Sir Alex Ferguson was all conquering at Manchester United – but have his players learnt for his success? We take a look at all his ex-players to determine who has proved the best manager
Sir Alex Ferguson, in the eyes of many, is the greatest manager to ever live. His success and honours, first at Aberdeen, then Manchester United, across several decades go before him.
But what about those who learned from him? There’s plenty who claim that a manager’s legacy is in part down to how they influence those around them. Johan Cruyff to Pep Guardiola an obvious example. The Manchester City boss has seen a number of those close to him – Mikel Arteta and Xabi Alonso – since go on to prove themselves in the dugout.
For Ferguson he’s seen many of his pupils struggle to translate being a great player into a great manager. The Class of 92 were the bedrock of United’s success, but few of those have made impressive careers in the dugout.
There are some exceptions and others still have time to prove themselves. Michael Carrick is someone tipped to enjoy an impressive spell as a manager and he’s now linked with the Rangers job.
Wayne Rooney and Ruud van Nistelrooy are more big names to turn their hand to management. The latter had an interim stint in Manchester and does have honours of his CV.
Mirror Football’s writers delved through the lengthy list of players to have learned from Ferguson to see who has had the best time of it as a manager.
Scott Trotter
None of Fergie’s disciples have truly become icons of management. There are trophies and promotions smattered with sackings and fading into obscurity for the most part. Laurent Blanc achieved plenty of success with PSG after winning a title with Bordeaux and is probably the most accomplished for now. But when it’s all said and done, who could be remembered as the best?
Carrick enjoyed a steady spell with Middlesbrough before being relieved of his duties but he has already had an endorsement from Cristiano Ronaldo for what he can achieve as a coach. The midfielder was understated during his playing career and his experience at the very top without being a superstar who cannot connect should stand him in good stead.
The former England star will be suited to a higher level of football and should thrive when given his opportunity. Even outside of management, he is preparing for the top in a technical observer role with UEFA.
A shout-out for Robin van Persie too. The legendary forward is flying with Feyenoord and could soon be pressing his case.
Tom Victor
If you wanted to be harsh, you might say the managerial careers of Ferguson’s United charges show he was a man who developed players rather than bosses. More generously, you might use it to argue his singular managerial talents were something not even he could teach.
There has been as much good as bad with even the more successful of Fergie’s charges. Steve Bruce and Mark Hughes both had high moments in the Premier League but looking at the relative decline of the pair makes it hard to make the case for them now, while Blanc surely had plenty of other influences to call upon before his late-career stint under Ferguson’s tutelage.
Others might eventually make something big happen, with Van Nistelrooy’s fast start derailed by his Leicester nightmare and Heinze going down the No.2 path for now – with some success – after an up-and-down career as the main man across the Americas.
Instead, I’m giving the nod to Mark Robins, who worked wonders in his second Coventry spell to earn two promotions despite a litany of off-field distractions – and even came within inches of stunning United in an FA Cup semi-final.
It’s not a great hit rate for Fergie, but Robins’ success came in a manner which would do his old mentor proud. Indeed, Ferguson himself had to overcome challenging spells before the success came, not least with a must-win cup tie where he was rescued by none other than Robins himself, so this one seems appropriate.
Daniel Orme
The United job is a poisoned chalice – and there’s only been one of Sir Alex’s former stars brave enough to claim the role. And that’s Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
Despite a difficult spell at Cardiff City, the Norwegian was a convenient if clever appointment by Red Devils chiefs in 2018. It immediately got the fans on side and given the form that United enjoyed during the early weeks of his tenure, it was a productive move.
Remarkably, he has managed the most games of any United boss since Ferguson’s retirement, a fact that shouldn’t be forgotten. And while Solskjaer did not manage to win a trophy and his spell in charge did not end in the best way, the fact he managed to stabilise what has been a perennially sinking ship is notable.
Sure, Blanc has the trophies and the pedigree. But the sheer fact that Solskjaer managed to make United look like a relatively competent outfit during his time in charge is arguably one of his biggest accomplishments.
Sam Meade
It is easy to look at Blanc and claimed that anyone can win with PSG, although it must be said the manner of his success was quite something. The French job maybe didn’t go as planned but his best managerial achievement is certainly claiming the title with Bordeaux.
Landing Ligue 1 in 2009 was a truly stunning effort. It was only Bordeaux’s sixth league title in their history and their first in a decade. Blanc’s managerial prowess was underlined the following year when they enjoyed a run to the last eight of the Champions League – which included securing a historic win over Bayern Munich at the Allianz Arena as they twice downed the German giants.
Among Ferguson’s homegrown players, Carrick has all the hallmarks of a manager who could go on to have an impressive managerial career. He had an unbeaten interim stint in Manchester in the wake of Solskjaer’s sacking.
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