Best Replacement for Fergie when he goes?

[Richie]

I think its fair to say Sir Alex only has a few years left in him, so who do we think would be the best person to take over when he retires?

My personal choice would be Roy Keane. I think he will be an absolutely great manager and is made for United. He understands how to play good football and would accept nothing short of absolute perfection. He would bring success, good passing football; and would not be afraid to spend big to bring the worlds best to Old Trafford.

Any thoughts? Any other options that you think would be right to manage us?

[Devilzz91]

I see what you mean about Roy Keane, he is United through and through. However, whether or not he has the reputation to bring the best players to the club is another thing. He has been a great manager for Sunderland, but we're yet to see how he responds when people don't perform to his expectations. If it's anything like when he was captain for us, he may not be such a good choice, as while the fiery mentality can work as a captain, it may be too harsh when manager.

I think Carlos Queiroz is the man for the job. He has a massive say in the current Manchester United team and Fergie will have taught him well. He has had experience managing Real Madrid and Benfica have attempted to lure him back to Portugal. He certainly has credentials, and if he's the man to keep bringing talent such as Anderson, Nani and Ronaldo to Old Trafford, then he's the man I want in charge.

Also, lately Ronaldo has stated that he'll leave when Fergie does, but if Queiroz is his replacement, Ronaldo may still stay at Manchester United.

[TheManc]

i think queiroz has to be the next in line. people underestimate what he has done for us.
anderson, nani, ronaldo all look up to carlos as a father figure. i don't think he will stay as assistant manager if he isn't the next boss.

plus, as a club we pride ourselves as being loyal, well he has done a good job for us.

he already knows the team inside out and they know him, we should should atleast give him a chance.

edit: i basically repeated what devilzz91 said but that was because we posted at the same time roughly.

[Richie]

I agree that he's had a great influence for us, but I just think what he's good at is being an assistant. But maybe I'm wrong, maybe he would make a good manager for us.

[Brock]

I see what you mean about Roy Keane, he is United through and through. However, whether or not he has the reputation to bring the best players to the club is another thing. He has been a great manager for Sunderland, but we're yet to see how he responds when people don't perform to his expectations. If it's anything like when he was captain for us, he may not be such a good choice, as while the fiery mentality can work as a captain, it may be too harsh when manager.

I think Carlos Queiroz is the man for the job. He has a massive say in the current Manchester United team and Fergie will have taught him well. He has had experience managing Real Madrid and Benfica have attempted to lure him back to Portugal. He certainly has credentials, and if he's the man to keep bringing talent such as Anderson, Nani and Ronaldo to Old Trafford, then he's the man I want in charge.

Also, lately Ronaldo has stated that he'll leave when Fergie does, but if Queiroz is his replacement, Ronaldo may still stay at Manchester United.


Couldn't agree more. Post of the day!

[Dynamite]

It's a possiblity that roy keane could come to O.T one day but not so soon if fergie retires, My guess is that carlos queiroz would take the reigns with mark hughes(current blackburn rovers coach) as his no.2

[dlan4327]

Without meaning to sound blasphemous. Jesus.

[manutd43va]

i dont think keane is suitable with his previous criticism on the players. if he manages united, im afraid a war is gonna break out soon.

[sean2689]

I find that Carlos Q will be next the next man to take charge, how long has he been here 2-3 years? he must of learnt alot from fergie in that time and must of learnt alot about man utd as a club so.....i think its the best option....Fergie keeps saying he is setting up the club for the future, so he wouldnt have carlos in there if he wasnt to be envolved when fergie leaves :)

[NateR]

Carlos is more than capable, but perhaps we need some who is tough as nails like Sir Alex is. He doesn't take crap off anyone, and he controls everything that goes on at OT. Look at all the other clubs this season, so much back-room drama which has de-stablised them too some degree...we don't have any of that because of Sir Alex.

Keane, Hughes, Bruce could be good succesors, but Keano is still only into his 2nd year....gotta give him more time.

[reddwarf]

Without meaning to sound blasphemous. Jesus.

