With United favourites to win the European Cup on Wednesday, there has been much debate surrounding whether Sir Alex Ferguson will finally retire. After going back on his decision to do so in 2002, the question of when he will leave us has been brought up time and again. Between 2004 and 2006, many hacks claimed Fergie made the wrong decision in deciding to stay on. Sports Journalist of the Year two years running, Oliver Holt, had several unkind things to say about our manager as he approached his 20th year in charge, just 6 months before he ended our 3 year title drought.
Next Monday, Sir Alex Ferguson will celebrate 20 years in charge of Manchester United. In some ways, I’d like to join in the accompanying orgy of back-slapping and misty-eyed remembrance. But I can’t. I’m happy to acknowledge that after Bob Paisley and Brian Clough, Ferguson has been one of the most successful and brilliant managers in English football history. But like celebrating his pal Tony Blair’s 10 years as prime minister next May, Fergie’s anniversary amounts to nothing more than a lazy and meaningless ballyhoo for a man who has stayed on too long. Whatever United go on to achieve this season or in seasons to come, nothing changes the fact that Ferguson should have quit in 2002 when he said he was going to quit. But then, depending on what you want to believe, his nerve failed him, his wife got to him or he found out how much Sven Goran Eriksson was going to be earning as his replacement. And so he made one of the worst and weakest decisions of his life and decided to stay on. In the four years that have elapsed since, his legacy has been irrevocably tarnished…The European dynasty Ferguson vowed to found never materialised. The win in the Nou Camp in 1999 was a one-hit wonder.
Of course Holt, like all the other ABUs who slated Sir Alex Ferguson, haven’t been too quick to hold their hands up and admit their mistakes following the consecutive titles wins Fergie claimed this season and last.
Fergie’s decision to stay on has been vindicated by the new squad he has built, the trophies he has since won (Three league titles: 2003, 2007, 2008. One FA Cup: 2004. One League Cup: 2006) and will only be further proven if we are crowned European Champions again on Wednesday.
There is not a chance of him leaving his post before he has at least equalled Liverpool’s 18 titles, so I am not at all concerned about rumours stating he’ll leave if we win the Champions League, however, he’s not getting any younger, and we do have to consider that in five years time, he probably won’t be the United manager anymore.
I recently read an article on RedRants.com about who should take over from Fergie when he decides to go. From all the people linked to take over, from Roy Keane to Martin O’Neil, Mark Hughes to Jose Moruinho, the strong conclusion was whoever it was, it shouldn’t be Queiroz, but I have strong reason to believe that it our current number two who should get the job.
Track Record
Manchester United is a club which has always focussed on the importance of nurturing youth. From the Busby Babes to “the kids” of the 90s, and now, our most recent batch of youngsters including Ronaldo, Rooney, Anderson and Nani, we are a club that has always had a healthy mix of established and young players. It is the United way.
Carlos Queiroz excels in this field and is something he has a great interest in. The Portuguese “Golden Generation”, which included the talents of Luis Figo and Rui Costa, was attributed to his scouting. His work with the Under-20s in Portugal, discovering talent, saw them develop and as the first team years late, reach the 2000 European Championship semi-finals, then finalists 4 years later, as well as the 2006 World Cup semis.
Ronaldo, Nani and Anderson are Queiroz’s latest successes. Ronaldo was a player who he had followed throughout his developing career. The club were split on whether it was Queresma or Ronaldo they wanted, with Queiroz pushing for the latter. Carlos organised a friendly with his former club, Sporting Lisbon, in the summer of 2003, so that Ferguson could get a better look at the young talent. Ronaldo played a blinder and was signed not long after.
Following the World Cup 2006, Cristiano Ronaldo was ready to pack his bags for Madrid. It seemed as though his position at United was unattainable, following the dreadful press he received in England. Queiroz was on the first plane to Portugal after news broke Ronaldo was set to sign for Real Madrid and played a crucial role in keeping him at the club.
How important was that? In 53 appearances for the club that season, Ronaldo scored 23 goals and had 20 assists to his name. In the season just gone, Ronaldo has scored 41 goals and has and 7 assists in his 47 games.
Ronaldo has hinted that he might leave the club when Ferguson does, but a lot of his development can be attributed to Queiroz, who took him under his wing when he joined the club as a teenager. The exit of both Ferguson and Queiroz would ensure the exit of Ronaldo too, as well as possibly Anderson and Nani.
Failure at Real Madrid?
