AS the Premier League’s most successful manager, it is no surprise Sunderland have tried hard to learn from Sir Alex Ferguson, writes Stuart Rayner. Defender Phil Bardsley explains what has rubbed off.
AFTER a quarter of a century with one man at the helm, it is only natural an organisation reflects its boss’ personality. Sir Alex Ferguson’s is stamped over more than just Manchester United.
Sunderland are just one of the clubs to try to tap into the formula which has brought 37 major trophies in an Old Trafford career which enters its 26th year tomorrow. They have been invited to the party this afternoon.
A procession of former Ferguson employees have moved to the Stadium of Light – Steve Bruce, Eric Black, chief scout Bryan “Pop” Robson and fitness and conditioning coach Michael Clegg in the backroom, and plenty more on the field.
While the contacts which brought Danny Welbeck, Jonny Evans and Danny Simpson on loan helped, it is the Ferguson mindset the Black Cats were most eager to benefit from when they appointed ex-Manchester United men as their last three managers.
Since crossing Hadrian’s Wall on November 6, 1986, Ferguson has seen off a host of more talented teams with the hunger still obvious in the 69-year-old. A product of the youth system Ferguson revamped, Phil Bardsley recognises that desire in Sunderland manager Bruce.
“There are similarities,” says the full-back, who left his home town club for the Stadium of Light three years ago. “He (Bruce) is not particularly happy when things aren’t going right – he expects things. The standards he sets are really high.
“He’s frustrated when we’re not scoring or not defending properly or whatever. That’s the way it should be – I can understand his frustration because he knows the quality around the place.
“They’re different managers, different characters – different man-managers.
“On a Friday morning, when the English boys take on the rest of the world and we get the gaffer on our side, he thinks he’s Bobby Charlton or Denis Law. ‘Denis Law is coming out of the washing machine,’ he says. When he starts playing it’s all serious again. He wants to win, seriously.”
It is easy to imagine Ferguson pretending to be Law, his favourite player, equally desperate to win a kick-about. Quite a few have been viewed as the on-field embodiment of Ferguson’s will-to-win. His third signing, Bruce was instrumental in the overhaul of a club whose glamour far outshone its silverware back in 1986.
Bruce was fundamental to a victory which epitomised Ferguson’s United. Having again choked in the title race 12 months earlier, they trailed 1-0 at home to Sheffield Wednesday in April 1993.
Captain-for-the-day Bruce, a prolific centre-back, had not netted in more than six months until two late headers. He jokes the second was “27 minutes into injury-time”. They won the next five games and the inaugural Premier League.
