JOSE MOURINHO WRONG FOR UNITED
David Moyes is a much better bet to succeed Alex Ferguson
APPARENTLY, a guy has gone squealing to the Old Bill, complaining that Jose Mourinho gave him a back-hander after Wednesday's game at Old Trafford.
The bloke was among a group of fans goading the Inter manager. He wasn't injured. He didn't require treatment. Unless, of course, he wanted to book himself into hospital to have a backbone fitted.
I'm all for the law clamping down on football people who consider themselves above it. But wasting police time - there's talk of detectives having to go to Italy to interview Jose - on a trivial spat is spineless.
After all, they could be better employed finding those responsible for the 20 knife crimes that occur daily. Or feeling the collar of Victor Anichebe - a young black man who just happened to be peering through a jeweller's window in an overwhelmingly white, affluent area of leafy Cheshire.
But that's another issue.
The most significant slap last week wasn't the one allegedly landed on a grown man with nothing better to do with his time than hang around a car park in the dead of the night.
It was the high-five given to another United fan as Mourinho entered the stadium. And then to another. And another. And another.
Boy, we do miss Mourinho. Genuinely. The Premier League would be a more competitive place with him in it. But if the circus surrounding what transpired to be Inter's relatively tame surrender demonstrated one thing, it is this. Mourinho is not Ferguson's natural successor.
No matter how much he considers Old Trafford to feel like 'home'. No matter how much he tries to curry favour with United supporters. No matter how much grandstanding he does inside the great arena. No matter how many expensive bottles of wine he uncorks for Fergie.
To succeed Sir Alex, self-belief will be essential. A sense of self-importance fatal. Unfortunately, Mourinho has both in spades.
Speculation about Ferguson's replacement may be premature. I'm loathe to refer to United's ultimate ambition as a quintuple because the World Club Championship is a tinpot trophy that doesn't count. I'd fancy the Johnstone's Paint Trophy holders to have a decent crack at that one.
But the distinct possibility of a clean sweep is a reflection of a manager at the very peak of his career ... not the end of it. And all the signs are that he has even more drive and more determination than ever.
In Ferguson's mind, winning all five will only last as the ultimate achievement until the final trophy is lifted at the end of May. Immediately, retaining all five will take over. It's what makes him the Special One.
But such is the legacy Ferguson is laying down that debate over a succession plan will grow and grow. Mourinho ticks few boxes.
Longevity has been key to Sir Alex's success. In his first season at Inter, Mourinho has consistently prattled on about his future plans away from Milan. There's only dynasty Jose is interested in - the Mourinho dynasty.
Development of younger players, whether they be from Britain or Brazil, has been a firm mantra for Ferguson. Mourinho, at Chelsea and Inter, has shown scant interest in that department.
And for reasons we all actually love, Mourinho will always be the story wherever he goes. For all his accomplishments and indeed his faults (because he does have some), Ferguson still allows Manchester United to be the story.
So if not Mourinho, who?
There are ex-United players out there making a case with Steve Bruce and Mark Hughes serving testing apprenticeships. I always thought Martin O'Neill was a heir apparent but, increasingly, he looks to have found his spiritual home at Villa Park.
So the answer might lie 30 miles down the road where David Moyes this weekend celebrates seven years in charge of Everton.
Like Ferguson, he recognises the value of continuity, of gradual improvement. Like Ferguson, he wants to develop young, energetic, intelligent players. Like Ferguson, he has an intensity that is almost intimidating but not all-consuming.
And like Ferguson, he understands that the traditions, history and values of a football club are more important than the individual.
Unlike, I suspect - for all his fascinating qualities - a certain Jose Mourinho.
Now get the News of World print edition for more from Andy Dunn
This article has 10 comments
Jose murinho should succeed from the legend alex ferguson he said he wanted to coach united after he finishes hes contract with inter.milan which end in summer 2010 Go MOURINHO Go MOURINHO
By fredricco. Posted September 9 2009 at 4:35 PM.
absolute nonsense, moyes has proved that he can not handle big name players he has his own ego issues as proved in the wayne rooney saga, starting with the handling and coaching of a rising superstar to the untimley yet inevatable sale of the player ask him if he would stop if moyes took over!
By stevie (toon fan ). Posted March 29 2009 at 5:34 PM.
I think the points of the article are right...David Moyes is certainly in the same managerial vein as Alex Ferguson in regards to respecting tradition and playing the long game etc. but the semantics of David Moyes actually moving over to Old Trafford don't really add up...he is trying to build his own legacy at Everton and to switch to attempting to carry on someone else's legacy would leave him trying to fill the shoes of an incredibly successful manager which would mean that Moyes would only ever be carrying on the success of someone else rather than building it from the ground up like he is doing at Everton. Even though i think he would do brilliant things given the financial power of Utd, it wouldn't be the right move for David Moyes and i think that he knows that...he's in it for the long haul at Everton to build something fantastic - just like a certain Sir Alex Ferguson has done in Manchester...
By Tom . Posted March 18 2009 at 10:16 AM.
David Moyes is building his own legacy at Everton-why would he want to go to Manchester United?
Alex Ferguson was very close to the chop before he turned around the fortunes of the sleeping giant all those years ago. Everton are also a sleeping giant on the cusp of waking up. Andy Dunn is right, Moyes is a man who believes in continuity and gradual improvement, and there is plenty of that to do at Goodison park. What could Moyes possibly improve at Old Trafford?
By Daniel Militwitch. Posted March 15 2009 at 10:46 AM.
Moyes is also a loyal man, at no time did he ever complain over lack of funds etc. He just got on with the job.
By Paul . Posted March 15 2009 at 9:58 AM.
I can,t see David Moyes working for a media manufacture club run by Yanks.
By Peter C. Posted March 15 2009 at 10:13 AM.
Disagree. You cannot have one rule for the football gliteratii and another rule for the hoi polloi. The fans were right, if it was a fan who did that, they'd be in jail for sure or banned from football grounds for life. Because it's Jose of course, he is above all rules and drooled over by the press. You simply cannot bend the rules because someone is famous. That is celebrity culture gone mad! I don't think football writers are the best people to give an objective view on such matters. Remember when a Birmingham City fan ran onto the pitch and did a hand shuffle signal at Enkcleman after his goalkeeping blunder? Two months in jail! Mournho should face the same punishments as Brian Clough did if he's found guilty. Three months ban frm touchline if he returns to England
By Samantha. Posted March 15 2009 at 10:11 AM.
Yes Moyles would be a great replacement for Fergie, he could take all the success that he has had with Everton over the last seven years.
He could then turn Old Trafford into a Trophy Free Zone
By Steve. Posted March 15 2009 at 9:47 AM.
And you can see Moyes and Rooney working well together? Didn't David Moyes sue Rooney over his autobiography?
By Chris. Posted March 15 2009 at 2:53 AM.
Agreed - United need a manager who'll stick around, Jose has already said he wants to win La Liga - he won't manage that at Old Trafford now...
By Chriso. Posted March 15 2009 at 1:23 AM.