QUOTE(cellfreezer @ Jun 16 2009, 10:09 AM)
Well, to be fair SAF has spent most of his career at OT. But, don't forget that he brought a bottom tier division two club (St. Mirren) to promotion and become the First Division champ. He also broke Celtic and Rangers dominance by winning the Scottish league with Aberdeen. Last, don't forget that he brought Man Utd back to its feet from when the last league winner from Manchester is Man City.
I'm aware of Ferguson's achievements. I actually took the liberty of reading up a little on other managers before I posted my nomination. I myself agree that he's the best manager of my time but I'm questioning claims that he's the "best manager ever", especially when there is no justification. If it were purely down to medals and trophies, we won't even hear names like Shankly or Busby being whispered.
Added on June 16, 2009, 10:36 amQUOTE(Makakeke @ Jun 16 2009, 10:20 AM)
Let's see, if we're taking number of trophies into consideration, Fergie has won United 11 domestic titles and 2 european cups. That might not rival some other managers like Barnebau who had more european glory but i think he shares the same podium as Ancelotti, Del Bosque with 2 UCL title under their belt. Domestic glory is pretty much justified. That alone is something to be glorified.
Loyalty comes into the picture. No doubt, managers like Guus, Scolari, Mourinho, Keegan are great managers but neither had the steel to last that long with a single club. Arsene Wenger is another example I could bring into the picture, look at how he stayed and transformed Arsenal. He stayed for more than 10 years now? How many managers can actually do that?
I believe the main factor that separates a great manager to a great coach is management itself. Fergie has shown us in the past and perhaps recently? (with the offload of Ronaldo) that no one is bigger than the club and no one is indispensable. He's not afraid of making choices, even hard ones that might affect the club's reputation and chances. He'd sold some of the best players in the world i.e Stam, Becks, RVN and still United is one of the best clubs in the world. That's a great manager. The game is not based on strategy alone, that can only bring you to a certain level, mentality and team spirit brings you further and Fergie inculcates it in the team. The club, fans, players all respect him, how many clubs can say that with their manager?
And not many managers develop homegrown players. Fergie probably is the virtuoso in this area. The bunch on kids that won us the title in 95/96, and even the current United youth squad, they're all perfect examples. That's already a problem that when Fergie retires, there ain't another manager that could fill that void, except for Wenger but we know where his loyalty stands.
I'd say why Fergie is the best manager of all time is because of his undying passion to the game, his willingness to evolve with time, and his policies that is not self-centred but universally loved.
It was always going to be subjective when you remove silverware and rightly so I believe.
My vote for "best manager of all time" would be Bill Shankly. I suppose a lot of it is down to sentiment but his contributions not only to the club but the city of Liverpool speaks for itself. Liverpool were in shambles at the time he took over. A second division side with facilities that resembled the slums of Brazil. He not only transformed us into one of the most feared sides in Europe, he changed the hearts and minds of the people. He made Liverpool "the people's club" and his connection with them was unrivaled. He was behind the all red kit, the bootroom, almost everything that the club stands for today. He had a really dry sense of humour and some mistook his confidence of arrogance. Was he arrogant? Well he would talk to anyone off the street about football. He would let strangers into his house. He would stop by for a kickabout with local kids on the way home. The stories go on and on. Even after he left the club, he bought a ticket and stood at the kop because it was were he said "he belonged". I've done some research and not many managers have as many stories as the Shanks. Not many have as many testimonials from journalists and common folk.
I can see why non-Liverpool fans would not even consider him. I mean his success doesn't even rival Paisley be he did lay a very strong foundation for Paisley's success. 3 European Cups did Paisley win with a team containing Shankley's DNA. Well 4 if you consider Fagan's. My nomination is based very much on sentiment and what I would give to meet the man in person.
Added on June 16, 2009, 10:39 amQUOTE(Makakeke @ Jun 16 2009, 10:20 AM)
Let's see, if we're taking number of trophies into consideration, Fergie has won United 11 domestic titles and 2 european cups. That might not rival some other managers like Barnebau who had more european glory but i think he shares the same podium as Ancelotti, Del Bosque with 2 UCL title under their belt. Domestic glory is pretty much justified. That alone is something to be glorified.
Loyalty comes into the picture. No doubt, managers like Guus, Scolari, Mourinho, Keegan are great managers but neither had the steel to last that long with a single club. Arsene Wenger is another example I could bring into the picture, look at how he stayed and transformed Arsenal. He stayed for more than 10 years now? How many managers can actually do that?
I believe the main factor that separates a great manager to a great coach is management itself. Fergie has shown us in the past and perhaps recently? (with the offload of Ronaldo) that no one is bigger than the club and no one is indispensable. He's not afraid of making choices, even hard ones that might affect the club's reputation and chances. He'd sold some of the best players in the world i.e Stam, Becks, RVN and still United is one of the best clubs in the world. That's a great manager. The game is not based on strategy alone, that can only bring you to a certain level, mentality and team spirit brings you further and Fergie inculcates it in the team. The club, fans, players all respect him, how many clubs can say that with their manager?
And not many managers develop homegrown players. Fergie probably is the virtuoso in this area. The bunch on kids that won us the title in 95/96, and even the current United youth squad, they're all perfect examples. That's already a problem that when Fergie retires, there ain't another manager that could fill that void, except for Wenger but we know where his loyalty stands.
I'd say why Fergie is the best manager of all time is because of his undying passion to the game, his willingness to evolve with time, and his policies that is not self-centred but universally loved.
It was always going to be subjective when you remove silverware and rightly so I believe.
My vote for "best manager of all time" would be Bill Shankly. I suppose a lot of it is down to sentiment but his contributions not only to the club but the city of Liverpool speaks for itself. Liverpool were in shambles at the time he took over. A second division side with facilities that resembled the slums of Brazil. He not only transformed us into one of the most feared sides in Europe, he changed the hearts and minds of the people. He made Liverpool "the people's club" and his connection with them was unrivaled. He was behind the all red kit, the bootroom, almost everything that the club stands for today. He had a really dry sense of humour and some mistook his confidence of arrogance. Was he arrogant? Well he would talk to anyone off the street about football. He would let strangers into his house. He would stop by for a kickabout with local kids on the way home. The stories go on and on. Even after he left the club, he bought a ticket and stood at the kop because it was were he said "he belonged". I've done some research and not many managers have as many stories as the Shanks. Not many have as many testimonials from journalists and common folk.
I can see why non-Liverpool fans would not even consider him. I mean his success doesn't even rival Paisley be he did lay a very strong foundation for Paisley's success. 3 European Cups did Paisley win with a team containing Shankley's DNA. Well 4 if you consider Fagan's. My nomination is based very much on sentiment and what I would give to meet the man in person.
This post has been edited by Duke Red: Jun 16 2009, 10:39 AM 
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