10 Reasons Sir Alex Ferguson's Successor Should Be a Former Player

Jose Mourinho will be the next Manchester United manager. That's what "the Chosen One" and the bookmakers would have you believe. But that's how they make money.

Right now, the list of candidates that you could lose your shirt on is as long as your arm, but Jose has shortened to as little as evens favourite with Stan James and is less than 3-1 in several places.

This is hardly surprising, as Sir Alex is said to rate him and Jose is a world-class self-publicist. He has done extraordinarily well wherever he has gone and stands an excellent chance of knocking Barcelona off their perch.

As is the way at Real Madrid, he is now expected to leave at the end of this season, even though he originally signed for much longer than that. Real managers don't last long—even when they are successful—as Vicente del Bosque will tell you.

Why it Probably Won't be Mourinho

If you take Sir Alex's words literally, he will stay at least another three years. Unless Jose is filibustering to get a better contract, he will be available too soon. OK, so he could go somewhere else in the meantime, but not to a top Premier League club. That wouldn't work for Sir Alex.

It is said that the Scottish knight will have the final say on who succeeds him. He will certainly have some very clear ideas already, but he seems to change his mind. When Carlos Queiroz returned as coach, the rumour was that Sir Alex had promised him he would succeed him.

And there are plenty of people who will tell you Sir Alex will pick a fellow Scot. There is no shortage of candidates, with no less than seven managing in the Premier League right now:

David Moyes

Alex McLeish

Owen Coyle

Brendan Rodgers

Paul Lambert

Kenny Dalglish

Steve Kean

While Dalglish has no chance, Lambert and Rodgers are young and play the right style of football.

As for Mourinho, Sir Alex would have to step aside to accommodate him and there are reasons enough to worry those with the power at Old Trafford.

While Sir Alex has occasionally ruffled feathers all the way to the FA and Referees Association, he seems tame compared to some of Mourinho's wilder excesses at Real Madrid. Furthermore, Sir Alex is an entrepreneur, whereas Jose is a pragmatist. The style with which Inter won the Champions League simply won't do.

Who are the "Illustrious" Candidates?

A club like United can attract the best managers in the game—especially when you see how long the two greatest have lasted, with 25 years apiece. Who wouldn't be tempted by that sinecure?

So Carlo Ancelotti, Martin O'Neill, Fabio Capello and Guus Hiddink are obvious suspects, based on their success and style. One wonders if Mancini would turn down the offer if asked, or especially Pep Guardiola? He would surely get Sir Alex's imprimatur.

Why a Former Player?

Well, for starters, there is no shortage of candidates. The question is, how many could be taken seriously? In no particular order, they are:

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer

Eric Cantona

Mark Hughes

Gary Neville

Laurent Blanc

Roy Keane

Bryan Robson

Paul Ince

Steve Bruce

Gordon Strachan

Brian Kidd

David Beckham

Darren Ferguson

Mike Phelan

Brian McClair

Rio Ferdinand

Ryan Giggs

Paul Scholes

Edwin van der Sar

And Paul McGuinness, who currently manages the Academy side

The vast majority of those are non-starters for reasons that don't need explaining. The rest we shall consider later.

So why should a former player succeed Sir Alex as manager?

Sir Alex's Legacy

Whoever succeeds Sir Alex has to understand the legacy he will leave and knit seamlessly into that continuing path.

In business and in many football clubs, the board will take the view that a "new broom sweeps clean." However, that is not the United way.

Of course, a new manager has to stamp his own personality on the club and the squad, but anyone who thinks he can come in and tear up the script must think again.

Sir Alex doesn't get everything right, but he will be a tough act to follow. He may well have a role upstairs, in the board room, as Sir Matt Busby did for a period. Sir Alex will have the whit to be available when needed but unless things are going badly wrong, to leave well alone. That is how Sir Matt helped him.

Whenever he goes, he will leave a group of players who love him or look up to him. Cristiano Ronaldo regarded him as a second father figure. His paternal manner has been called upon many times. One of his great qualities is that players almost young enough to be his great-grandson still revere him.