The son of God?

Do you mean Darren Ferguson?! :D

[Nemanjaaa]

Anyone BUT Queirioz i want him to stay as Ass Man but not manager :(
Maybe Mark Hughes or even Keano himself ?

[Drew9]

carlos wouldnt stay and be assistant manager, he's got ambition and if he doesnt get the managers job he'll be off i can assure you of that, i want keane that would be a dream, but theres laurent blanc whos a great young manager what about michael laudrup, even though i'd like a british or former great as the next manager i think them 2 would be excellent :)

[Keano!]

This is my view.....

Carlos will take over as manager for a season.

Either Mark Hughes or Roy Keane will then come in......



I'm hoping Sparky or Keano join up with United again, its destiny! ;)

[Jazz 16]

There are lots of good options out there. Quieroz for the stability.....
Hughes, Bruce or Keane-all former players well capable of filling Fergie's boots.
If we were to go foreign then look no futher than Guus Hiddink-top quality....
or even another fiery Scot in the shape of David Moyes or even the man
motivator Martin O' Neill.....

I hope Fergie sticks around for many more years but if one of the names I mentioned
above took over I'd be relatively pleased.

[RedForceRising]

How about Christian Gross?

He was very underrated and misunderstood at Tottenham and I think he could bring glory to Man Utd.


offt.... hahahaha I'm just kidding.

I trust the board will do the right thing and as SAF has said himself, he trust Carlos Queiroz and with all the Portuguese-speakers at the club, he might be a very good choice.

[trikam patel]

I think the next best manager for the job would be Capello, i know he is england manager but i reckon fergy will go in three years time, and Capello will have won the worl cup for england.

[T2000]

I won the works fantasy football. So i'd say i have what is needed for the job. :rolleyes:

[BALROG]

How about ryan giggs? Would this be possible for the players?

[Devilzz91]

I think it's a dead cert that Queiroz will take over, he has offers from various clubs while Fergie's number two, and apart from the stint at Real Madrid, he has turned down all other offers, does he know something we don't? :D

[trikam patel]

I think you may have something there, i still think you need someone tough to handle world class players, i dont think quireos can handle this. Maybe im wrong but you need a hard nut like keane or capello, keane is to in experienced to take over man utd. I dont know, i hope fergy stays till he is 70. Do you think this is realistic? And i dont want quieros

[jd_united]

It's a possiblity that roy keane could come to O.T one day but not so soon if fergie retires, My guess is that carlos queiroz would take the reigns with mark hughes(current blackburn rovers coach) as his no.2

I quite like the sound of Quieroz as No.1 and Hughes as No.2. I am a bit skeptical though on wether they would be able to work together, and if their style would suit United. Nice idea though.

I think CQ is lined up to replace SAF 'There's no question about that' ;)

Quieroz is said to do a lot of work as it stands at the club and seems to know how things run day in day out.

I still struggle to imagine United without Fergie now though. He is United through and through and it will be a sad day when he leaves.

[scott 4 evra]

Depends on Keane's progress. My thoughts have always been the same on this.
If Fergie retired tomorrow I'd go.

1. Carlos
2. Keane.
3. Hughes.

Carlos has been with Fergie for quite a while and would have learnt a lot from him. However, Fergie has always said that he saw himself in Roy Keane. I have been very impressed with Keane so far and if he continues his progression, I think he would be perfect for the job.
True he has bought a few stinkers but the problem is not many top players would go to Sunderland. He would not have that problem with us. In terms of man management and the whole no one is bigger than the club attitude, I'd be delighted to see Keane take over.
How weird will it be seeing SAF gone? He has been manager of United all my life. Whoever takes over has got some boots to fill.

[CHEZM]

I'd like to see Carlos take place of Ferguson when he retires - quality manager IMO. :cool:

[antdevil78]

impossible position to replace. better and more successful than busby (sir matt will always be remembered for munich and how he turned it round in 68, fergie has had a more consistent sustained period). imagine the day when sir matt retired and we had to replace him

sad day when fergie does go. and will be another chapter in this club's glorious history. i aint looking forward to it personally

[-zuco-]

I'd personally put Hughes ahead of Keane in the pecking order.
He's done a great job at Blackburn with limited resources. His
team play good attacking football and his signings are usually quality.

