Sir Alex Ferguson was unequivocal in his assessment of the finest football manager of all time.

Sir Alex Ferguson was unequivocal in his assessment of the finest football manager of all time. Sir Alex Ferguson, the former manager of

 

 

 

Manchester United, provided an unexpected response when asked to identify the finest manager of all time. Ferguson, with 13 English top-flight titles to his credit during his tenure as Manchester United’s manager, is without a doubt the finest manager to have ever helmed the Premier League at the age of 83.

 

 

 

 

Pep Guardiola, the manager of Manchester City, has assumed the title of the league’s most successful manager over the past decade since Ferguson’s departure from United in 2013. There is no doubt that Liverpool supporters will assert that Bill Shankly and Bob Paisley are included in the discussion.

 

 

 

 

Real Madrid fans will be unable to ignore Carlo Ancelotti, while Barcelona and Dutch fans will contend that Johan Cruyff is the reason Sir Alex Ferguson won 13 Premier League titles. Credit: Getty However, who does Ferguson regard as the most exceptional of them all? In 2017, the Scot disclosed that Jock Stein, the former Celtic and Scotland manager, was “one of the greatest managers of all time.

 

 

 

 

“Stein was most renowned for his 1967 European Cup victory with the Celtic team, which was nicknamed the “Lisbon Lions.” He later managed Leeds United and the Scottish national team before passing away at the age of 62 while coaching during a match between Scotland and Wales in 1985. Ferguson served as Stein’s assistant and succeeded him as head coach following his sudden demise.

 

 

 

 

Ferguson acknowledged Stein’s contributions and expressed his enthusiasm for their collaboration in a 2015 interview with the Scottish FA. Ferguson stated, “My most enduring memories of working with him were the times we would convene at the MacDonald hotel.” He was not a sound sleeper, and he would remain in bed until 2 or 3 a.m. said to him,

 

 

 

 

“Jock, I have to take the train in the morning.” He replied, “You’ll be fine, son,” and would request another cup of tea. We would remain there until approximately 4:00 or 5:00 a.m. I have always recollected asking him about the exceptional Celtic squad, and he would never claim any credit. Hearing an individual who had accomplished so much be so modest about it was truly delightful.

 

 

 

 

This was a significant advantage for me as a new coach, and I thrived on it.Of all the conversations we used to have at the MacDonald Hotel, I always recall him telling me about how to deal with the press. He possessed a high level of intelligence and was an exceptional networker. On Friday evenings, he would inquire about the situation, and I would provide him with all the information, as he was likely already aware.

 

 

 

 

“Jock would enter a room and his presence and personality would immediately be apparent.” He was acquainted with all individuals. It is an exceptional skill to possess. “He was distinctive, and I truly enjoyed working for him.” It was a privilege to have worked with Jock Stein, and it would lend me a sense of authority to say so.