David Gwilliam
Well-Known Member
"Writing off a manager because he is Scottish is ridiculous. In fact Scotland have a very good record of producing great managers."
Profondo's comment on managers on another thread is quite right. It led me to put my own list of the ten best managers in England since the war. Any such list is, of course,aimed to provoke.
(1) Brian Clough
(2) Alf Ramsey
(3) Matt Busby
(4) Sir Alex Ferguson
(5) Bill Shankley/Bob Paisley
(6) Stan Cullis
(7) Bill Nicholson
(8) Don Revie
(9) Arsene Wenger
(10) Kenny Dalglish
Brian Clough for me comes top because when he took over Derby and Forest they were languishing near the bottom of the 2wnd division and to talk of them competing with Man U and Liverpool would have seemed ridiculous. He also did it while playing sporting and attractive football the opposite of his enemy Don Revie.
Alf Ramsey not only won the world cup but created a side that was even better in 1970 when only injury to Gordon Banks let us down. He was sacked after the most one-sdied of 1-1 draws. His world cup success should not obscure the fact that he won the First Civision with Ipswich.
It is difficult to separate Busby and Ferguson. I have given Busby the niod because when he took over Man U they were not a big club. He created a side that was not only the best in England bujt was actually popular. No club has ever suffered what Man U suffered in the air crash yet in 1968 he had another great side. It is difficult to imagine how good the 1968 side would have been if Duncan Edwards had lived - suffice to say that he was the most gifted young player I have ever seen including Best and Rooney.
Sir Alex is clearly the best of the current managers - though I have not included Mourhino because his time uin England was so short.
I have never been able to separate Shankley from Paisley. I think Paisley actually won more but it was with the club that Shankley had built.
It is difficult to separate Cullis from Nicholson. I have picked Cullis because he won ther 1st Division with Wolves a smaller club and because he was one of the pioneers of playing European football.
Some people would rank Don Revie higher. I find it difficult to rank him at all since it is pretty certain that he made two failed attempts at bribery on at least two occasiuons - we are less likely to find out about any successful bribes.
Although Arsene Wenger is not British his achievements have been in England. For a number of years he was able to rival Sir Alex with far less money. He also ended the Arsenal reputation for cynical football that stretched from Bertie Mee to George Graham.
I have the feeling that I may have underrated Kenny Dalglish - perhapos because he is so boring - but his achievemerrnts at Blackburn and Liverpool must get him in the top ten.
I have left noiut Jock Stein since I do not know enough about Scottish football to judge him.His time in English football with Leeds was very short.
No doubt I will soon be reading how wrong my list is. I look forward to it.
Profondo's comment on managers on another thread is quite right. It led me to put my own list of the ten best managers in England since the war. Any such list is, of course,aimed to provoke.
(1) Brian Clough
(2) Alf Ramsey
(3) Matt Busby
(4) Sir Alex Ferguson
(5) Bill Shankley/Bob Paisley
(6) Stan Cullis
(7) Bill Nicholson
(8) Don Revie
(9) Arsene Wenger
(10) Kenny Dalglish
Brian Clough for me comes top because when he took over Derby and Forest they were languishing near the bottom of the 2wnd division and to talk of them competing with Man U and Liverpool would have seemed ridiculous. He also did it while playing sporting and attractive football the opposite of his enemy Don Revie.
Alf Ramsey not only won the world cup but created a side that was even better in 1970 when only injury to Gordon Banks let us down. He was sacked after the most one-sdied of 1-1 draws. His world cup success should not obscure the fact that he won the First Civision with Ipswich.
It is difficult to separate Busby and Ferguson. I have given Busby the niod because when he took over Man U they were not a big club. He created a side that was not only the best in England bujt was actually popular. No club has ever suffered what Man U suffered in the air crash yet in 1968 he had another great side. It is difficult to imagine how good the 1968 side would have been if Duncan Edwards had lived - suffice to say that he was the most gifted young player I have ever seen including Best and Rooney.
Sir Alex is clearly the best of the current managers - though I have not included Mourhino because his time uin England was so short.
I have never been able to separate Shankley from Paisley. I think Paisley actually won more but it was with the club that Shankley had built.
It is difficult to separate Cullis from Nicholson. I have picked Cullis because he won ther 1st Division with Wolves a smaller club and because he was one of the pioneers of playing European football.
Some people would rank Don Revie higher. I find it difficult to rank him at all since it is pretty certain that he made two failed attempts at bribery on at least two occasiuons - we are less likely to find out about any successful bribes.
Although Arsene Wenger is not British his achievements have been in England. For a number of years he was able to rival Sir Alex with far less money. He also ended the Arsenal reputation for cynical football that stretched from Bertie Mee to George Graham.
I have the feeling that I may have underrated Kenny Dalglish - perhapos because he is so boring - but his achievemerrnts at Blackburn and Liverpool must get him in the top ten.
I have left noiut Jock Stein since I do not know enough about Scottish football to judge him.His time in English football with Leeds was very short.
No doubt I will soon be reading how wrong my list is. I look forward to it.