There is no argument the job Sir Alex Ferguson has done at Manchester United is simply astonishing.
There is no argument the job Sir Alex Ferguson has done at Manchester United is simply astonishing.
In his 26 years in charge of the Red Devils he has surpassed numerous records and won a sensational 37 trophies in style. In December 2010 he made history becoming United’s longest-serving manager, passing the previous record set by Sir Matt Busby. However, as each season comes to a close, speculation on whether it is time for Ferguson to call it a day is always rife.
The 71-year-old is still going strong and insists he still has life in him yet, though like a burning fire, eventually the flames will die out. So who are the candidates that could replace him?
David Moyes
The Scot has been in charge of Everton for over a decade and has turned the blue half of Merseyside into a true force. They are now regarded as a top-six team in the Premier League and have built a squad capable of challenging for Europe. One of Moyes’ greatest achievements was guiding Everton to a top-four finish in 2005 where they fought off bitter rivals Liverpool to clinch fourth place.
Unfortunately Liverpool’s remarkable comeback in the Champions League final, where they came from 3-0 down to beat AC Milan on penalties, meant they competed in Europe’s prime competition ahead of Everton. Although Moyes has not delivered any silverware for The Toffees, it is the sheer consistency they show every season that he will be most credited with. He also deserves high praise for the quality of players he attracts to his squad with such a small budget. Some of the gems produced under the Moyes era include: Marouane Fellaini, Steven Pienaar, Phil Jagielka and Leon Osman, who have all excelled.
Being a fellow Scotsman and having always received generous praise from Ferguson, it appears the 49-year-old would be suited to be the next manager at Old Trafford. If Moyes can produce this success with a small budget, imagine what he could conjure up with the funds at Manchester United.
Pep Guardiola
Despite losing his first game in charge, Guardiola went on to win the treble in his first season at Barcelona, coincidently beating Manchester United in the Champions League Final. His success did not stop there—he managed to retain the La Liga title for another two seasons.
While turning the Catalan giants into a dominant force across Europe, he also picked up many individual awards to highlight his success. Obtaining awards such as FIFA world Coach of the Year in 2011 and the Don Balon award in 2009 and 2010 showed he was one of the best in the business.
If United want a young, ambitious manager then they will not get anyone better than Guardiola. He averaged a 72 percent win ratio in over 240 games, with his side playing some scintillating football, which would make the 42-year-old a perfect replacement.
José Mourinho
The ‘Special One’ has had many heated encounters with Manchester United and Ferguson over the years, so why not be the man to replace him?
No one can deny Mourinho has had success wherever he has managed. His time at Chelsea will be remembered for his massive ego and briefly shaking United’s domestic dominance. The 50-year-old continued to add to his impressive résumé by leading Inter Milan to a treble-winning campaign and subsequently capturing Real Madrid’s first La Liga title in four years.
Manchester United will not find any other manager that has such a high profile as Mourinho and that has a more impressive track record. Mourinho did state he would be interested in becoming Ferguson’s successor and has the backing of the current boss to do a good job.
He is one of the only managers to win the domestic league in four different countries and is looking to set the record as the first person to win the Champions League with three different teams. Could United be the team he manages if or when he achieves this feat?
Who do you think would be the best candidate to replace Sir Alex Ferguson if he decides to retire from Manchester United? Have your say in the comments section below, on Facebook or on Twitter.
