Why United Should Say No Way Jose

Claudio Ranieri was everything the Premier League needed this season. A manager brimming experience – good and bad; full of character; natural humility; a winning ethos and most importantly, an understated ego. The fact that Leicester City did so well all during the season ensured that we all came to know him better as with every victory came another interview. All of which were entertaining and interesting. With a touch of “will he or won’t he do the business for The Foxes to all of them. Even up day the club were to win the title Claudio was in Italy having lunch with his 97-year-old mother. A touch of class one would have to say and everything that makes the game of football truly beautiful. Therefor thought that Jose Mourinho may return to the Premier League as the boss at Manchester United is horrendous. His last game was at King Power before he was sacked and the Special ego got in the way of the job once again.

If true that he will be back the airwaves will be once again cluttered with his weekly nonsensical musings about matches. Or a streams of criticisms of match officials all of whom are seemingly part of an inter galactic conspiracy to make his life tough. Which at one time amused the press in the mixed zone, as The Special One was always able to muster a distraction, but have now become monotonous. His record at Real Madrid prior to the second coming at Chelsea used the same Modus Operandi and so few cried when he finally left the club in 2013. The polar opposite to the case were Ranieri to leave the King Power Stadium this week to take the Italy national; job for example. The City would draw to a halt in sick as the Italian has epitomised everything the sport should stands for; his club representing the spirit that football has enshrined over the decades. That over the years have eroded as the player wallets got bigger but somehow has been revitalised for the next generation of fans with the new Champions.

Not unlike Kevin Keegan or Graham Taylor in their time, Ranieri also introduced a new vernacular in the world of football speak - Dingly dingly dong.

Clearly the success of Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United has come at an unforeseen price with the club apparently still unable to chart a path to success ever since the Scot retired. With his immediate replacement David Moyes failing to deliver results after arriving with an impeccable CV from Everton. Now the pedigree of Dutchman Louis van Gaal has failed to quell the rumours that his time may also be up now. And a narrative that has proved a constant irritant as the media repeat the questions almost weekly about his imminent demise. Which probably helps explains why Mourinho was so popular with the press as he provided easy copy daily for the less industrious writers. As van Gaal is less articulate in English the obsession became personalised and ultimately a negative force. 

The latest reports now suggest that Mourinho may be a shoe in within days or hours to formally replace Mourinho former boss/ partner at Barcelona. Unimaginable though before the FA Cup Final next week.

With no track record in young players at any of his clubs and rarely lasting more than three season seasons at any in recent years Mourinho seems a strange choice for United given the need for longer term stability. Rather than a quick fix. Having just trusted van Gaal and arguably failing the long running rumours may solidify into fact pretty soon. With the added pressure of Pep Guardiola installed across at City it might make the fact that Jose was not originally selected when Ferguson left now irrelevant. When needs must the devil rides so they say and as the composition of the board has changed somewhat and the US owners are more anxious for results. Particularly seeing fellow American John W Henry enjoy a resurgence at the club’s other rivals Liverpool. The club now in the Europa League Final under Juergen Klopp – a new era manager with a proven reputation. 

So the Glazers may bite the bullet and bring in Mourinho offering him an open chequebook to buy what he needs. Which is one thing Jose knows how to do – that is spend money - but not always effectively.

In truth Jose is more PSG material where with Middle East owners are not afraid to test the limits of UEFA’s Financial Fair Play and would enable the Portuguese manager to spend his way to success. More easily won in a Ligue 1 where Paris clearly now dominate and that allow focus to remain on the Champions League with minimal player rotation. Unfortunately, the incumbent Paris Saint-Germain coach Laurent Blanc has extended his contract until the end of the 2017/18 season. But the 50-year-old former France World Cup winner in 1998 has also played for United and knows the club. Having led PSG to back-to-back Ligue 1 titles and only last season completed an unprecedented treble of league, League Cup and French Cup triumphs he oozes ability. Which is more than Mourinho at this time and with a contrasting style that would befit the Old Trafford Club in their current battles. 

Surely United could attract his interest as Blanc has failed to get his hands on the Champions league trophy in this three years at the club after replacing Carlo Ancelotti. So a change might be good.