United will dread his going, and they dare not simply cast his legacy adrift, partly because he still has pull with players and can attract them to the club. Some came to the club because of him.

He may increasingly become an ambassador, like Sir Bobby Charlton, but he will be available on his terms when needed.

Whoever succeeds him must respect him but be enough of his own man to make his own mark and eventually good-naturedly push the great man aside. So above all, Sir Alex must respect and approve of his successor also, which is why he'll have some say.

Yes, there are world-class managers that Sir Alex admires and respects, such as Guardiola and Ancelotti but, being the paternalist that he is, he may prefer someone who has grown under him, knows his ways and to whom he can entrust the burden of his own legacy.

Which is probably why Mourinho has sought to cultivate a "master/teacher" relationship with him, as he did with Sir Bobby Robson from whom he learned so much at Barcelona. 

Continuity and Loyalty

Among the coaches and assistant managers Sir Alex has worked with are Steve McClaren, Brian Kidd, Carlos Queiroz and Rene Meulenstein. Not all of them are former United players.

In Mike Phelan, he appointed someone who is steeped in the tradition of United, from player through to management. In the same way, he has entrusted the Academy to "Choccy" McClair, while the coaching is by Paul McGuinness, not only an ex-player, but son of an ex-player and manager.

Phelan is not the coach, but he has the trust and loyalty of the players. If an ex-player is appointed to succeed Sir Alex, it is certain to be one who played under him and either his assistant or the first team coach may similarly be an ex-player. There is no shortage of candidates.

From the continuity point of view, it is ideal that the coaching and management hierarchy is steeped in ex-players, from First Team down to Academy. 

This is not to imply that Sir Alex's way is right all the time. Teams and their tactics need to constantly evolve, not only to match and exceed the opposition, but also because fresh thinking comes along. Look, for example, how a growing number of coaches are following the "ticky tacky" style of Barcelona.

There was another clear example last night, with Jonny Evans and Rio Ferdinand playing much wider apart than centre-backs at United used to play. That is another modern evolution. At times it also looked like the more advanced tactic of three centre-backs was being used (as advocated here).

With a management and coaching team known to the players, including Meulenstein (who coached so many of the rising stars as youths), Warren Joyce and some of the "superstars," like Giggs, Scholes and Ferdinand, there is not only a good chance of keeping the existing squad together, but also creating a new footballing dynasty in the process.

So continuity and loyalty are achieved by appointing a credible ex-player to head that dynasty.

Intimate Understanding and Affinity

Great coach though he is and highly acceptable candidate to succeed Sir Alex, how on earth could someone like Carlo Ancelotti gain an intimate understanding and affinity with the club and its players?

It took Roberto Mancini over a year to stamp his style and personality on Manchester City, and it was easier because they didn't have an established style or much tradition with no trophies in over 35 years and 16 managers in the previous 20 years!

Any United player would already have that understanding, viz Sir Alex's expectation that it takes at least a year to understand and adopt the "Manchester United way."

Neither we nor Sir Alex would be looking for a new manager to adhere strictly to his style and modus operandi, but nor would they be expected to smash it.

If it ain't broke, don't fix it...

Style: Winning over Supporters

This photo sums up the scale of the challenge for Sir Alex's successor. He is a god with the Stretford End, and they make up only a fraction of the crowd, let alone those who watch in any one season.

As Paul Pogba's debut showed last night, the Stretford End can make or break a player. With one dummy by the talented 18-year-old, there was a mighty gasp and after that everything was applauded. All it needed was a goal and he would have been an instant hero (as Darron Gibson was, for scoring against City!)

This, together with continuity of the level of success that Sir Alex has achieved, sum up the enormity of the task for his successor. Look at Arsene Wenger. The Arsenal fans are turning against him.

This is why it is a no-brainer for the United hierarchy to either go for an "instant hero" such as Pepe Guardiola or Jose Mourinho, or someone they already know and love.

