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FRANK WORRALL brings you insider news for the WEEKLY SPORT!

BARCA’S PEP GUARDIOLA TO
REPLACE SIR ALEX FERGUSON
AS THE MANAGER OF MAN UNITED


(…thanks to Sir Bobby Charlton!)

AT THE end of the festive period, Sir Alex Ferguson admitted that he plans to stay on as Manchester United manager for another three years.

That got the boys in the Press boxes up and down the country scratching their heads about who would replace him – and whether he would actually stay in the hot-seat for those 36 months.

Well, after nattering with some sources at United, I can now exclusively reveal WHEN Fergie will retire – and WHO will replace him.

My information is that he will go before the end of the three years – that that was a smokescreen to prevent a repeat of the fiasco in the 2001-02 season when he announced he would retire at the end of that season, before changing his mind.

That announcement back then had the effect of plunging the club into chaos – with subsequent poor results. Inevitably, some players began to tread water, not pulling their weight as much as usual – with the mindset that, ‘What does it matter – the boss will be gone soon…so he’s hardly got the inclination or the time to sack us!'

So this time the official line is that he will go at the end of the 2014-15 season.

My information is that has been stated to avoid a repeat of the situation in 2001-02 – and that the boss intends to actually hang up his chewing gum a year before…or even at the end of next season if United should somehow manage to dethrone the wonderful Barcelona from their perch as European Champions in 2012-13 (assuming as I do that they will most likely retain their crown in Munich in May).

So that is the WHEN, what about the WHO?

Realistically, it was only ever going to be one of two men who would have the charisma, talent and, most importantly of all given the players they will have to lead, the WINNING MENTALITY and RECORD OF ACHIEVEMENTS needed for the job. The likes of Wayne Rooney are never going to look upon, say David Moyes (who has also been touted for the job), with the utmost respect – simply because Moyes has not won anything big with Everton. Of course, that is not David’s fault – he has worked wonders at Goodison with limited finances, but he would need to prove himself at a step higher than Everton – or somehow miraculously win trophies there – if he were to be considered for the United job.

No, realistically the only two men who could walk into Old Trafford tomorrow and say to a sceptical set of players, ‘We have done all you’ve done and more – and we have won more’ are Barcelona manager Pep Guardiola and Real Madrid’s Jose Mourinho.

I myself would have been tempted to employ Mourinho. He is a larger-than-life character, arrogant and a winner. Guardiola is also a winner, but I could probably have managed Barca to some of the trophies Guardiola has won…given the extraordinary quality of players he inherited from the famed Barca academy.

But United have plumped for Guardiola – and I understand discreet talks have already taken place to assess whether he would be interested in taking on the United job in 2013 or 2014…and that positive vibes were received.

It makes sense. Guardiola has often said he feels his work is almost complete at Barca and he has also often spoken of his admiration for the Premier League, and United in particular.

So what has swayed United to him rather than Mourinho? My understanding is that United prefer his humility and calmness as well as his belief in attacking football and his fierce belief in establishing an academy that nurtures top young talent. Sir Bobby Charlton, in particular, is said to like the work Pep has done – while he is apparently less enamoured with Mourinho’s confrontational style of management.

In that sense, I can understand United’s decision to go for Guardiola. He brings a dignity that Mourinho could never match – and he is a great believer in the academy process. United’s owners the Glazers also admire that - as they know it will save them the massive transfer budget Mourinho would demand as one of the planks of his move from Madrid to Old Trafford.

Put it this way – when has Mourinho ever moved to a club and put forward a 10 or 20 year plan? One that DOES NOT not involve big money buys – and one that DOES involve planning ahead with a conveyor belt of homegrown product?

Just look at his work at Chelsea, Inter and Real for the obvious, undeniable answer - yes, never.

So although I think Mourinho would probably bring more immediate success to United, I would also concede that Guardiola is the better long-term bet. He brings stability, dignity and is a true sportsman (unlike Jose) – but also is a man who could stay around for a generation.

Hey, he could even be the new Sir Alex Ferguson at United and be there for 20-odd years…