Earlier this season in the first meeting of Chelsea and Leicester City Mourinho proved true to type and particularly after being defeated at Kings Power stadium to long-time rival Ranieri. It was a loss that left Chelsea resting around the drop zone area and put Mourinho out of work. An imaginable thought less than six months prior when the Special One was heroically celebrating another Premier League title at Stamford Bridge. So no doubt that even the darkest of humour could not have laughed that situation off. Even less so Mourinho – who fails in that department – and takes himself far too seriously. Therein lying his problem as his players seemed to desert him leaving the manager isolated on the side-lines at his hour of most need and helpless to correct anything. Seeking solace with megaphone diplomacy to reach out to his players in recent weeks. The opposite to Ranieri another former Chelsea manager.

For all Mourinho’s alleged suaveness and style, he is unable to do a number of basic things required of an experienced football manager – the first is having a thick skin. Also to accept defeat when it arises, understand the vagaries of refereeing, display some humility when there are short comings to his plans, or even accepting blame at times for mistakes. Most importantly though, moving on to the next game and leaving the past behind him. 

That’s not for him as it is always the blame game and at Leicester City it was the turn of the ball boys – who allegedly in Jose’s eyes – were too slow giving back the balls to his players towards the end of that game. Perhaps playing a causal role in the Chelsea’s loss as a result in his view. The need to win at all costs is something that has worked well over the years since he first landed on the football landscape with the Champions League win at Porto in 2004. Having repeated the feat with Inter Milan in 2010 and added league titles in four European jurisdictions his CV leaves him in an exclusive club no doubt. However, it does not all read like a fairy tale as at each of the clubs he has left behind some level of crisis as he is capable of starting a row on his own in a phone booth - when the mood takes him. With an ability to also target those players who he feels carry too much power in his dressing room. Or too high profile in his eyes. 

Hence Juan Mata was shipped out off to United on Jose’s return to Chelsea despite having played his best season at the club the previous year. 

Mourinho then chose to find a home for Radamel Falcao for some reason at Stamford Bridge - someone who hardly played a game since leaving Monaco - and carrying an injury since dominating the headlines for Atletico Madrid they won Europa league in 2013. In addition, the chase for Diego Costa, who also had established himself as Falcao’s replacement at Atletico under Diego Simeone - but was injured toward the end of the season – even coming off in the Champions League Final in Lisbon. Which was followed by a poor world cup with Spain in Brazil, and unable to reclaim his place under Del Bosque. It took time but he eventually outperformed all expectations in his first season for Chelsea. But has been absent without trace this year.

Perhaps Jose’s best decision was to sell David Luiz – doing so at the top of the market during the last world cup – and before the splendour of the home teams hopes imploded on the Copacabana – when they were dumped out by Germany. With PSG paying €50 million euros for a player even Rafa Benitez could not decide was a defender or midfielder. And lest we forget there were some other astute moves like coaxing Cesc Fabregas back to London from Barcelona, a move that paid dividends for both parties as the former Arsenal player delivered last season. Eden hazard was another that repaid Mourinho’s faith as did Drogba when he returned from China.

But ever since the unneccary Eva Carneiro incident Hazard has only been a shadow of his former self, as indeed has been Fabregas. With neither performing as needed this season. Why Oscar wasn’t sold during the transfer window was another bizarre Jose decision given that he was unable to hold his place in the physicality of Mourinho’s game plan in the Premier League.

As the former Liverpool striker and one time Wales and Real Madrid manager, John Toshack, used to say - even top class managers last only three seasons. The one in which they arrive and acclimatise to the job, which then may pose problems in the second if there is the need to win something and prove the honeymoon is over. With the third possibly cut short even if titles were won year as the winning laurels are easily forgotten if not maintained. The exit door the surest guarantee. As occurred at Real when Mourinho accused the players of leaking team information to the media. The two targets in his sights proving immovable club stalwarts, captain Iker Casillas and vice-captain, Sergio Ramos and the ensuing carnage during the club’s chase for the tenth Champions League title.

