Gary Lineker has made his feelings clear on former Man United boss Sir Alex Ferguson when speaking on the Rest is Football podcast
Gary Lineker admits he had a couple of fallouts with the legendary Sir Alex Ferguson during his Manchester United tenure but would back the former manager to be a resounding success in the modern game. Lineker has said the fallouts took place when he was on the BBC, but has serious respect for the success Ferguson achieved throughout his career.
The comments were made after a fan got in touch with The Rest Is Football and asked the podcast trio whether Ferguson’s management style would work with today’s generation of players. The former Man United boss is regarded as one of the best ever managers, with an incredible 38 trophies won.
Responding to the question, former Newcastle United sriker, Alan Shearer said: “Good question. I think very much like great players in the 70s, 80s and 90s, he would adapt to being a great manager now because he would find a way.
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“He went through different eras anyway and managed to still be great and adapt. But I think, without doubt, he would have to change. I’m not sure he could rule by fear as much as he did then, now. But there’s no doubt he would be the best manager because he’d adapt.”
“Yes, I’d have to agree,” Micah Richards said. “Come on, Fergie. People don’t understand how many top players he had to deal with. Imagine dealing with all those players. A bit of tough love is good as well.
“Some of those players now are a little bit soft now. So, what he’s done in the game, no doubt he would adapt.”
“1,500 games, 895 wins, 38 trophies, 13 Premier Leagues and two Champions Leagues,” Lineker said. “I think he might be able to adapt a little bit to the modern game.
“38 trophies. Incredible. Also as you rightly said, he’s done it in different eras Alan. He probably had three different teams during that period of time and he was never afraid to let a player go.
“He sold Beckham, Keane, Stam, Ruud Van Nistelrooy and lots of others as well. I mean, as a bloke he was tough, he was hard, he was uncompromising and demanding of his players.
“I still think you probably need that to a degree. I think some of the antics that I’ve heard would probably not be received well in the modern game but as you quite rightly said, you would adapt a little bit.
“A leader is a leader. I fell out with him a couple of times in my BBC days but I never ever lacked respect for the success that he’s had. It would be interesting. It’s a hypothetical question but if you’re that good, you’re that good aren’t you?”
Richards asked: “Don’t you think though, a lot of the ex-pros say that if he liked you, he was amazing. A lot of people talk about the modern day game now and they say, could he adapt tactically? But look at what (Zinedine) Zidane has done.
“He’s not known as a master tactician, but he wins three Champions Leagues in a row. (Carlo) Ancelotti as well, the exact same thing. He’s not known as a tactician but he’s won the Champions League and what he’s done for Real Madrid. Yes, he [Ferguson] would be a success.”
