ossie13 Posted April 12, 2007 Share Posted April 12, 2007 The world's four best managers? The prospect of an all-English Champions League final has given added weight to claims that the Barclays Premiership is the best league in the world. Whether that is true or not, there can be little debate that in Sir Alex Ferguson, Jos? Mourinho, Rafael Ben?tez and Ars?ne Wenger, England?s top division boasts four of the most accomplished managers in world football. James Ducker takes a look at their respective achievements and assesses their strengths and weaknesses Sir Alex Ferguson, Manchester United Age: 65, United manager since November 1986 Previous clubs (as manager): Aberdeen, St Mirren, East Stirlingshire Honours: (with United) 19 leading trophies including 8 FA Premier League titles, 5 FA Cups, 2 League Cups, 1 Champions League and 1 European Cup Winners? Cup; (with Aberdeen) 10 leading trophies including 3 Scottish League titles, 4 Scottish Cups and 1 European Cup Winners? Cup Strength: Master motivator, unquenchable thirst for success Weakness: Occasionally struggled to get tactics right in Europe - until Tuesday Run-in Apr 14 Watford (FA Cup semi-final) Apr 17 Sheffield Utd (h) Apr 21 Middlesbrough (h) Apr 24 AC Milan (h) Champions League semi-final first leg Apr 28 Everton (a) May 2 AC Milan (a) Champions League semi-final second leg May 5 Manchester City (a) May 9 Chelsea (a) May 13 West Ham United (h) Jos? Mourinho, Chelsea Age: 44, Chelsea manager since June 2004 Previous clubs (as manager): FC Porto, Uni?o de Leiria, Benfica Honours: (with Chelsea) FA Premier League 2004-05, 2005-06; League Cup 2005, 2007; (with Porto) Portuguese championship 2002-03, 2003-04; Cup of Portugal 2003; Portuguese Super Cup 2003; Uefa Cup 2003; Champions League 2004 Strengths: Unrivalled organisational skills, Ferguson?s only rival in the motivation stakes Weaknesses: Roman Abramovich may disagree, but largely flawless so far Run-in Apr 15 Blackburn Rovers (FA Cup semi-final) Apr 18 West Ham United (a) Apr 22 Newcastle United (a) Apr 25 Liverpool (h) Champions League semi-final first leg Apr 28 Bolton Wanderers (h May 1 Liverpool (a) Champions League semi-final second leg May 6 Arsenal (a) May 9 Manchester United (h) May 13 Everton (h) Rafael Ben?tez, Liverpool Age: 46, Liverpool manager since June 2004 Previous clubs (as manager): Valencia, Tenerife, Extremadura, Osasuna, Real Valladolid Honours: (with Liverpool) FA Cup 2006; Champions League 2005; European Super Cup 2005; (with Valencia) Spanish championship 2001-02, 2003-04; Uefa Cup 2004 Strengths: Tactical genius in Europe Weakness: Still to figure out properly the demands of the English game Run-in Apr 14 Manchester City (a) Apr 18 Middlesbrough (h) Apr 21 Wigan Athletic (h) Apr 25 Chelsea (a) Champions League semi-final first leg Apr 28 Portsmouth (a) May 1 Chelsea (h) Champions League semi-final second leg May 5 Fulham (a) May 13 Charlton Athletic (h) Ars?ne Wenger, Arsenal Age: 57, Arsenal manager since September 1996 Previous clubs (as manager): Nagoya Grampus Eight, AS Monaco, AS Nancy Honours: (with Arsenal) FA Premier League 1997-98, 2001-02, 2003-04; FA Cup 1998, 2002, 2003, 2005; (with Grampus Eight) J-League Super Cup 1996, Emperor?s Cup 1996; (with Monaco) French championship 1987-88, French Cup 1991 Strength: Supreme discoverer of young talent Weakness: Predilection for style over substance Run-in Apr 14 Bolton Wanderers (h) Apr 17 Manchester City (h) Apr 21 Tottenham Hotspur (a) Apr 29 Fulham (h) May 6 Chelsea (h) May 13 Portsmouth (a) BUT WE ALL KNOW WHO IS THE BEST!STEP FORWARD JOSE!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lofty Posted April 12, 2007 Share Posted April 12, 2007 The four best managers in the world, eh. Hmm let me think .... 1. Jose Mourinho 2. JM 3. The Special One 4. now I'm stuck ... oh I know. The ex-Porto manager, the one who won the Champions League for them. What was his name again? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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