It is also why Sir Alex must remain in the board room until his successor is fully established and accepted. Like Sir Matt before him, he can mentor and advise his successor and can also stand up for him in the first few months. "Have patience...I believe in him..."

After all, it is well-established that Sir Alex was given far more time than many managers would be before he was successful. It is a deep investment that has paid handsome returns.

The supporters will be potentially very critical of early mistakes and errors of judgement (viz David de Gea) but also very fair to someone who they believe has the talent and the "right stuff." This is why appointing someone who has Red Devil blood through his veins like Blackpool through a stick of rock will get a better chance and longer opportunity than an outsider. 

Most important—and this applies to Mourinho if he were appointed instead—the new manager must understand and play the United way. That's why a former player is the "no-brainer" option.

Coaching Talent

He may not have excelled at Hull City, but he is doing a darned good job with the next generation of United talent in the Reserves. 

Until he came back from retirement, Paul Scholes regularly stood beside Warren Joyce; recently Darren Fletcher has filled that gap while he recovers from illness.

These are intelligent players, taking their coaching badges, learning the ropes, developing relationships with youngsters, aspiring to be managers and ensuring continuity.

If an internal appointment were made from a past player as manager, the wider coaching team will and must include such United greats.

And whoever it is must have exceptional and unquestionable coaching ability. In short, they must have coaching talent and ability to coach talent, turning lead into gold or simply mining nuggets.

Unlike Sir Alex, who is referred to as "coach" in foreign press, he is a manager in the traditional sense. The modern manager is first and foremost a coach—ideally a former player at the highest level—with the intelligence, whit and experience to manage as well—especially the media.

Jose Mourinho may have been an exception to the rule, in being an average player who arrived via a translator's role into one of the most prestigious coaching jobs in the world. In Europe you are a coach, and somebody else scouts and buys the talent. Sometimes you make the most of what you are given. 

Age Versus Experience

This is the nub of two problems Manchester United face now and soon.

Right now, Sir Alex is trying to find the right balance in his squad between youth and experience. He has given Danny Welbeck, Rafael, Fabio, Phil Jones and Tom Cleverly their chance, as he did with Giggs, Scholes, Nicky Butt, Beckham and the Neville brothers.

But how far does he go? In last night's squad were Pogba and Will Keane. On Saturday, the former and Michael Keane were on the bench. Zeki Fryers seems to have established his credentials, but there is a truckload of talent still coming through—20 or so first team prospects.

Similarly, there is the dilemma of who to succeed Sir Alex. Some would like Harry Redknapp because Tottenham's style is similar to United's and always has been. But Harry is almost an OAP at 65 in March. Capello is also 65.

Mourinho and Ancelotti are the right age at 48 and 52 respectively, matching relative "youth" with world-class experience. 

Any of the above four could come in for a period with a talented ex-United player as their right-hand man to succeed in due course, but why not go the whole way with Sir Alex as that right hand man, but at arm's length.

Solskjaer, at 38, is four years older than Andre Villas-Boas, so when are you too young? Brendan Rodgers and Roberto Martinez are 38, and Paul Lambert is 32.

The case strengthens. Pep Guardiola was 37 when he took the reins at Barcelona, three years ago. Since then he has won 13 major trophies.

If you're good enough, you're old enough... 

Cost vs. Risk

Chelsea paid Porto £13 million to release him from his contract. He may well be on a salary of £6 million a year. Add to that the cost of missing out on Champions League qualification if the present drift continues, and his appointment could be seen as a highly expensive risk.

Wilf McGuinness is a lovely man and a former Manchester United player, who succeeded Sir Matt Busby. Like Frank O'Farrell, who succeeded him, however, he was hopelessly out of his depth. Both lasted a mere 18 months.

In three years, a great deal of financial and lasting damage could be done to Manchester United by sequential failure and loss of momentum if a relatively inexperienced manager failed, even though he would at first be an inexpensive option.

However, experience and high salary do not in themselves guarantee success. Mourinho may leave Real Madrid at the end of the season, having won nothing this year. There is no guarantee that Barcelona won't win everything again.