Everybody is banging on about how great Roy Keane is because
he kept Sunderland in the Premiership. He spent about 40 million
on players and survived the drop by three points. He did a great
job in his first season by winning the Championship, but in my opinion
Hughes has the more experience and is more deserving of the job (for now).

Keane in the future will be brilliant I'm sure, but at the moment he's too
inexperienced to takeover the reins of the biggest club in the world.

[scott 4 evra]

I'd personally put Hughes ahead of Keane in the pecking order.
He's done a great job at Blackburn with limited resources. His
team play good attacking football and his signings are usually quality.

Everybody is banging on about how great Roy Keane is because
he kept Sunderland in the Premiership. He spent about 40 million
on players and survived the drop by three points. He did a great
job in his first season by winning the Championship, but in my opinion
Hughes has the more experience and is more deserving of the job (for now).

Keane in the future will be brilliant I'm sure, but at the moment he's too
inexperienced to takeover the reins of the biggest club in the world.

Ok, I am one of those who is banging on about how greak Roy Keane is. With no managirial experience ever and taking on a club bottom of the Championship, within 2 years they finish in around Middlesboro and Newcastle in the Premier League. He has made some bad buys yes but who hasn't. Some of his buys have been quite good also the likes of, Jones, Reid, Gordon.

Keane was born a winner and how he has handled himself in the media and his attitude have been fantastic. People bang on about 40 mill but thats what it takes to stay in this league, look at Derby and Birmingham and the cost of staying in the league is greater.

Added to all this, Sunderland have been great to watch play very attacking football for a side down there and they are scoring as many late goals as we used to in 99, which shows he instills a never say die attitude.

I think he is the perfect replacement for Fergie if he continues his progress.

[-zuco-]

They only finished above newcastle and Middlesbrough because they
both had awful seasons.

Staying in the premiership after spending 40 million is not a big
acheivement in my opinion. They finished three points in front of
Reading who spent a fraction of that amount. And four points in
front of birmingham who spent even less.

He will, as I said, be a great manager in the future, but he's not
ready for the big job just yet and Mark Hughes has shown
consistently since becoming a manager that his teams can produce
beautiful football. He's also brilliant in the transfer market. Imagine
where Blackburn would be if he had more cash to spend.

[scott 4 evra]

They only finished above newcastle and Middlesbrough because they
both had awful seasons.

Staying in the premiership after spending 40 million is not a big
acheivement in my opinion. They finished three points in front of
Reading who spent a fraction of that amount. And four points in
front of birmingham who spent even less.

He will, as I said, be a great manager in the future, but he's not
ready for the big job just yet and Mark Hughes has shown
consistently since becoming a manager that his teams can produce
beautiful football. He's also brilliant in the transfer market. Imagine
where Blackburn would be if he had more cash to spend.

So you don't think it is a big achievement starting out management, taking a club bottom of the Champ, winning that league and taking them to mid-table. It's not always about the money.
Ye Hughes has done a good job. But Blackburn have been a mid-table team for some time now and they really should be pushing Europe. I don't think Blackburn have made any progress in the last few years. I'd choose Keane over Hughes, definitely.

[-zuco-]

So you don't think it is a big achievement starting out management, taking a club bottom of the Champ, winning that league and taking them to mid-table. It's not always about the money.
Ye Hughes has done a good job. But Blackburn have been a mid-table team for some time now and they really should be pushing Europe. I don't think Blackburn have made any progress in the last few years. I'd choose Keane over Hughes, definitely.

See that highlighted bit? I never said that did I.
In fact I said quite the opposite if you'll be so kind as to read again ;)

He did a great job in his first season by winning the Championship

I don't put words in your mouth, so please allow me the same courtesy :)

Now to the bit about finishing mid table. I suppose it depends how you
define 'mid table'. 15th, for me, is not mid table, it's halfway down the
bottom half and three points from relegation. If you define it differently,
fair enough.

