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Jeff Powell: Where Sir Alex Ferguson rates among the greatest British managers

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When quantifying great British managers, I’ve given more weight to the building of clubs from virtually nothing into major powers, rather than the capitalising on going concerns or short-term success.

Hence Bill Shankly above Bob Paisley and Don Revie just higher than Brian Clough.

Style and innovation are important, also.

No 1: Sir Alex Ferguson's 38 trophies put him top of the list, shortly followed by another United legend

So while Sir Alex Ferguson’s unequalled collection of titles and trophies might be considered his finite achievement, his faithfulness to the attacking traditions of Manchester United further strengthen his claims.

My top ten British managers

1) Sir Alex Ferguson - more silverware than the Pink Panther.

2) Sir Matt Busby

3) Bill Shankly

4) Bob Paisley

5) Don Revie

6) Brian Clough

7) Sir Alf Ramsey

8) Jock Stein

9) Herbert Chapman

10) Bill Nicholson

Partnership: Sir Matt Busby, who won 13 trophies when managing United, alongside Sir Bobby Charlton

Hero: Bill Shankly holding up the FA Cup trophy in 1974 when Liverpool beat Newcastle 3-0

Winner: Liverpool Manager Bob Paisley won six First Division titles and three European Cups

Champion: Leeds manager Don Revie and captain Billy Bremner as they hold the 1972 FA Cup

And here are my top 10 world managers of all time . . .

Slightly different criteria need to be applied to ranking the greatest football managers in the world compared to the best of British.

The World Cup applies unique pressures to men entrusted with the hopes of nations. Thus Sir Alf Ramsey is the only one of our  bosses other than Sir Alex Ferguson to appear in the global list, even though he figures in the bottom half of the British table.

Top ten world managers

1) Sir Alex Ferguson - more silverware than Her Majesty the Queen.

2) Rinus Michels

3) Ernst Happel

4) Marcelo Lippi

5) Helenio Herrera

6) Johan Cruff

7) Cesar Luis Menotti

8) Enzo Bearzot

9) Sir Alf Ramsey

10) Franz Beckenbauer

Legend: Rinus Michels (right) managed Holland when they won the 1978 European Championships

Top five best signings by Sir Alex Ferguson

Eric Cantona - £1.2m from Leeds. Mercurial talent was key to unlocking title.

Roy Keane - £3.75m from Nottingham Forest. A ferocious leader.

Peter Schmeichel - £750,000 from Brondby. A truly great Dane. The No 1 of No 1s.

Cristiano Ronaldo - £12.25m from Sporting Lisbon. Sold for £70m profit.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer -  £1.6m from Molde. Went on to score 1999 European Cup winner.

Genius: Eric Cantona scoring the winner in the 1996 FA Cup final against Liverpool

Top five worst signings by Sir Alex Ferguson

Bebe - £7.4m from Rio Ave. Not a single Premier League start. 

Eric Djemba Djemba - £3.5m from Nantes. The ‘successor to Keane’ flopped.

Kleberson - £6.5m from Atletico Paranaense. left after two seasons. 

David Bellion - £3m from Sunderland. Was never going to go well.

Massimo Taibi - £4.5m from Venezia. In to replace Schmeichel, but didn’t come close.

Let down: Bebe has completely failed to make an impact at Old Trafford after his big money move

Things about Sir Alex Ferguson we will miss

‘FERGIE TIME’ - Time and time again United would score a vital goal in stoppage time. 

THE HAIR-DRYER - Players, managers, referees and the press all got it full throttle.

THE FALL-OUTS - Managers and star players have fallen foul of him.

DAD DANCING - The little jig and complete disregard for anyone who might find it amusing.

THE GUM - Some may not recall a United match without the Scot chewing gum in the dug-out. 

Tapping the watch: the iconic image that will always be Ferguson's trademark

Top five best wins under Sir Alex Ferguson

Man United 2-1 Barcelona. May 15, 1991 - Hughes’s goal ensured Ferguson lifted a cup for a second consecutive season.

Man City 2-3 Man United. November 7, 1993 - The original comeback victory.

Juventus 2-3 Man United. April 21, 1999 - Astonishing comeback win.

Man United 1-0 Barcelona. April 29, 2008 -  Finest example of Ferguson’s tactical ability.

Man United 8-2 Arsenal. August 28, 2011 - With an average age of 23, United were at their exuberant best.

Arms aloft: Mark Hughes scored the winner against Barcelona to lift the European Cup Winners' Cup in 1991

  More... REVEALED: How Fergie choked up in the canteen as he told his stunned stars (and the tea ladies) his 27-year reign was over Sir Alex Ferguson is in a league of his own - Sportsmail's debate before his 700th game Jeff Powell pays tribute to Sir Alex, the mercurial manager forged in the Granite City who became the greatest of all time










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