the accolades that United have won under Sir Alex, but arguably the most important trophy on the manager’s mind is the next one. It’s all about winning the next game and the one after that. Momentum is an important part of football and it’s vital that good months are developed in order to build successful season’s year upon year.
Nobody knows how many years Sir Alex has left at United. There are those who say that he will be replaced by Jose Mourinho in 2-3 years time whilst there are some who say that he will call it a day after winning his third (and the club’s fourth) European Cup. Some say that he will move up to be a director of the club when he does call it a day, adding even more experience behind the scenes
The fact remains: whoever the manager is whom will take over from Sir Alex, he will be feeling huge, indescribable amounts of pressure and expectation. Taking over from the greatest manager club footballs seen in the last era will not be an easy task and everyone involved in the appointment will know that. He will need time to prove himself, patience from the fans and trust from everyone involved with the club.
If Sir Alex can do the impossible and knock Liverpool of their ‘******* perch’ then why can’t his successor do well? That question is one that we will only be able to answer in due time and that will inevitably bring worry and doubt. One thing is for sure, it’s highly unlikley that any manager will spend anywhere near a quarter of a century at a top club in the future, that just won’t happen in today’s football.
By Adam Dennehey @ADennehey87