No doubt Mourinho’s own paranoia get the better of him also given his need to control all events with that over exaggerated self-belief. Which don’t make him immune to life’s realities. Those times when events are not going his way for example and there is an urgent need for Plan B. It appears that Mourinho doesn’t do that second plan. Its all or nothing for him.

At Chelsea that inability to adapt cost him the job he craved at United once Real Madrid agreed to dispense with his services. Whether going back to Stamford Bridge was wise is now a redundant argument as they won trophies last season. With the chastening experience of the current developments one imagines Madrid would not seek his services ever again. With Porto not big enough anymore and Inter offering no vacancy either. From all the soundings through his agent it is clear that Mourinho wants another go in the Premier League to right the perceived wrongs. 

If the bookies were to be believed at the time his departure  the move was contrived to secure the Special One a spot at Old Trafford - the place he always wanted - but was never offered. The club selcting instead the low key choices of David Moyes and then the pedigree of van Gaal that were the preferred options. But both proving short of the mark thus far and leaving the United board still facing the Fergie replacement problem four years on. With that overriding sense of desperation it may mean Mourinho does come back.

But would we would not be all better off with less of the bitter Mourinho and more of the Real Special One, Claudio Ranieri.

OSM- All rights reserved

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OSM - The Fine Art of Sports Management

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If sports management was easy then everybody would be doing it. But with the legendary tale of that handshake between Arnold Palmer and Mark McCormack, founder of International Management Group [IMG] is so often quoted that people forget the many relationships that failed along the way. Or indeed ever since those halcyon days of the industry when management of brands and securing sponsors was a novelty game to everyone. As pioneers Palmer, McCormack and then Jack Nicklaus with Golden Bear, blazed a trail that founded the keystone to what golf is known as today. With most golfers on Tour these days living a lucrative playing - once they breakthrough - and enjoying all the spoils the sport can offer once the achievements are garnered along the way.

The arrival of Tiger Woods twenty years ago only enhanced the financial focus on the sport as his accumulation of titles opened new doors for IMG. And unbroken success which all of a sudden made the impossible possible and that the 18 Major titles record would be matched by Tiger even in Jack's lifetime. In the same way that Roger Federer in tennis has rewritten tennis history at Wimbledon – despite Bjorn Borg’s amazing achievements; or Lionel Messi in football eclipses in his wake the names of Pele, Maradona and Cruyff to a large degree, with every additional title he collects. Or Annika Sorenstam in ladies golf who with her own commitment and ability became an iconic sports personality that has yet to be equalled. With many other sports boasting their breakthrough characters also.

But in the times we live the media, sponsors, and the players are more advanced in understanding their brand, the value of sponsorship and indeed how best to promote themselves to a commercial audience. Twitter being a classic example. Making it more complex these days for any management company to do their job as simply as they would like. With even just the media demands now, print, broadcast, internet and social, all requiring quotes, interviews and sound bites. Then the sponsors naturally seeking to maximise their spend every time they put money down for an event and the ruling federations trying to maintain the codes intact as the pressures from all sides mount and mount. Battling to balance the extending season which now averages close to 12 months. Unless players take a break, as they are forced to in tennis.

Such commercial advances may bring more money. But they also bring more time demands for the talent which requires "real" management, control and understanding. 

In many ways the money is easier to come by but the pressures are increased. Paling in contrast with the early days when Palmer and McCormack secured their first sponsors no doubt. It is perhaps this evolving world where talent now seek to manage themselves more, in order to protect and control image, and struggle with sports management companies in their current format. Which in reality have changed little since IMG became the dominant players in the sports management world and has seen everyone subsequently try to emulate them. The truth being now that young world class athletes are savvier, more self-aware and better informed about what they want. And don’t want. Also more acute too about money matters, which often are triggers for breaks ups or misunderstandings.

Whatever the reasons are for the rumoured rift of World number 2 Rory McIlroy from Horizon Sports, his management partners for the past eighteen months, it can only be a result of some sense of unease from the talent side. In this case the 24 year old from Holywood, County Down in Northern Ireland, holder of two major titles at the same as Tiger Woods and Jack Nicklaus did. A talented prodigy who has set his own standards thus far and may feel that the atypical management structure does not suit him any longer. Especially given that prior to Horizon he was part of International Sports Management, with whom he won his first major, the US Open at Congressional in 2011. 

