As Sir Alex Ferguson reflects on his two decades in the Manchester United hot seat, his natural successor could be sitting no more than a few yards away in the visitor’s dugout at Old Trafford on Sunday.


Mark Hughes will bring his in-form Blackburn Rovers team to the Theatre of Dreams to play the current Premier League champions hoping to steal a march on the manager who rekindled his Red Devil career when he brought him ‘home’ in 1988 for £1.8 million pounds following two frustrating years on the continent, at Barcelona and Bayern Munich.

On November 6, 1986, when Alex Ferguson was persuaded to move to Old Trafford from Aberdeen, United were, at best, a cup team staring relegation to the old English Second Division in the face. Having secured the club’s place in the First Division, Ferguson set about creating a succession of great teams that have dominated the English game during the modern era. Mark Hughes was an integral part of two of those teams.

'His success at Blackburn has been achieved on limited budget and the moulding of a strong unit from defence to attack'


Hughes left Old Trafford in 1995 and, after periods with Chelsea, Southampton, Everton and Blackburn Rovers, he has enjoyed personal managerial success both with Wales and back again at Blackburn. While coaching his country, he got the best out of a limited team, recording great wins over Germany (1-0) and Italy (2-1), during a European Championship qualifying campaign that ended in glorious failure.

In September, 2004, Hughes inherited a relegation threatened Blackburn team that had plateaued under Graeme Souness. After keeping the club in the Premier League during his first season, Blackburn finished sixth and tenth in the Premier League in subsequent seasons and participated in the UEFA Cup. They have also reached two FA Cup semi-finals and one Carling Cup semi-final.

His success at Blackburn has been achieved on limited budget and the moulding of a strong unit from defence to attack. He first built a solid base in defence where the excellent Brad Friedel has been joined over time by the likes of Ryan Nelson and Chris Samba. His midfield is reminiscent of Hughes at his playing peak, with the guile and skill of Morten Gamst Pedersen dovetailing effortlessly with grafters such as Robbie Savage.

Similarly, Blackburn forwards work hard for their team and don’t shirk a challenge. Not every manager could inspire such commitment from perennial under-achievers like Benni McCarthy, Shabanni Nonda and Roque Santa Cruz as Hughes has done.

This season, Rovers have started well. After eleven games they lie sixth in the League having lost just once. Even more impressive are the club’s stats against ‘the big four’. So far they have drawn with Chelsea, Liverpool and Arsenal. A point at Old Trafford would complete the set. However, with United coming off a midweek European match, a fresh-legged Blackburn could cause a shock that would take them into the international break in great shape. With the Premier League more open this season than for many a year, who would bet against Rovers breaking into the top four positions come May?

Ask any United fan of a certain vintage to name their favourite Red Devil of all time and the nickname ‘Sparky’ will be declared. But any approach to Hughes would not be based on affection alone. On the evidence of his career so far, it would be based on a good results, good coaching and a will to succeed.

At one press conference this week, Sir Alex commented wryly on whether he could survive a further 21 years as United manager. When he does step aside, appointing his successor will an important decision that can only be made once. Get in wrong and, much like the years following Sir Matt Busby’s first retirement in 1969, United could face a prolonged period in the footballing wilderness.

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