Sport News 24/7The Betfair Debate: Should Jose Mourinho replace Sir Alex Ferguson?
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26 April 2011 /
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Is the Special One the right man for United?
Max Liu explains why he believes that a certain mercurial Portuguese is the ideal candidate to succeed Sir Alex Ferguson at Old Trafford while Dan Thomas argues that the Special One is the wrong man at the wrong time.
Yes
In Fever Pitch, Nick Hornby lists Arsenal managers, comparing them to male family members before saying of George Graham: "George is my Dad."
That’s how I feel about Sir Alex Ferguson because, in the time I've supported Manchester United, they've always had the same manager. I'm like one of those overly-confident people whose parents are still married when all around are the maladjusted offspring of broken homes.
Ferguson intended to resign nine years ago but since his 2001-2002 mid-season retraction, he's won four league titles and a second Champions League. To win a third at Wembley next month, he may have to overcome the man who Betfair punters regard as his most likely successor.
Imagine the scene: Manchester United beat Real Madrid, Ferguson bows out and Jose Mourinho quits the Bernabeu to return to England and take charge at Old Trafford. Splendid, I say.
Mourinho is unarguably the most talented manager of his generation. He'd take no him to acclimatise to the domestic game, his record in Europe is almost peerless and Liverpool fans hate him.
Commentators are correct to call the current United team Ferguson's grittiest. They’re playing like a Mourinho side - obdurate and original in defence, clinical and thrilling in attack – which puts to rest the view that United fans would grimace at Mourinho’s style of tactics.
Ferguson once said he wouldn’t “do a Bobby Robson” and manage into his 70s. He turns 70 this December and, if United claim a record 20th league title and win the Champions League at Wembley, he might take the opportunity to bow out at the top. Mourinho is the ideal man to keep his team there.
No
It is an inevitability; a done deal. The only man with the charisma and personality to step into the huge shoes of Sir Alex Ferguson is Jose Mourinho.
It’s a solid argument but has one key flaw. Taking over from arguably the most successful British manager of all time is surely going to be a poisoned chalice for even The Special One and one suspects that a man of his nous – and ego - knows this.
Wilf McGuinness anyone? Promoted from within to replace the great Sir Matt Busby, he lasted just 18 months before Busby took the reins again. The next manager, Frank O’Farrell, was also out on his ear after a year-and-a half.
The main problem McGuinness and O’Farrell faced was the giant shadow cast by the legendary Busby. And while Ferguson may decide against taking a director role as his fellow Scot did, his aura will remain at the shoulder of his successor regardless.
It is my guess that Mourinho will play the long game and let a lesser mortal suffer the post-Ferguson period, before riding in a on a white knight to restore United to glory.
Then of course there is the football – or lack of it, as Johan Cruyff and Alfredo di Stefano have complained in recent weeks.
Sir Bobby Charlton once claimed United's ideal was to provide entertainment for the working man who grafted all week to afford to see his heroes play. And even the most ardent Mourinho supporter would not pretend that entertainment has ever been on his agenda (except in press conferences, of course).
United at their best are swashbuckling by their nature. Mourinho is a manager who curbed the attacking instincts of Ashley Cole to such an extent that it took the former Arsenal man two years to return to top form.
Now where’s David Moyes’ phone number?
johannes shaninga | 26 April 2011
from my point of view, if the genuine Sir Alex did retire then only Jose can fill-up the gap...