Will Anyone From The Class of '92 Be Able To Fill Sir Alex's Shoes?

Will Anyone From The Class of '92 Be Able To Fill Sir Alex's Shoes?

It was a bombshell that reverberated around the world of football for a few weeks and a pall hung over what should have been a time of celebration for all United supporters. The Gaffer's enforced confirmation of his retirement plans took the gloss of the reclaiming of our title from the sky blue mastercard's across the City. Much to his annoyance he had to sit his players down and deliver an official underscore to the tabloid headlines swirling around for the best part of forty eight hours.

In that room of shocked players both young and old were a few very familiar faces. Players, although very mature, sitting in disbelief after being told the biggest chapter of their lives was coming to an end. Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs were the two remaining links to the beginning of Alex Ferguson's glorious era as manager of our great club and definitely the most storied of the amazing crop of youngsters he nurtured into superstars. The two elder statesmen in the team were the last link to that famous crop of talented kids from the class of 1992. A class that heralded the likes of the Neville brothers, Nicky Butt and the global superstar that is David Beckham.

Of those famous six it seems that only three at this time may be be brave enough to take the plunge and follow in the managerial footsteps of the great Scot. Gary Neville has become the analyst in chief at Sky Sports and his natural ability to breakdown the aftermath of live games has been lauded. He does have the analytic tools to be a good tactician however he may at this moment be too confrontational to be an effective man manager. His brother Phil who has just retired may relish the hands on coaching side a lot more. Phil however was never the most vocal or dominating character in his playing days. He certainly was physical and could do a job when asked (Man marking Zola comes to mind) but I think Phil's strengths would be best served as a coach and this is how I see him progressing.

Much of the same could be said of Nicky Butt, already involved in the United coaching setup, not a strong or vocal personality but might be made of sterner stuff than Phil Neville. I can see Nicky eventually working his way up through the divisions with moderate success. I just do not see him being sharp enough to handle a top job.

David Beckham, believe it or not, might eventually shun the glamour world his wife has him entrenched in. It's easy to forget about Beckham in a legitimate footballing sense. A lot of people considered the last years of his career as a carnival. Between playing football in the dour MLS and the short loan spells in Milan and Paris it seemed his last years were junket across fashionable cities and not about playing serious football. Coupled with endless discussion about his England career he almost became a self parody, However David Beckham is a footballing man still and he does have the personality and gravitas to get places in the managerial world should be choose to. How much he took in from his days as a United star would be a good indicator of how well he might do.

This leaves us back with the original dynamic duo Messrs Scholes and Giggs. The old adage that great players rarely make great managers is hard to deny in a lot of cases but considering these players spent their entire careers under the tutelage of the greatest manager in history I would say there is a fair bet that a lot of what they were taught has sunk in. Scholes I believe would be in his element in the practical coaching role, in our fantasies he would create a half a dozen midfield maestros who could thread the ball through cricket stumps from 50 yards away. He also I think has the temperament and determination to be a strong manager. Yes he detests the public life and media attention but in his recent interview with Gary Neville you could detect a glint in his eye when asked about management. He definitely desires to create an attack minded flair team in his own image.

"Giggs..Giggs will tear you apart again" While it remains to be seen if Ryan Giggs, who probably is the closest to Fergie's heart, will return for his first season under a new manager there are no indications that he won't. We can be certain however that Giggs has all the tools at his disposal to be a successful manager. Whether he uses these tools of course is another thing altogether but for a man who was with Sir Alex all the way on this Odyssey nobody could have sponged up enough knowledge and nous as Ryan Giggs.

The Welshman is of course pursuing his badges and in the near future when he hangs up his boots I can see him directing his zeal towards molding young minds on the football park. If any of the gaffers amazing crop of fledglings from 1992 have the best chance to emulate him that it is most likely going to be the wing wizard from Salford. By his long association with Sir Alex he has seen and done almost everything in the game and the by proxy will have been prepared for management thoroughly. I believe though, just as the gaffer does, that Giggs and any other former protege of his should cut their teeth just like he did at lower division clubs and earn their way back up to the top.

It would be the wish of all the support than a former fledgling could take the mantle some day and be just as successful as the man from Govan. Success breeds success and with the flavour of 1992 we hopefully will continue to taste it.