Post by Salem6 on Apr 12, 2007 18:29:46 GMT
James Ducker
www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/european_football/article1644205.ece
The prospect of an all-English Champions League final
has given added weight to claims that the Barclays
Premiership is the best league in the world. Whether
that is true or not, there can be little debate that
in Sir Alex Ferguson, José Mourinho, Rafael BenÍtez
and Arsene Wenger, England's top division boasts four
of the most accomplished managers in world football.
Our correspondent takes a look at their respective
achievements and assesses their strengths and
weaknesses
Sir Alex Ferguson, Manchester United
Age: 65, United manager since November 1986
Previous clubs (as manager): Aberdeen, St Mirren, East
Stirlingshire
Honours: (with United) 19 leading trophies including 8
FA Premier League titles, 5 FA Cups, 2 League Cups, 1
Champions League and 1 European Cup Winners' Cup;
(with Aberdeen) 10 leading trophies including 3
Scottish League titles, 4 Scottish Cups and 1 European
Cup Winners' Cup
Strength: Master motivator, unquenchable thirst for
success
Weakness: Occasionally struggled to get tactics right
in Europe - until Tuesday
Run-in
Apr 14 Watford (FA Cup semi-final)
Apr 17 Sheffield Utd (h)
Apr 21 Middlesbrough (h)
Apr 24 AC Milan (h) Champions League semi-final first
leg
Apr 28 Everton (a)
May 2 AC Milan (a) Champions League semi-final second
leg
May 5 Manchester City (a)
May 9 Chelsea (a)
May 13 West Ham United (h)
José Mourinho, Chelsea
Age: 44, Chelsea manager since June 2004
Previous clubs (as manager): FC Porto, União de
Leiria, Benfica
Honours: (with Chelsea) FA Premier League 2004-05,
2005-06; League Cup 2005, 2007; (with Porto)
Portuguese championship 2002-03, 2003-04; Cup of
Portugal 2003; Portuguese Super Cup 2003; Uefa Cup
2003; Champions League 2004
Strengths: Unrivalled organisational skills,
Ferguson's only rival in the motivation stakes
Weaknesses: Roman Abramovich may disagree, but largely
flawless so far
Run-in
Apr 15 Blackburn Rovers (FA Cup semi-final)
Apr 18 West Ham United (a)
Apr 22 Newcastle United (a)
Apr 25 Liverpool (h) Champions League semi-final first
leg
Apr 28 Bolton Wanderers (h
May 1 Liverpool (a) Champions League semi-final second
leg
May 6 Arsenal (a)
May 9 Manchester United (h)
May 13 Everton (h)
Rafael BenÍtez, Liverpool
Age: 46, Liverpool manager since June 2004
Previous clubs (as manager): Valencia, Tenerife,
Extremadura, Osasuna, Real Valladolid
Honours: (with Liverpool) FA Cup 2006; Champions
League 2005; European Super Cup 2005; (with Valencia)
Spanish championship 2001-02, 2003-04; Uefa Cup 2004
Strengths: Tactical genius in Europe
Weakness: Still to figure out properly the demands of
the English game
Run-in
Apr 14 Manchester City (a)
Apr 18 Middlesbrough (h)
Apr 21 Wigan Athletic (h)
Apr 25 Chelsea (a) Champions League semi-final first
leg
Apr 28 Portsmouth (a)
May 1 Chelsea (h) Champions League semi-final second
leg
May 5 Fulham (a)
May 13 Charlton Athletic (h)
Arsène Wenger, Arsenal
Age: 57, Arsenal manager since September 1996
Previous clubs (as manager): Nagoya Grampus Eight, AS
Monaco, AS Nancy
Honours: (with Arsenal) FA Premier League 1997-98,
2001-02, 2003-04; FA Cup 1998, 2002, 2003, 2005; (with
Grampus Eight) J-League Super Cup 1996, Emperor's Cup
1996; (with Monaco) French championship 1987-88,
French Cup 1991
Strength: Supreme discoverer of young talent
Weakness: Predilection for style over substance
Run-in
Apr 14 Bolton Wanderers (h)
Apr 17 Manchester City (h)
Apr 21 Tottenham Hotspur (a)
Apr 29 Fulham (h)
May 6 Chelsea (h)
May 13 Portsmouth (a)