Onto Blackburn's progression in the last few years.
In the 04/05 season they finished 15th, this season they finished 7th.
I'd say that was fairly good progress for a club with limited funds.
We can debate this all night if we want, but it's all about opinion really.

[scott 4 evra]

See that highlighted bit? I never said that did I.
In fact I said quite the opposite if you'll be so kind as to read again ;)



I don't put words in your mouth, so please allow me the same courtesy :)

Now to the bit about finishing mid table. I suppose it depends how you
define 'mid table'. 15th, for me, is not mid table, it's halfway down the
bottom half and three points from relegation. If you define it differently,
fair enough.

Onto Blackburn's progression in the last few years.
In the 04/05 season they finished 15th, this season they finished 7th.
I'd say that was fairly good progress for a club with limited funds.
We can debate this all night if we want, but it's all about opinion really.

You said this: "Staying in the premiership after spending 40 million is not a big
acheivement in my opinion." I was saying it was. Anyway your entitled to your opinion I wasn't ditching it I never do. I suppose Sunderland weren't mid-table but they never really looked like getting relegated. Let's just enjoy Fergie for the next few years hey.

[-zuco-]

You said this: "Staying in the premiership after spending 40 million is not a big
acheivement in my opinion."

I stand by that too.

Let's just enjoy Fergie for the next few years hey
I'll drink to that :p

[United_OG]

if fergie retires at the end of next season or the one after id like to rijkaard take over. He is one of my fav managers in the game. His attitude is that of a real classy guy and his belief in what type of football should be played on a pitch is of the united way. He also brings through youngsters, has a great eye for talent but is strong willed and can nuture people into true stars. He also would have had a year or two break by then meaning he could be refreshed.

However i dont think that would be easy. I think....infact i am sure someone will have taken him before then...milan?...i just hope he doesnt go to any of our rivals...because than it'll be hard for me to hold him in the same bracket,lol...but yes, i'd like to see him at the club.

[RedForceRising]

So you don't think it is a big achievement starting out management, taking a club bottom of the Champ, winning that league and taking them to mid-table. It's not always about the money.
Ye Hughes has done a good job. But Blackburn have been a mid-table team for some time now and they really should be pushing Europe. I don't think Blackburn have made any progress in the last few years. I'd choose Keane over Hughes, definitely.



I think Blackburn have made progress and as Zuco has pointed out they finished in 7th position. More importantly, Mark Hughes has shown himself to be an astute wheeler and dealer in the transfer market. The amount of Blackburn players you read being linked to the better teams is a testament to that.

In addition, Hughes seems to be able to retain those players. Maybe David Bentley might leave this summer, but I don't se many other players leaving Blackburn, because they look happy playing for Hughes and we haven't heard any slandering.

Take a look at Sunderland where there have been 1 or two unhappy comments from players about keane.

So in terms of working the transfer market and man management I think Mark Hughes would be the better choice. I can't say in terms of tactics, but both of them being top class footballers and having learnt from Fergie, I would say they both have a similar level of footballing knowledge, so I would prefer Mark Hughes.

He's also less controversial and looks good with grey hair ;)

[dckyfoxes]

Carlos Queiroz... At the moment, SAF is building a team near to him... So I think it will be best for him to take over... May the foundations be well laid...

[reddwarf]

If Fergie does keep going for another 2 or 3 years it will be interesting to see what kind of progress Sunderland have made.

Niall Quinn and Roy Keane both seem very ambitious. Roy Keane may have had a lot of money to spend but they trusted him to spend it. If they invest similar amounts each season (there were rumours of a £50m transfer budget for this summer) then Sunderland could climb up the league fairly quickly.

I'm not sure what their targets are but mid-table, top 10 then top 6 would seem like a good plan for the next 3 years!

[jerrakos]

Quieroz

Bruce
Hughes
Keane

Quieroz in first place to take over.

