Sir Alex Ferguson's managerial disciples - ranked

Sir Alex Ferguson is famed for his decades of sustained success at Manchester United. He made the decisions and had absolute power at the club, but the legendary Scot would be the first to tell you that his evolving support staff over the years played a crucial role in all that glory.

Ferguson worked with seven assistant managers during his Old Trafford tenure, as well as other first-team coaches and invaluable coaching staff at reserve and youth level feeding into the senior squad.

Sir Alex Ferguson's managerial disciples - ranked

9. Walter Smith

By the time Walter Smith was recruited to the United staff for a brief spell in 2004, he had already won seven Scottish titles as Rangers boss and had also managed in the Premier League with Everton.

But he was a trusted voice Ferguson turned to at a time between permanent assistant managers. United finished the campaign with the FA Cup, with the late Smith going on to manage Scotland and enjoy more Rangers success.

What Fergie said about them:

"After Walter died I was waking up in the middle of the night, every night for weeks thinking about him.

"You have to be special to do what he did and he was special. Walter carried these fantastic talents a long time and if anybody wants to follow that path they should pay attention to the life he had."

8. Archie Knox

Archie Knox was Ferguson's first assistant at Old Trafford, following the boss south of the border from Aberdeen in 1986 - he had two spells at Pittodrie either side of being a manager himself at Dundee.

Knox remained Fergie's number two until 1991, with United having won the FA Cup a year earlier, before joining the coaching staff at Rangers back in Scotland. He later worked on the staff at a variety of clubs, including Everton, Bolton and Blackburn, plus the Scotland national team.

7. Rene Meulensteen

Rene Meulensteen spent a number of years coaching youth team players at United until he was recruited to the senior squad as first-team coach following a short period in Denmark as Brondby manager.

United won multiple Premier League titles and the Champions League with the Dutchman on the staff. It was a point of contention that he wasn't retained when Ferguson retired in 2013 and he went on to take jobs in Russia, Israel, India and Australia, in addition to being Fulham boss.

6. Jim Ryan

As a player, Jim Ryan was a fringe member of Sir Matt Busby's United squad in the 1960s, before being invited back to the club by Ferguson in 1991 to become reserve team manager and form a vital link to the seniors.

On the occasions during Fergie's tenure that United found themselves without an assistant, it was always Ryan that he turned to fill the void. Later, he became director of youth football until he retired in 2012.

5. Steve McClaren

Steve McClaren started his coaching career at Oxford United and Derby County and was a relative unknown in early 1999 when he was hired as Ferguson's new assistant manager.

Within a matter of months, United had won the Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League to complete the treble. By 2001, after two more league titles, McClaren was ready to spread his own wings and enjoyed success with Middlesbrough and Twente either side of a failed England spell.

4. Mike Phelan

Mike Phelan was first a Manchester United player under Ferguson for five years, then later a reserve team manager, first-team coach and finally assistant manager during a 24-year period where only four were elsewhere.

The retired midfielder, who also later served as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's assistant, was on the staff as the Scot built his third great United team from the early 2000s until retiring in 2013. At that point, Phelan took on a variety of jobs at Norwich, Hull and Central Coast Mariners.

3. Eric Harrison

There is a strong argument that a significant chunk of Manchester United's success in the 1990s and 2000s was built on the work of Eric Harrison, who wasn't actually part of the first-team staff at all.

Harrison had been in place as youth team manager as early as 1981, but worked closely with Ferguson upon his arrival to develop a crop of first-team players that would dominated English football - the Class of '92. He remained at the club until 2008 and sadly died in 2019, aged 81.

What Fergie said about them:

"Eric's contribution to football, and not just at Manchester United, was incredible. He built character and determination in those young players and prepared them for the future. He was able to impart that education to the young which made him one of the greatest coaches of our time."

2. Brian Kidd

Having been a United player himself during the 1960s and 1970s, Brian Kidd was brought back to the club by Ferguson in 1988, initially as a youth coach. He was then promoted to the role of assistant manager in 1991.

Kidd was heavily involved in United's first four Premier League title wins, two of which were also part of domestic doubles. He later flew solo in 1998 during an unsuccessful stint at Blackburn, before eventually spending 12 years onthe staff at Manchester City until his 2021 retirement.

1. Carlos Queiroz

David Beckham made the revelation in his Netflix series that he never got on with Carlos Queiroz, who arrived at Old Trafford in 2002. Ironically, the Portuguese was then hired by Real Madrid after Beckham had gone there.

Over two spells, Queiroz was known to be firm and to the point, usually referring to players by their surname only. It didn't sit right with everyone, but United immediately dethroned Arsenal and he was later instrumental in polishing the side that won the Champions League in 2008.

What Fergie said about them:

"Brilliant. Just Brilliant. Outstanding. An intelligent, meticulous man."

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