With one of the best in the modern era retiring I thought it would sensible to open the debate? I think Fergie is up there with the best but I would't say he is the best, he struggled massively before Sky's investment and was never really a good coach, just an excellent manager. He left the coaching to Quieroz/Phelan/McLaren etc. I'm more of a football purist and I like managers that can revolutionise and improve the game as well as their own clubs, plus some of the things he did at St Mirren and Manchester United take a bit of the gloss off his career for me. The creation of the PL and entering into the business market + Edwards Share Issue meant Fergie had wealth that was completely unrivalled until Abramovich arrived on the scene. Rinus Michels, Arriago Saachi, Herbert Chapman, Brian Clough, Bob Paisley, Helenio Herrera and Matt Busby are up there for me. Alex Ferguson is too but I wouldn't put him up there with those due to the aforementioned reasons. Mourinho, Wenger and I'm sure Guardiola will make the list soon (still not sold on Pep but can't deny his achievements). I'd probably make Michels as my best as his philosophy is still used today by Barca and co and he won things at several places.
1Michels 2Paisley 3Mourinho 4Stein 5Fergie Michels the inventor of total football and voted coach of the century by his peers.
Also can't forget hitzfeld. 11 domestic titles with 4 different clubs, 2 CLs with 2 different clubs and countless domestic honours.
I'd loved to have had Brian Clough at SB! I'll always remember coming out of Wembley with 5 of my mates in 1970 after our 2-2 draw with Leeds and one of them spotted Brian. He shouted to him "Enjoy the game Brian?" and Cloughie turned round and walked back towards us against the tide of people and gave us a 5 minute diatribe on his view of the game! What a bloke--for me he is the ultimate and I'll always believe he is the man Jose tried to emulate!
That Derby County team Cloughie brought from the 2nd div to the 1st and then won the 1st was one of the really great teams, McFarland, Gemmil, Colin Todd,David Nish,. Kevin Hector, Alan Hinton. Every position was taken by a great player, and they just attacked and attacked. Used to watch them play West Ham, also a great team then. Usually a stonking 2 or 3 all draw !!