An argument against appointing Queiroz is his failure at Real Madrid, in the 2003-2004 season. Leaving United for what he felt would be his big moment, ended without silverware. Despite topping the table with a few months to go, the season ended in disaster, with Real losing their last 5 games and finishing 4th.
However, what is rarely highlighted when this argument is made are the conditions Queiroz was working under. Florentino Perez, the Real Madrid president, got too big for his boots, and fired manager Vicente Del Bosque who had just won the title. Understandably, the players were not happy about the president’s decision, which resulted in the likes of Claude Makelele, Fernando Hierro and Fernando Morientes leaving the club. Queiroz worked to keep Makelele, recognising his importance, and supporting the claim, backed by team mates Zidane and Raul, for an improved contract for the midfielder. Makelele, one of the lowest earners at the time, was shunned by Perez, would not have his authority undermined, and sold him on to Chelsea. “We will not miss Makélélé,” he said. “His technique is average, he lacks the speed and skill to take the ball past opponents, and ninety percent of his distribution either goes backwards or sideways.”
Queiroz spotted 20-year-old Brazilian defender, Pepe, playing for Portuguese side Marítimo. Available for just 2 million Euros, Queiroz wanted to buy him. However, Perez overruled him, claiming defenders didn’t sell shirts so he wasn’t interested. Three years later, Real Madrid bought him for 30 million Euros.
Rumour has it this boisterous president was picking the teams for Queiroz, forcing him in to playing the big named stars regardless of their form.
Therefore, I don’t think his one season at Real Madrid serves any purpose in deciding whether he is up for the job at United.
Fergie was on the phone after Queiroz was sacked, and despite being offered further managerial jobs in the Premiership and La Liga, couldn’t turn United’s number 2 position down. “I’m here on a mission to repay a debt to Alex,” he said, “but to be in charge – that’s the reason everybody works. When it’s the right time to make a decision, I’ll do it.”
Transition
After having one manager at the club for over twenty years, it is important that the transition from one boss to the next is a smooth one. The backroom staff, the training routines, the relationship with the manager, and the weekly routines, could all be thrown out of the window. 22+ years of habit is a tough thing to replace and the gap vacated by Ferguson will be too large to plug for some time. It is therefore important that the transition from one manager to the next is a slow and stress-free experience, and I believe that is what we are undergoing at the moment.
I trust Sir Alex Ferguson’s judgement and if he’s going to give Queiroz so much access to our team and our tactics, it’s because he trusts him to do a job. Time and again we all may have been guilty of questioning Fergie’s judgement, but more often than not, he comes good. How can United compete with a team full of kids? How could Ronaldo replace Beckham? What will United win without Keane? Why did we spend £5.5 million on a little, French left back who had a mare on derby day? Why are you selling Ince, Kanchelskis and Hughes all in one summer? Why bring on John O’Shea to replace Rooney when we’re getting hammered by Liverpool at Anfield? Why the hell do we want Leedscum’s Eric Cantona? The list goes on and on…
What on earth are you doing letting this creepy Portuguese guy having anything to do with our team? He has been our number two for our last three title winning seasons, so surely he’s got to be doing something right.
His negative tactics didn’t go down well with the fans, playing defensive formations that was, along with our injuries, resulting in a poor standard of football and little to celebrate. But United have moved away from that now, under the guidance of Queiroz as much as Fergie, although are still able to revert back to it when needed. Our performances against Roma and Barcelona in the CL quarter and semi finals this season were like nothing I’ve ever seen at United. Composed, solid and defensive, and it worked, despite not having an out and out striker which would have made us all the more effective for the chances we did create. Were these performances the result of Ferguson, or can they be attributed to Queiroz’s handiwork?
Queiroz knows our players, he knows our staff, he knows how United works. When Ferguson leaves and if Queiroz isn’t handed the job, he will be out as well. He won’t stick around to be number two to anyone else at United. To have all his methods totally erased and replaced by somebody entirely new, after more than two decades of Sir Alex Ferguson, could have disastrous effects on our club.
No manager would bring with them a guarantee of success and filling Fergie’s shoes will be the toughest job in football. However, that job would be a lot less challenging for somebody who has worked side by side with the great man for a number of years. He knows our ways.
In Ryan Giggs’ autobiography, he said Queiroz had “large amounts of responsibility” within the club, and had been entrusted to “train us, prepare us for games, organise the team and decide the things we need to work on.” It is for these reasons that I believe it’s so important he’s still a part of our club when Fergie leaves. I don’t for one minute think he’ll go on to be our manager for the next 20 years, but I think he’ll do the job for the transition at least. Maybe he’ll prove us all wrong and have the capabilities of being a great manager, but this current team should be able to win stuff by themselves for the next few years anyway. He should just be the man to take us from one brilliant manager to the next.
