Other Sports

The King is Dead, Long Live the King

May 14th, 2013
by Weeshie Fogarty

 Whether by accident or design, let the readers decide for themselves, my column here last week was dedicated entirely to the spectacular career of Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson and when this paper was published on the Wednesday the news broke very same day that the legendary manager was in fact resigning from his illustrious position after twenty six hightly successful years in charge of this iconic club. Thousand of words have been spoken and written since his dramatic announcement and the news received world wide media attention. Now however it is all about the new man David Moyes and only time will tell if he is the "right man" for what is one of the biggest jobs in world football. And the right man to take on the most daunting job in football was to be 'cut from the same cloth' as Sir Alex Ferguson and this was the chatter from relations in Manchester when I spoke to them during the week. There were other buzz words such as: 'respect, heritage, youth development, tradition, the United way, etc. The Premier League champions had already decided upon their man before rumors circulated on Tuesday night that this would be Ferguson's last season. He has worked too long and hard to build a winning structure over twenty six years at Old Trafford to announce his departure without a succession plan in place. And in this, of all years, United were not short of choice candidates.

It is a measure of their confidence in Moyes that in a summer when Jose Mourinho and Pep Guardiola in particular would have been available, they opted for the Everton manager instead. When asked by chief executive David Gill for their say, Ferguson and notably Sir Bobby Charlton mentioned just one name, David Moyes. We have heard Charlton repeatedly stating misgivings about Mourinho's suitability for the job even if a large number of United supporters have long-seen the so called Special One as the ideal candidate. He has always been too self centered for me, continuously moves from club to club and his sullen demeanor at all times is not a pretty sight.

United wanted a manager with a proven commitment to developing youth, as Moyes has done at Everton. Youth and United have always been one and the same since the time of the legendary Busby Babes back in the fifties when Busby built that wonderful team mainly from the clubs youth academy. And they wanted a man for the long term. Again Moyes fits the bill after eleven years at Goodison Park, while Mourinho has never lasted much longer than three years in one place. Provided Moyes is a success and this for me is the burning question, only time will tell, United could envisage him remaining in the job for a decade or more. The major question mark about his suitability concerns a lack of trophies on his CV and minimal European experience. The second division title with Preston in 2000 is the only piece of silverware he has won in fifteen years of management, yet three  Manager of the Year awards point to his standing amongst those who know the game.

Moyes was always in Fergusons thinking and when asked some years ago who he thought were the best current managers in the Premier League – not including himself – Ferguson listed Arsene Wenger, Moyes and Martin O'Neill in that order. In the years since then Moyes has guided Everton to fifth, eighth and seventh twice on a shoestring budget in Premier League terms. This is a massive achievement in any mans language. Wenger was never in the frame for the job and o Neill who I always felt would manage United at some stage has had a bad run of late and his magic touch seems to have deserted him. 

And as far as being cut from the same cloth as British football's most successful manager, Ferguson has spoken in the past of the benefit of his own Glaswegian roots. I heard him being asked in an interview a few years ago why so many of the game's top managers come from north of the border – Sir Matt Busby, Jock Stein and Bill Shankly, he said: "I think we're back to the values we grew up with in the kind of places we came from. hard work, teamwork strong beliefs." Words that apply to all sports and particularly in my opinion here in Kerry, "the Manchester United of Gaelic football".

So how will David Moyes perform in his new position. Well he is I believe extremely fortunate, he is going into a football club where everything is near perfect, usually a new man coming in is faced with massive problems, not here.  Manchester United is a colossal football club. People of course are asking how you follow Ferguson, it is simple, or is it, play attractive football, bring young players through and win a championship. It was tough going for Moyes at Everton, a club high on tradition, but low on finance. And his ability to identify talent and build a strong team spirit on limited resources is the true testament of his achievements. He was brilliant at this. Manchester supporters especial those of us who have vivid memories stretching back to the time of the Busby Babes would have hoped for someone to respect the history and tradition of the club, someone who is there for the long-term. David Moyes appears to tick all the right boxes. The club does not go for quick-fixes, massive changes, complete new staff etc. Manchester United doesn't operate that way, they have an element of sense and there has been for the last sixty years.

However I see one small cloud on the horizon. When Matt Busby retired in 1969, he remained involved in the club and returned as manager in 1970. Wilf McGuiness and Frank o Farrell both lasted just one solitary year in the manager's position. Busby's continued presence at the club completely undermined their position when results went against them. And now Ferguson will also remain upstairs. Hopefully however in this instance with Moyes it is a case of. "The king is dead, long live the king".


Sections

Search Articles



 
Radio Kerry - The Voice of the Kingdom