The one from those or maybe Giggs.

[frank_pt]

Greetings everyone, my first post in this forum.

I want to remind everyone who Carlos Queiros is. He's the reason why portuguese soccer raised so much in the last decade.

Carlos Queiros "made" the golden age of portuguese soccer.

all started in Ryad at 1989 in the FIFA World Youth Championship when he lead portugal to be champions.

After that he was under-21 world champions, and made players like Figo, Rui Costa, João Pinto, Paulo Sousa, Jorge Costa, and so many others. Portuguese soccer exploded in quality of players.

After that he tried the national team, but was dismissed after a Draw in 94 World Cup qualify against the allmight Italy in 94.

He then went to Sporting Club de Portugal and continued his work in the best "school of players" from portugal.

Ronaldo, Nani, Quaresma, Simão all made in Sporting and are in part responsability of Carlos Queiroz.

With these facts in perspective he is a great coach, with awesome formation skills but when he tried to lead a big team Real Madrid, he was sacked out. Dosent mean much or maybe does...

For me the best choice would be give him a lifetime contract to be the nr 2 coach In Man united, and eventually give him a break to try leading Man united in a few years.

If you can, try to get Mourinho... Mourinho+Queiroz omg!!!! hehehe

[joviadca]

Greetings everyone, my first post in this forum.

I want to remind everyone who Carlos Queiros is. He's the reason why portuguese soccer raised so much in the last decade.

Carlos Queiros "made" the golden age of portuguese soccer.

all started in Ryad at 1989 in the FIFA World Youth Championship when he lead portugal to be champions.

After that he was under-21 world champions, and made players like Figo, Rui Costa, João Pinto, Paulo Sousa, Jorge Costa, and so many others. Portuguese soccer exploded in quality of players.

After that he tried the national team, but was dismissed after a Draw in 94 World Cup qualify against the allmight Italy in 94.

He then went to Sporting Club de Portugal and continued his work in the best "school of players" from portugal.

Ronaldo, Nani, Quaresma, Simão all made in Sporting and are in part responsability of Carlos Queiroz.

With these facts in perspective he is a great coach, with awesome formation skills but when he tried to lead a big team Real Madrid, he was sacked out. Dosent mean much or maybe does...

For me the best choice would be give him a lifetime contract to be the nr 2 coach In Man united, and eventually give him a break to try leading Man united in a few years.

If you can, try to get Mourinho... Mourinho+Queiroz omg!!!! hehehe

I personally would hate to see Mourinho have any thing to do with Utd . EVER !.
As for Queiroz I think he is a cert to take over after fergie , But he like anyone who succeeds SF are going to be in a no win situation . who in their right mind would like to be the first manager after fergie , Thats one big shadow

[Devilzz91]

Queiroz being sacked by Real Madrid means nothing. Spanish football is a hostile environment for managers to move into. Win trophy after trophy, season after season then when they fail to win the league once, they're sacked. Pfft.

[Clarky101]

glad someone finally brought mourinho to the equation. i would personally have carlos as the number 1 after fergie. the man knows our club inside out and has played a huge role in setting up the team with have now. he is a big figure in the dressing room and knows the game inside out and has contacts for star players all over the globe

if not carlos then i would love to see mourinho follow fergie. have always been a massive jose fan even if he was chelsea boss. he appreciates good football and has a lot of respect for fergie and what his achieved so i think he would keep our club afloat and there would be no gamble to it. the only downside is that we could end up playing like chelsea lol

as for bruce, keane and hughes i find this quite ludacris. all three would be a massive gamble and risk to our club as not one has so far proven themselves to be able to manager a club like manchester united and carry on winning titles.

when they have a cv like top managers, quieroz...mourinho....rijkaard.... i will be happy to welcome them as managers to the club but i dont want to see us dive. i want us to keep being the greatest team in the world. and we would have to be stupid to gamble on someone that aint got the knowledge and exp to run the club. but im sure fergie wont let that happen and the best decision will be made