More Sports in name of business

Most U.S. sports fans don’t know who Sir Alex Ferguson is much less his accomplishments as manager of the most highly valued sports franchise in the world,  Manchester United. In his 27 years, the “Red Devils” have won 13 Premier League titles, 2 European Champions League trophies, and assorted English tournaments.  He stands along the most successful and recognizable managers such as Vince Lombardi, Don Shula, or Tom Landry (NFL),  John Wooden or Mike Krzyzewski (NCAA), Casey Stengel, Joe Torre, or Tony LaRussa (MLB), Red Auerbach (NBA), or Scottie Bowman (NHL).  In terms of league titles, Sir Alex exceeds them all.  Of course, their degree of revenue-sharing differs widely across leagues so that such comparisons are relatively crude.

 Eye for Talent and Its Application: These managers could spot players with skills useful for their teams.  This includes star players along with role players.  Imitators of Vince Lombardi under-valued this contributor to his success and over-valued his verbal abuse.  The skill goes beyond merely recognizing skill players, however, and involves making the best use of them.  Earl Weaver, the longtime Baltimore Orioles manager, liked to say, “I focus on what players can do, rather than criticizing them for what they can’t.”  Of course, part of the job involves seeing where a player has outlived his role.  Alex Ferguson cut loose the very popular David Beckham.

 Motivators:  Among long-lived managers, personalities differ a great deal, often, too much is made and too much imitation of glaring, distasteful aspects.  John Wooden, Scottie Bowman, and Sir Alex dealt with players in very different ways.

 Inflexibly Flexible:  Most of these managers present a paradox.  There is no doubt who was in charge.  No internal struggles for control, or short-lived ones.  They all held firm ideas about what they wanted to do.  However, over the course of their careers, they bent with trends.  Interestingly, few of them were really noted as innovators.