The personality of Queiroz is not something I’ve ever been a huge fan of, I’ve never really warmed to him. I can understand the people who don’t want to see him as manager of our club. I can see why people would feel a lot more comfortable and secure seeing the familiar face of Mark Hughes in the dug out. However, for the good of our club, to be able to sustain all the things Ferguson has worked so long and hard in creating at United, the only choice for the next United manager for me is Queiroz.
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I will read your article in much detail in a bit and comment on it, but I wanted to drop a comment on Oliver Holt: What. A. Cunt.
That joke of a writer winning the sports journalist of the year is what is wrong with the whole world. Seriously you can’t come up with this nonsense (on fergie) even when you are high.
Scott, I agree with your arguments; CQ has been a solid second-in-command for a long time and, if nothing else, deserves the chance to be the main man when/if SAF decides to pack it in. I know that a lot of Reds want an “old boy” like Keane, or Hughes, or Bruce, or even Paul Ince but I’m not sure about any of them because leading a “pretender” is a very different proposition from leader the main cntender. Plus, there’s the internationalization of the game/scouting which is where none of the above comes close to CQ’s wealth of experience and contacts. We all know about Ronaldo and Anderson and Nani but what about Manucho who came from Mozambique after CQ was tipped off by one of his contacts ? If Manucho comes good then that’s a very large feather in Quieroz’ cap. But, more significantly, his tactics in the CL this year have been excellent – boring, to be sure but spot on ! I’m interested to see how the dynamic duo arrange the team’s strategy for the “one off” CL final – will they have the players kept under tight reins and play the EuroFootie counter-attack or will they let CR7, Carlitos, and the BoyWonder let it all hang out ? Of course, we all want to see the latter game but, more than that, we all want to win !
I agree with you fully – if Quieroz doesn’t become manager, he should certainly still be heavily involved in the club. After all, he knows United’s tactics, gameplan, etc. and will have sat down with Fergie countless times to discuss these things.
I fail to understand the obsession with lookign outside for Fergie’s replacement when there is one in the waiting. I agree with many of your points. And besdies, the management at RM is a joke and the exact opposite of Utd. Hardly surprising then, that Queiroz’s tenure was a failure.
I could not agree more with your reasoning. Whilst Querioz was disliked, if not hated, when he first came to United for his negative tactics and supposed ruining of the team, you very rarely hear criticism of the man anymore. Be it during matches, at the pub before hand or during general banter about United. Whereas a few years ago it was “get rid of Querioz” and “he flopped at Madrid why do we want him here”.
While some people would put this decrease in insults and complaining down to our recent success, i do believe that there is also a factor that people feel he has masterminded many important happenings at the club, even if people keep quiet their praise of him. The signing of the portugese group that have so far proved good purchases (and in the case of Ronaldo an absolute bargain to say the least) and the obvious influence on the tactics against Barcelona have played a huge part in people feeling slightly warmer towards him.
In short, i would keep him on as manager if only for a “transition” period.
We must keep CQ at the club. As you said, he has brought in talents like ronaldo,anderson,nani and manucho. I think united plays better football now than we have ever done. We play more European football now. I think SAF have much to thank CQ for. I think the last two leaguetitles have CQ payed a vital part. Then if we want to keep ronaldo,nani and anderson we should defenetly kepp CQ. Great article by the way, you know what you are talking about. Peace, GGMU!
about all this man utd being a youth nurturing club…its true taht nani rooney ronaldo and anderson were all bought young and are developing well or astonishingly but who was the last academy player that made it through the ranks?!?!
As long as we’re winning titles i’m not too bothered but it would be nice to have a local boy come through
I’m not saying Queiroz was a good manager but it is virtually established that the big guns at Real Madrid pick the starting 11, not the manager.
Queiroz has discovered a lot of interesting youths, apparently he wanted to buy Pépé when he was at Real Madrid but the answer was “defenders don’t sell shirts”, imagine how many more youths he’s known about.
Sorry for my above comment I posted it at the beginning so I wouldn’t forget, I didn’t realize you had already said it all.
I’d like to agree with RedRanter and say that Oliver Holt is the impersonification of the words biased and cunt.
i didntt think he would be the right man but your article has made me start to reconsider .
personally i was hoping for an italian manager like lippi who generally guarantee success .
although u do make a good point . whatever happens i hope the glazers follow fergies advice on who should succeed him.
