Sir Alex Ferguson

Finally after more than 3 months speculation, interview from the variable sources, and gossips Jose Mourinho had been appointed as the Manchester United manager. He was overlooked when Sir Alex Ferguson had retired from the manager position in 2013 and David Moyes was selected. We all knew how David Moyes tenure had gone. Similar fate happen with Van Gaal in his second season as United had scored the lowest goal tally in the Premier League era just 49 goals from 38 games.

Jose Mourinho was overlooked in 2013 due to his antics and his act as a controversial magnet in any team that he had managed but both Alex Ferguson and Jose Mourinho shared a common similarity.

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Both make their name in an underdog team before moving to an underachieving team. Alex Ferguson had been known as an upcoming manager when he had managed Aberdeen in 1978 until 1986. Aberdeen is a team from the Scottish League where in that league it is all about Glasgow Rangers and Celtic. When Ferguson managed them they had broken the dominance of the Old Firm in just the space of 7 years. In this he had won the 3 League Champion, 4 Scotland Cup, 1 Cup Winners Cup beating Real Madrid, the European Super Cup, the League Cup and the Drybrough Cup. With this achievement he was appointed as manager for Manchester United in 1986. Manchester United had great players in Bryan Robson but the last time they had won the league title in 1967 under Sir Matt Busby. He had transformed Manchester United from a underachieving club to the best club in England in the space of 26 year from 1986 until 2013 where they had overhauled Liverpool as the best club in England.

Jose Mourinho had started made his name as an upcoming manager with FC Porto where he had started to managed team in 2001. He had won an unprecedented treble in the season 2002 – 2003 where he had managed them to win Portugal Cup , Portugal League Title and the UEFA Cup beating Celtic in final. The next season where he make his mark by going head to head with Alex Ferguson in the mind games and knocking them out in 2003-2004 UEFA Champion League second round. Subsequently he had make the UEFA Champion League winners in that season hence equaling Liverpool record of winning the UEFA Cup followed by the UEFA Champion League. After FC Porto he had moved to Chelsea whom had underachieved for so long. He proclaimed himself as the special one and made Chelsea a force in the space of 3 year by winning the League Title twice consecutively, the League Cup, the FA Cup and the Community Shield.

Sir Alex Ferguson and Jose Mourinho managed to win the treble for the first time in their respective managing country. Where Alex Ferguson had managed with Manchester United in 1999 by becoming the first English Team to win the treble, Jose Mourinho had managed to do the something with InterMilan in 2010 by becoming the first Italian Team to win the treble. Another similarity both had win the European Title after long years of waiting where Manchester United last won them 1968 and Inter Milan last won them in 1965. Both team had to wait for a combination of 76 years to win the European Title (Manchester United 31 years and InterMilan 45 years)

Inter completing the treble after a great performance in the semi final against Barcelona

Alex Ferguson and Jose Mourinho both believe that nobody is bigger than the club. Alex Ferguson in his 26 years career had kicked out many of his star player when they had disagreement with them or when they had crossed the line. Player such as Ruud Van Nistelrooy, Dwight Yorke, Jaap Stam, Roy Keane and most notable one of the Fergie Class of 92 David Beckham . Mourinho meanwhile had done the something with Iker Casillas in Real Madrid where the previously untouchable player was replaced by Antonio Adan. This is a big thing where Iker Casillas had never been substituted since 2002 where the last time Vincente Del Bosque the Real Madrid coach at that time had made the decision. In this thing both are absolutely ruthless and had not time for any sentiment for the good of the club.

Both of the managers had many spats with referee, FA, managers from other clubs. Ferguson most notably had several spats with Kevin Keegan that led to infamous “i love it if we beat them ” in the radio station in 1995-1996 season, Arsene Wenger where Ferguson had said that his team is still the best in England even though Arsenal had won the title in 2001-2002 season, Rafa Benitez with the now infamous Ferguson Fact rant in 2008-2009 season, Jose Mourinho , Roberto Mancini , and many more. While Mourinho had also spat awith Arsene Wenger, Rafa Benitez and English FA while in England, Carlo Ancelotti, Marcello Lippi, the Italian Media and the Italian FA while he is managing Intermilan in Italy, and in Real Madrid he had spat with Sergio Ramos, Iker Casillas, Christiano Ronaldo , the Spanish referee, the Spanish FA, with Fiorentina Perez, Alfredo di Stefano and the famous of all with Pep Guardiola. Both manager are fighter and will have a go at the other to transfer the pressure from the team to them. Both manager spat had become a stuff of legend and classic. For Ferguson it was with Arsene Wenger and for Mourinho it with Pep Guardiola.

Ferguson in his early day plays a cavalier attacking football but had abandoned it after his team had been knocked in the quarter final of the UEFA Champion League in 1999-2000 season and in 2000-2001 season by Real Madrid and Bayern Munich respectively. Where Ferguson had favored the traditional 4-4-2 formation in the earlier years he had changed to the more flexible 4-3-3 formation in his later years. Mourinho also the same as in earlier FC Porto he preferred the 4-4-2 formation but later had also changed to 4-3-3- formation. Both will not hesitate to defend or what Mourinho term it as “parking the bus” in an important games. Ferguson had done it in his later years when he is playing away from home or protecting the lead where Mourinho also will do the something.

Both managers had also been given a devastating blow by the Pep Guardiola Barcelona. Where Barcelona had defeated his Manchester United in final twice in 2009 and 2011 preventing Manchester United to be become the first team to retain title in UEFA Champion League and the first after AC Milan in late 90’s and also preventing Ferguson from equaling Bob Paisley record of 3 European Title with some team. Mourinho also had been given a devastating blow by Barcelona when his Real Madrid was annihilated in 2010-2011 La Liga where Barcelona had given him is biggest lost ever 5-1 and subsequently lost to them in the UEFA Champion League semifinal in 2011.Mourinho had the revenge by winning the La Liga in 2011-2012 season but unfortunately Ferguson do not have the chances.

The similarity ends here as unlike Ferguson Mourinho does not stay in a club for more than 3 years. Maybe this can be changed when he is managing Manchester United as he had expressed several time that he loved to manage them and now he got his wish. For Manchester United they hope to reach the summit back will be increased with hiring of him. Let hope that next season will be the best ever with arrival of several high profile manager such Antonio Conte, Pep Guardiola, Jurgen Klopp first full season with Liverpool, and will Pochettino and Ranieri able to maintain their momentum next season.

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