Essayer OR - Gratuit

SUCCESSION

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March 2025

Bob Paisley delivered glory when he followed Bill Shankly as Liverpool boss. At other clubs, though, following a legendary gaffer has had mixed results...

SUCCESSION

WILF McGUINNESS

Replaced: Matt Busby (Manchester Utd)

CONTEXT Eight months after winning the 1968 European Cup Final, Busby announced his intention to step down after 24 years managing Manchester United, at the conclusion of a difficult follow-up campaign that ultimately ended with the club finishing 11th in the First Division. In his place came 31-year-old McGuinness, who had been the reserve-team boss since 1964.

HOW DID IT GO? Not much better than Busby's last season: Manchester United won none of the new man's first six games, and ultimately finished eighth.

They were 18th in December 1970 when he was sacked following a 4-4 draw at Derby. Busby came back as interim boss while McGuinness never managed in the First Division again, heading to Greece with Aris and Panachaiki before having a spell with York City.

BRIAN CLOUGH

Replaced: Don Revie (Leeds)

CONTEXT The long-serving Leeds gaffer guided them to a second top-flight title in 1974, then replaced Alf Ramsey as England manager. Who did Leeds appoint in his stead? Why, Revie's sworn enemy, who had spent years slagging off his style of play and relationship with referees, having beaten Leeds to the league title with Derby in 1972 and then left the Baseball Ground after a dispute with the board. What could go wrong?

HOW DID IT GO? Everything went wrong, and quickly. Clough infamously told an already sceptical Leeds squad, "You can all throw your medals in the bin because they were not won fairly" that'll win 'em over - and then won just one of his eight games and left after 44 days (AKA 'a 90 per cent Truss'). Leeds finished ninth that season, but reached their only European Cup final under replacement Jimmy Armfield.

FABIO CAPELLO

Replaced: Arrigo Sacchi (Milan)

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