Sir Alex Ferguson vs Arsene Wenger: A Neutrals Perspective

Sir Alex on his 25th anniversary as Manchester United manager

The Barclays Premier League is indeed the toughest league in the world, as would have been proven on the last day of the season that was, 2011-2012. Not only did it take every minute of all the 38 games to decide the winner, it took all of 38 games, plus 5 minutes of stoppage time. In what turned out to be the greatest ‘final day’ of the Premier league, the attention was grabbed by how Manchester United‘s Sir Alex Ferguson signed off at The Stadium Of Light, when he pointed to the small section of United fans at the end of the tunnel, completely sure of having landed No. 20. Groans and moans, were all that could be heard from the Manchester United contingent, and it was a really heartbreaking, for each Mancunian red present in Tyneside. But that is football. Unpredictable as ever, perhaps, that’s the reason why we love it so much.

Been there, done that, the legendary Manchester United manager, Sir Alex Ferguson, has too much experience on his side, to lay his head low. Having been on the winning side of a similar last day battle, back in 2003, when Arsenal surrendered a 2 point cushion at the top of the table against Leeds United, while Manchester United thumped West Ham to clinch the title.

Bouncing back from losses has been an art, clearly mastered by the ‘never say die’ ethics of the Scot. Hired as Manchester United manager, after he lead Aberdeen back to the top of the Scottish league table, Sir Alex had a massive job at hand. Analogy cannot really be drawn in the circumstances in which the clubs were, when Sir Alex took over, and Arsene Wenger was appointed as Arsenal manager, but one common factor between the two, is the frailty of both United and Arsenal just before their appointments.

When Sir Alex Ferguson took over as manager of Manchester United in early November of 1986, Manchester United were 22nd(previously, the league had 24 teams) just two positions off the bottom of the league. Creating stability in the backroom staff, building a stable youth system, bringing in decent players, and managing the wage bill, were some of the basic traits of a good manager. Sir Alex did that to a great effect. Signing the likes of Steve Bruce, Paul Parker, Eric Cantona, Mark Huges, and many others, who changed not only the fortunes of the football club, but also changed English football totally. Conversely, in the case of Arsene Wenger, it was not only the way he signed the player, but it was also the way he structured the club, structured a ‘fading’ academy, which has proven to be the back bone of Arsenal till date. Working in a totally different financial structure, Arsene Wenger’s job has been equally tough if not tougher. Having a very tight transfer budget for his prospective signings, Wenger has had to hold back from many signings, just because of the deft transfer fees. Neither of the two managers have had a walk in the park, though they have done well to make it look that way.

Winning 12 league titles in 26 years, Sir Alex Ferguson, has written himself into every record book in English football. Most importantly, surpassing Liverpool’s tally of 18 league titles, to win it the 19th time, has been a personal victory for Sir Alex. Having delivered top results in every competition, creating footballers who could be ambassadors of the game in future, and also making huge profits through advertisements and sale of jerseys, Manchester United in the span of 26 years has moved from the relegation zone of the English top division, to become the most valuable club in the world, surpassing Real Madrid. Creating a brand of footballers, that would take the club forward, and earning astronomical transfer fees for players that decided to move on, Sir Alex has made the club sustainable inspite of the large recurring bank debt that the club finds itself in, due to those pesky Americans.

Arsene Wenger came to the British shores a complete unknown, and now his legend will never leave North London

There is perhaps no one better in the world of football when it comes to pre-match ‘mind games’. A complete manager with mastery in every sense of every aspect of management of a club, Sir Alex is clearly, the perfect and complete package. Better than Brian Clough, better than Bob Paisley, and perhaps even better than the greatest of the greats, Bill Shankly and Matt Busby, Sir Alex is just a class apart.

When Wenger took over Arsenal, they were knee deep in debt, and on the verge of administration. Arsenal had very little ammunition, in their arsenal. With a decent squad, but a really pathetic future in store, Arsene Wenger knew he had a tough task ahead. There can never be a comparison between the tasks the two managers had. Their roles in creating a club have had a different perspective all together. For Mr. Wenger, it has been hard work restructuring, and framing the club, while for Alex Ferguson, it has been a lot simpler, in comparison, though the amount of work he put in cannot be foreseen.

A clear indication as to why the two cannot be compared is the difference in the number of trophies the two managers have won. Each one has been beyond replaceable for their respective clubs. Wenger has been stubborn about his way of running the club, many if not all Arsenal fans, consider this to be the major reason behind the trophy drought. But the way he has run the club for 16 years, gives him every right to handle the club his way.

It is pretty clear that the two managers have been the greatest of their generation. In case a heir has to be chosen for the two in the time to come, they will have to be chosen looking at every possible aspect. The end seems near, this question is very difficult to answer, and for any neutral it’s better left unanswered.