They are similar in so many ways - determined, ambitious, uncompromising fighters - and they've both won cups, although only one has won championships consistently. One suspects that one of them has that little more mental toughness that marks him out from the rest.

Roy Keane and Dennis Wise find themselves in the manager's hot seat at two clubs that have enjoyed their fair share of success in the past. But right now they are heading in opposite directions.

Keane is riding on the crest of a wave at Sunderland, where he has turned the Wearside club's season round and put them in a position to challenge for promotion to the Premiership. Wise has plunged into the depths with Leeds United and is on the edge of relegation from the Championship into the First Division. But who will ultimately cut it as a club manager? Let's look at their likenesses:

'Wise is so explosive that Sir Alex Ferguson once suggested that he could start a fight in an empty room'


1. They have pedigree, even if they haven't qualified in the vintage stakes yet.  Yet a glittering playing career is hardly a pre-requisite for a management career. Chris Coleman, Harry Redknapp and Glenn Roeder, amongst a host of others, can testify to that.

2. Ounce for ounce, Keane has probably encountered competition and success at a higher level and more frequently in his playing days. Long sparring bouts at the top level build a mind that is receptive to, and thrives on, intense pressure and results. He was a key player in two squads under two mentors of top grade footballing genius - Brian Clough and Sir Alex Ferguson. Both built European Cup and League winning campaigns around Keane. Wise won the European Cup Winners' Cup with Chelsea in 1998, the FA Cup with Wimbledon in 1988 and with Chelsea in 1997 and 2000, and the League Cup with Chelsea in 1997. He had a short England career but was always a terrier of a player and always competed at the peak of his capacity.

3. Keane is one in a long list of Ferguson's boys who are either managing now or have managed in the past. Others include Gordan Strachan, Steve Bruce, Steve Coppell, Paul Ince, Bryan Robson, Steve McClaren and Joe Jordan. The Ferguson influence must be a telling one to have bred such an impressive list. Wise would be looking for the Gould-Gullit-Hoddle influence. He seems to work well with Gus Poyet and has a long list of ex-teammates whom he can call upon to build a management career with.

4. Both lead by example; and, not to put too fine a point on it, by bullying team-mates into performing.

5. Both have an explosive side. They had their fair share of clashes with opponents and authority. Remember the Keane - Alfie Haaland confrontation in 2001, and Keane v Mick McCarthy in the 2002 World Cup and the Wise confrontation with a London cabbie. Wise is so explosive that Sir Alex Ferguson once suggested that he could start a fight in an empty room.

Their differences are slightly more obvious in view of the success - or otherwise - they have made of their jobs so far.

1. Keane is in his rookie year in football management. Wise has been learning the ropes for a few years now and had some small success with Swindon.

2. Sunderland are heading for the Premiership and could well end the season as Championship champions. Wise needs to get Leeds two wins, back-to-back wins to have any chance of stopping the rot.

One suspects that both will, within the next decade, establish themselves among the management elite. Both have the mental toughness and pedigree surely. They were able to put their natural skills and good work ethics into practice as players. Yet both also have a certain mad streak. If they could contain this liability, success has a reasonable chance at flourishing in their dugout.

[Contributed by deswendepunkt.blogspot.com]

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