@luke – have patience dude . from what i hear , young danny welbeck is destined for greatness .
Oliver Holt wakes up every morning and turns on his radio in the hope that he hears Sir Alex has dropped dead or been kicked out by the Glazers. It’s a dream of his that the book ‘If you’re second you’re nothing’ has some depth and fact to it.
Remember kids, the beggining of the end was when we sold Beckham to Madrid and last season’s title win was never going to happen. There should be a version of Gary Neville is a Red sung at OT, but with the words ‘Oliver Holt is a Cunt, he hates Fergie’.
On the subject matter, here’s my post on the same topic on RR:
”I think the partnership between Sir Alex Ferguson and Carlos Quiroz will take some beating. They are both top tactitians and have a great impact on certain parts of the world.
SAF’s qualities and triumphs speak for themselves but without Carlos there would players like Ronaldo, Nani and Anderson have felt so comfortable in settling / coming to United? Don’t get me wrong, I know Ronaldo has always said Fergie has been like a father figure to him and that he is the main reason for staying at United after THAT World Cup and in turn CR7 has had a good impact on the other Portugese speaking CHAPS. I think Quiroz still has a lot to say over the next 5 years at the club and it is very important that he is given time should he not remain instantly successful.
I would like to see a smooth transition between managers and the only way for that to happen is to let an insider take the reins. I would like to see a man with experience as well as passion for United become a right hand man and somebody who can channel their passion in the right way. Roy Keane was a great captain and leader but his off the field rants cost him his place at United and I don’t think he’ll come back. Neville would be great for motivation but his managerial side still has a long, long way to go.. so if you are asking ME who I’d see as Quiroz’s assistant, I’d have to say somebody like Brian McClair fits the bill. He has had reasonable success managing in the reserves and youth squads and has the experience of playing for the United as well as playing Under SAF.
I think when the time comes for Ferguson to step down, Carlos will already havve been making the main decisions and doing the team talks for a long time. He would have conducted more press conferences and as we have seen has already been trusted with important transfer deals and already has the respect of the current band of players. People can keep talking until the are red, white and green in the face about Lippi or Capello but the fact is, the transition between managers is ALREADY in process.
Sir Alex spends 90% of his time delegating and is far less ‘hands on’ than in his younger days. I think we will see CQ more or less doing most of the work before SAF officially leaves. He has had the experience of Madrid and that of working and learning from one of the best managers sport has seen.
My only concern would be that of what has happened at Arsenal, the French Embassey! I want a balance to remain at our club, between the ~British, Irish and the rest!”
Anant i hate to be so negative but i have quite a big feeling that wellbeck is gonna end up like pique and rossi not to mention countless of other youngsters…always on the verge of greatness with united but never quite there…hope you’re right though and wellbeck explodes
Agree with your points on Queiroz’s qualities as a trainer, tactical ability, familiarity.
But he didn’t have to do the more difficult job: handling player egos, man management, giving a good old-fashioned bollocking when things don’t go well — things that were Fergie’s forte. Can he do all this? I’m not quite sure.
RR – I don’t want him to be the long term replacement for Fergie, at least, I don’t think I do. However, whatever he may lack, he makes up in what he has over any other candidate – he’s been with the club for years, he knows how we work, he knows the players.
How is his man management? Ability to bollock players? Let’s be honest, we have no idea.
I also think making Quieroz gaffer would make it less likely that Ronaldo leaves us as soon as Fergie retires
so whose idea is it to play this fucking negative shit in europe? so we got to the final this year but does the end justify the means? for me no, i want to see united playing with style and imposing themselves on the opposition, not meekly surrundering possesion at home of all places!
I must say that is a very well made and persuasive argument. i’m still in two minds about CQ as manager but there is no denying his incredible scouting abilities and good relationship with many of the players that represent the future of united. i still get pretty annoyed with our away performances (and results) in europe though. i think we have the attacking threat to destroy any team on our day, while trusting our back four (plus hargreaves or carrick) to keep the opposition out. i will NEVER be convinced that wayne rooney’s best role in the team is man-marking the oponents’ right back!!
holt showing his 1st class knowledge of the game how his world famous actress “emily bishop” must be proud
carlos is clearly involved with transfers media dealings and tactics
i hate to say it but lpool had it right when they wentf romm shankly to paisley and to fagan untd should follow suit king carlos next manager
Also they went to Roy Evans…….