Steve Kean is the inexpensive option at Blackburn and look what he has achieved, together with the damage to their brand; Sven Goran Eriksson was hardly a roaring success at City and he was one of the highest paid managers in the history of the game.

There is so much to be juggled here, which makes the case even more for a former player with Sir Alex to call on when needed-—even maybe with a transition period as assistant manager before succeeding the Scot.

Barcelona vs. Real Madrid

Questions: When did Real Madrid last win the Champions League? 2001-02

How many managers have they had in that time? 11

How many were former players? Four, the most successful being Vicente del Bosque, the coach of world champions Spain.

Who was their most successful manager ever? Miguel Munoz, manager for 15 years, having retired as a Real Madrid player two years earlier.

The two most successful Barcelona coaches ever are Pep Guardiola and Johan Cruyff—both former players—with the latter creating a dynasty of style and footballing development similar to those established by Sir Matt and Sir Alex at United.

Two years ago, it is arguable that United and Barcelona were the two best clubs in the world. The latter has evolved with a style that is learned from primary school age, which others (like Brendan Rodgers at Swansea) have sought to emulate.

So a case can be made for a former United player, but while the jury is still out it should be said that Pep Guardiola would do very nicely, thank you.

Lack of Suitable Alternatives

If this chap makes the top 10 with one bookmaker, there is something seriously wrong with the quality of suitable candidates. At least there are five ex-players ahead of him in the betting...

There are good candidates: Jose Mourinho, Pep Guardiola and Carlo Ancelotti all make the top seven on another list.

Five years ago, I was playing golf at Turnberry. We were paired with two Americans who had caddies from Glasgow. Celtic fans. (There were strong United connections at the time).

"Who do you think will be next United manager?" "Martin O'Neill...nailed on!"

And who knows? He turned down all job offers after he left Aston Villa until the Sunderland job came up. Was he saving himself for United? He has the right pedigree, and as he has shown on Wearside that he can establish immediate rapport and win the players' confidence.

David Moyes' name also keeps coming up, but although he is a friend of Sir Alex (who it is widely rumoured will have a strong say in his successor), he has hardly any experience in Europe, which is absolutely critical.

Apart from Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, the second-most fancied ex-player, according to the bookmakers, is Laurent Blanc, currently French national manager. But unless United are planning to do an Arsenal, he would be an odd choice. (Much better suited to succeeding Wenger?)

Meanwhile, Mark Hughes is creating a useful cv, including three Premiership clubs to date. He has loads of experience in Europe as a player, including Barcelona, and is a firm fans' favourite as a former player.

The Likely Lads

No, Eric. The chances of you being United manager are even worse than you being French president (a recent rumour).

While we listed 20 former players fit and appropriate enough to even be considered, at the start of this article, very few are seriously credible candidates.

Bryan Robson can be discounted on health grounds; Brian Kidd is tarnished by City (although funnily enough "Sparky" has survived that without losing respect); many others with strong credentials can also be readily discounted, such as Gordon Strachan, Roy Keane and Brian McClair.

Laurent Blanc cannot be ruled out, because of his good relationship with Sir Alex, but is unlikely. Steve Bruce is a strong candidate according to some fans, but there are serious question marks over his success rate and the calibre of clubs he has managed. Paul Ince is frankly a non-starter.

So we are left with only two serious candidates, in my opinion—Mark Hughes and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. The latter could be regarded as Sir Alex's prodigy. He would reasonably be expected to surround himself with a coaching team including Giggs, Scholes, Ferdinand and Neville, as well as people he respects greatly, like Warren Joyce and Rene Meulenstein.

Meanwhile, upstairs and at the end of the phone would be "the gaffer" until such a time as the two mutually agreed that, like Sir Matt before him, it was time for Sir Alex to permanently retire.

If it's going to happen, don't be surprised if it happens sooner, rather than later. The "three more years" could be a smokescreen (after what happened last time). Ole will take Molde into the Champions League next season. If they go out early, he could be available; if they do well, he could be available a few months later.