Greatest English manager ever?

[TartanTerror]

I was watching a show called Fox Football Fone-In - hosted by Steve Cohen and Nick Geber. They were debating the five greatest English managers of all time. Routinely mentioned were Shankley, Paisley, and Ferguson. There were several others mentioned, but, Cohen thought Ferguson was the best for what he has accomplished in the modern game, while Geber (who is a LFC fan) thought that Paisley's haul of trophies qualified him as the best.

My thinking leads me to beleive that Shankly is the greatest. I did some research and aside from a period of 4 - 5 years in the early 1900's during which Arsenal were dominate, no one even approached the dominance of LFC in the 70's and 80's. My point being is that the modern concept of a football dynasty ows its origins to the work Shankly put in in the years leading up to the 70's.

My question to you all - is LFC really the first "dynasty", and would SHankly be the architect of that or does Paisley deserve more of the credit ? And I apologize in advance, as I am sure the Paisley vs Shanks debate is ongoing in Merseyside. . .

[Guest]

Slur Alex Ferguson is the greatest for me.

[desertscouser]

Slur Alex Ferguson is the greatest for me.

Hey Fredo, is this another of your sh!t jokes or are you serious? If you are, please qualify why you think Demento is no. 1.

[Guest]

Hey Fredo, is this another of your sh!t jokes or are you serious? If you are, please qualify why you think Demento is no. 1.

Because he has built teams over and over again ... over a 20 year period. All of his teams have been competitive sides. His only blemish comes in the amount of trophies he won in the CL ... which amounts to 1 .

It's very tough remaining at the top over such a long period of time, and demento has done it. I hate to say that though.

Bob Paisley inherited an already great team and brought unprecedented success to Liverpool during a 7 year reign. But he already had the foundations built by Shanks ... Anyway, it's all about opinions, as demento didn't win anything of note during his first 7 years.

[Fowler_god1984]

surely he would have to be english to qualify?

[royzared]

British manager or manager of an english club?

[Maestro]

As important as Shankly was to our club, and as legendary as the man was, in a debate about the greatest British manager, it boils down to Paisley and Ferguson. I'm obviously biased, but I feel Paisley has to get it for his record in Europe. Ferguson has had 20 years and untold wealth at his disposal and has fallen way short in Europe - he knows this himself, and I think it's the reason he hasn't quit yet. Paisley achieved on all fronts and I think this tips it in his favour.

[dww]

I do think there is a reasonable argument that they were both the pinnacles of their particular eras. The skills involved in their respective jobs were different enough to mean that they have to be considered equally great but at slightly different things. Paisley presided over the only English team which could genuinely be said to have been the best in Europe of a sustained period of time, Fergusson over a series of teams who were all competitive but never the best in Europe. Also the finanaces and attitude of players were so different in the two times that the skills necissary to succeed were different and we will never know how each woud have fared in the others heyday.

[Red Chilli]

You can't argue with 3 European cups

[red g]

You can't argue with 3 European cups

and a uefa

[ronan]

ferguson better than paisley???
bollocks.

[Snigger]

interesting question - ask for the best English manager then list a load of Scots.

[dww]

Okay, so who in terms of English (nationality-wise) managers is the best. I guess Clough has to be pretty hard to beat and Alf Ramsey probably deserves a mention.

[Neil Young]

Okay, so who in terms of English (nationality-wise) managers is the best. I guess Clough has to be pretty hard to beat and Alf Ramsey probably deserves a mention.

1. Paisley.
2. Clough.
3. Ramsey.
4. McLaren.

OK not McLaren then.

[dww]

That seems pretty definitive.