1001 MATCHES

As Sir Alex Ferguson prepares for his 1,001st match as manager of Manchester
United – against his one-time captain, Bryan Robson, at West Bromwich Albion
on Saturday – the familiar guessing game has begun anew: Who will eventually
succeed the Tsar of Old Trafford when he finally decides to abdicate?

One quick-thinking tabloid clearly thought they had solved the popular riddle by
publishing the revelation that Sir Alex and Martin O'Neill had been spotted taking wine and breaking bread together at an out-of-the-way table in an out-of-the-way Italian restaurant in an out-the-way village in Lanarkshire before Scotland's 'friendly' drubbing against Sweden last week. Putting two and two together – or in this case putting a bottle of Amarone and a £30 seafood and pasta platter wrapped in foil together – the inference was clear. As well as passing over the freshly baked rolls, the Glaswegian was handing the Ulsterman his job on a plate.

Alas for the conspiracy theorists, when O'Neill read the detailed account of their
supposed dinner date, his reaction was one of wry amusement rather than
burning embarrassment that their cunning plot had been rumbled by an eagle-
eyed waiter for whom the word 'exclusive' represented the Special of the Day.

"Apart from the word 'the'," O'Neill disclosed, "the rest of the article was complete piffle."

Ferguson's companion, as it turned out, was his brother, Martin, who, as a
Partick Thistle wing-half of the 1960s and United's present chief scout in Europe, has probably fulfilled all his ambitions in football and can be safely regarded as a definite non-starter in the managerial stakes.

That is not to say that O'Neill can put his application (assuming he has filed one
in the pending tray) through the shredder; when, as the time will duly come, Sir Alex does decide to relinquish his plastic throne in the Perspex dug-out, then the Celtic manager will undoubtedly be among the names mentioned, as, no doubt, will every leading coach in Europe including his Old Firm rival across the city at Rangers, Alex McLeish, whom Ferguson has regarded as an adopted son since their time at Aberdeen together.

Although he is not on best of terms with two of United's largest shareholders –
erstwhile horse-racing chums John Magnier and J P McManus – it is difficult to
believe the Manchester United board will not seek and give careful consideration to Ferguson's opinion when the subject of his successor is finally raised. For not
only is Sir Alex a shrewd judge of coaching talent but, as someone who loves
(and I use the word advisedly) the club as only Sir Matt Busby before him, it can be taken as read that he would devote much time and energy to the task of identifying his most suitable replacement. As Irish defender Kevin Moran said of him: "He kicks every ball, feels every tackle. He's a man not afraid to show his
emotions for United."

Having turned down job offers from Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur and Rangers
(on two occasions), Ferguson arrived at Old Trafford 18 years and two weeks
ago, saying: "I always said the only two clubs I would ever leave Aberdeen for
were Barcelona and Manchester United. The legend is simply overwhelming."

And so, by way of celebrating Sir Alex's remarkable innings of 1,000 not out, let us ponder another question: If he could choose one side from those 18 years,
what would his selection be? Perhaps he will even write in to this column to let us know his decision but, in the meantime, let us ponder the matter.

Some positions are easier than others; Peter Schmeichel, for instance, would be his clear choice of goalkeeper ahead of Jim Leighton and Fabien Barthez. Roy
Keane, Eric Cantona, Ruud van Nistelrooy and Ryan Giggs would be equally
certain of a place in the starting line-up. However, it is in defence that the real
problems start. At centre-back, we have to consider the various merits of Steve Bruce, Gary Pallister, Jaap Stam and Rio Ferdinand, while United have never
been blessed with world-class full-backs. Viv Anderson was outstanding at
Nottingham Forest and Arsenal but was, perhaps, a fading force by the time he
arrived at Old Trafford. Paul Parker, too, was a wonderboy who never quite
reproduced his form of old after joining the Red Devils.

And what of David Beckham? Sir Alex is clearly of the belief that Portuguese
teenager Ronaldo will prove to be the greater talent, but does his brilliant
potential down the right touchline outweigh everything that the boy Becks brought to the role?