As Sir Alex Ferguson’s glittering 26-year reign at the helm
of Manchester United comes to an end the question on everyone’s lips is who is
going to succeed him.
No doubt the United board will have a successor lined up and
with Ferguson taking a directorial role, it seems likely that he will have had
plenty of input into who this should be.
So who are the candidates, and what can they bring to the
table?
Leading the Way
David Moyes
Moyes is the bookies favourite and with growing speculation
about his Everton future throughout much of this year it is understandable.
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| David Moyes Photo: Mirror.co.uk |
Moyes is a manager with a great depth of Premier League
experience, as he is currently the third longest serving manager in the division,
behind Arsene Wenger and Ferguson himself.
Despite ten trophy-less seasons at Everton, Moyes has
succeeded in turning Everton into a regular top ten side, despite suffering financial disadvantages. He has spent wisely in the transfer market and
has commanded respect from his players, both reasons he is held in high
regard by the Manchester United boardroom.
United will want to ensure that they get this transition
right and a manager of longevity and security such as Moyes seems to be the
ideal fit. Fans may question his lack of success but given his financial
restrictions he has done exceptionally well to stabilise Everton.
The question will be how he copes with the step up to a club
challenging for the title and regularly playing in Europe, with no past
experience in either matter.
Jose Mourinho
It seems as though ‘the chosen one’ has been pining for the
Manchester United job for a while. There were signs that he was eyeing the job
in his post-match conference between his current side Real Madrid and United
earlier in the season and with Mourinho all but confirmed to be leaving Madrid in the summer,
it seems very likely.
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| Jose Mourinho Photo: Reuters |
Should Mourinho become manager, he
would almost definitely bring the club success as his record speaks for itself, picking up
twenty trophies in the last ten seasons. Not only does Mourinho bring a large
trophy cabinet, but he also brings an even larger personality, something
unquestionably required in order to manage a global corporation such as
Manchester United.
However, the question needs to be asked about Mourinho’s
long –term credibility. Managing four different clubs in ten years highlights
his tendency to become disillusioned with a club and depart sooner rather than
later. This goes hand-in-hand with his controversial nature, potentially
creating tension within the club, something the board will not want to
experience.
If the club are looking at short-term success, it seems an absolute
no-brainer that Mourinho is the right man for the job.
Outside Chance
Jurgen Klopp
German Football Manger of the Year for the past two seasons,
Jurgen Klopp has burst onto the managerial scene with his recent success at Borussia Dortmund, epitomised by their current place in the Champions League
final after beating Mourinho’s Real
Madrid 4-3 on aggregate.
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| Jurgen Klopp Photo: ibtimes.co.uk |
Klopp has led a fantastic project at Borussia
Dortmund where the focus on youth players will not have gone unnoticed by the
United. However, with starlet Mario Goetze already on his way
to Bayern Munich in the summer and transfer links to most of his other top
players, Klopp will certainly reconsider his position should he lose many of his
star men.
Klopp’s attractive, attacking style would certainly please
the fans however his youth could possibly count against him as United may be
looking for a manager with more experience. His relegation in 2007 with Mainz
05 and failure to regain promotion the following season is also likely to count
against him.
Whilst Klopp has the potential to excite it seems unlikely
that he will abandon his current club, especially during the current success
they are experiencing.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer
Few know the Manchester United system better than Ole
Gunnar Solskjaer who both played under Sir Alex, and worked alongside him as
Reserve Team Manager for two years.
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| Ole Gunnar Solskjaer Photo: metro.co.uk |
Since undertaking his first managerial appointment Solskjaer
has been largely successful, obtaining two Norwegian First Division titles in
two years, showing his prowess as a manager, despite a slow start to this season.
A fan-favourite, many would love to see Solskjaer return to
Old Trafford at some point, however it is definitely questionable whether this
move would be too early in his managerial career. Solskjaer himself would
probably say exactly that, having turned down the chance to become a Norwegian national
team coach in 2010.
It seems inevitable that Solskjaer will have some sort of
involvement with Manchester United in the future but it seems unlikely that he
will take over as manager at this present time
Best of the Rest
Ryan Giggs – The United legend recently amassed 1,000 senior
competitive appearances and would probably love to move into management.
However, with no experience in management it seems unlikely that he will take
over.
Frank de Boer –
The current Ajax manager has enjoyed success in the Netherlands but many would
question whether he has the character or personality to manage such an enormous
task.
Laurent Blanc –
The former Manchester United defender is currently unemployed but seems a
long-shot.
Gary Neville – Yet
another former Ferguson protégée, Neville has been linked, but having recently mastered
the effects board on Monday Night Football, he will probably want to further
his successful career in punditry.
According to the bookies, the battle seems to be between the
sensible and secure David Moyes and the charismatic and controversial Jose
Mourinho.
With a statement expected to be released within the next 48 hours,
excitement will only build over who will continue Ferguson’s lasting legacy.
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