Manager Duels: Sir Alex Ferguson Vs. Sir Matt Busby

Barney Corkhill introduces a special version of his Player Duels series, entitled Manager Duels. Here, he will compare two legendary managers, asking every reader to vote for which they think was better. Every Friday an edition of Manager Duels will be released.

Today we look at Manchester United's two longest and most successful managers: Sir Alex Ferguson and Sir Matt Busby.

Both Scotsmen, Ferguson and Busby both made Manchester United into one of the most dominant teams in the world in their respective eras. Both have achieved legendary status in not only Man Utd history but also English football history.

I'll start by looking at Sir Alex Ferguson:

Last season he saw his team win him his 10th Premier League title and his second Champions League crown, making him only the third British manager to have won the trophy more than once.

He started managing at East Stirlingshire in 1974, but soon left for St. Mirren, where he got his first taste of silverware, winning the Scottish First Division. After four years there he became manager of Aberdeen. It was here he really put himself on the map, winning three SPL titles, four Scottish Cup, a Scottish League Cup, a UEFA Super Cup, and a Cup Winners Cup in his eight year tenure.

In 1986 he moved to Manchester United and made them the most dominant team in England. He has won 10 Premier League crowns, five FA Cups, two League Cups, eight Community Shields, another Cup Winners Cup, and UEFA Super Cup, plus two Champions Leagues and the Intercontinental Cup.

In 1999 he was the mastermind behind the unprecedented treble. He has also won a truckload of individual awards, including eight Manager of Year awards and 21 Manager of the Month success. He has managed United in well over 1,000 matches.

Sir Matt Busby

Matt Busby is Man Utd's longest serving manager ever, and a legend at Old Trafford, despite his only two clubs as a player being arch-rivals Manchester City and Liverpool. When appointed as United manger, Busby set about moulding his own team, much like Ferguson was to do later. He replaced the old players with youngsters, and his team became known as "The Busby Babes."

However, in 1958 disaster struck in the Munich Air Crash, which killed seven United players, with the great Duncan Edwards later dying form the injuries he received. Two other players were too badly injured to play again, and Busby himself received the Last Rites twice.

But he bounced back and started to build another formidable team, including the likes of Bobby Charlton (a survivor of the crash), Denis Law, and George Best. In 1968, after overcoming the loss of one of the most promising teams in English history, Busby managed to clinch his first and only European Cup success.

As a manager he won the League five times, the Charity Shield five times, the FA Cup once, and that 1968 European Cup.

So, ladies and gentlemen, who is your pick? Sir Alex or Sir Matt? Remember anyone can vote, just leave a comment saying who you have picked.

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