November 07, 2006

Twenty Years at Man Utd.: Yesterday marked Alex Ferguson's twentieth year at Old Trafford, and in that time he has won pretty much everything there is to win. Is he the greatest? And just how serious was he last year about packing it all in?

posted by Fence to soccer at 03:42 AM - 7 comments

I'm not a huge Fergie fan, but 20 years is some staying power, and he has done more than all right by Man Utd in his time there.

posted by Fence at 03:43 AM on November 07, 2006

Good piece on this from Simon Barnes here. That Belfast Telegraph article could be the worst written piece I've ever seen. I may have to move home and become a sports journalist if that's the standard required.

posted by JJ at 07:25 AM on November 07, 2006

Twenty years. One European Cup. For the 'richest club in the world'. Hmmm. Hardly the greatest, even when compared with the (very) average Bob Paisley. But you have to admire his longevity, and the fact that he did build one great team from youth ranks (Beckham, the Nevilles, Scholes, Butt etc). But Matt Busby also won a European Cup and built three great sides (1948, 1958 and 1968) over the same period. Ask any United fan over the age of 50 what they think!

posted by owlhouse at 02:02 PM on November 07, 2006

Meanwhile, Fergie and United lost tonight, to Southend.

posted by Mr Bismarck at 04:05 PM on November 07, 2006

Sadly, United losing gives me no further fodder against their fans. Such is the life of a City supporter.

posted by igottheblues at 04:47 PM on November 07, 2006

20 years... That's a hell of a career for a football manager at one team! Can any other team even come close to a managerial stint of that length?

posted by Drood at 06:39 PM on November 07, 2006

Dario Gradi, Crewe Alexandra. 23 years in charge as of last June. In fact his and Fergie's teams met in the League Cup round before last.

posted by owlhouse at 07:11 PM on November 07, 2006

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