The chemistry of such relationships can hinge on a thread at times and test the genuine depth of the relationships, particularly when titles and wins dry up. After all, a percentage of the on-course income is a vital part of funding the support team for any golfer and a valuable delivery of annual income. Albeit the annual sponsorship commissions are normally too shabby either. However the lack of winning can cause much soul searching in a golfer and too often the caddie is the first casualty after a poor season. If not a swing or putting coach, with the management company usually the more extreme option. Or indeed even more drastic, a change of club suppliers. And having withstood the collapse at The Masters in 2011, McIlroy defended his caddie and was rewarded with the major at Congressional and then the PGA Championship at Kiawah Island.

But this year, after a stellar year in 2012, when he reached the coveted number spot with frequency, McIlroy switched clubs with much hoopla and immersed himself one hundred percent in the Nike brand. Underestimating perhaps, through youthful exuberance - the potential pitfalls. All so well-articulated by Sir Nick Faldo at the time and based on his own bad personal career experiences. Something even Tiger did not do in his time and has seen Rory McIlroy pay a high price this season with a number of cuts missed and the now infamous walk out at The Honda Classic in April. In what appeared for all intents and purposes from the outside as a visible on course meltdown and very uncharacteristic for the normally bubbly young prodigy. But something was obviously wrong, and then went horribly wrong, with the post walk off press management almost amateurish as Horizon Sports scrambled to button down the rampant world media. 

Which for a small Dublin based organisation - facing an international media crisis - just proved too much to handle at the time. And something that would be bread and butter for an IMG. In addition McIlroy has also found himself in the middle of an – unnecessary – but on-going debate about the 2016 Olympics and what country he will represent. Unnecessary because it is still three years away. 

Or indeed who will he be allowed represent with a number of groups and organisations joining the discussion. Including Peter Dawson at the R&A, Lord Coe and a host of other peripheral organisations. In what is a matter of little relevance at this time and an unwarranted distraction for a man who is proud of his Northern Ireland roots. But cannot help that the politicisation and religious divide is a legacy that still carries unhealed wounds for many on the island still today. That the game of golf happens to be one that covers 32 counties i.e. the whole island – and is not specific to the Republic or Northern Ireland as is in the case of soccer for instance. The added complication being that golf in Ireland does not have a standalone Federation and is therefore managed across a number of agencies and bodies. Some of the purely designed for amateur sport and then the Government who dish out the money to support national events, such as the Irish Open.

With a romantic partner earning her keep at the top of women’s tennis, it has undoubtedly not escaped Caroline Wozniacki some of the shortcomings over recent months and perhaps that a young agency from Dublin who hit the big time so quickly, may have been out of their depth at times. 

It has to be remembered too that the McDowell victory came after forty years of European drought at the US Open and 2010 became the year that the record was smashed by the golfer from Portrush since Tony Jacklin. Whether Horizon had the power to manage results is open to question. Especially when another Northern Ireland golfer reclaims the trophy within twelve months and then followed by Darren Clarke winning the Open Championship at Royal St George that same year. Or when Padraig Harrington broke the Fred Daly record at Carnoustie beating Sergio Garcia in a play-off in 2007. Then retaining it the following year at Royal Birkdale in more dramatic fashion. 

Clearly when the golf gods smile it is a force beyond any sports management company. 

But in the case of McIlroy the unrest has been evident since the start of the year where he has been at the end of more bad news stories than good. With the new clubs becoming part of the perceived problem – albeit $25 million more dollars more a year in his pocket – McIlroy is struggling to make the cut week in and week out. All a contrast with events of last year where Rory’s golf responded itself to every crisis with an end of season on the PGA Tour that saw him win some of the biggest events. Followed by a Ryder Cup at Medinah which he was mature beyond his years. Even though how he was allowed sleep in on the final day of the singles and nearly missed his tee time was very bizarre in itself

When faced with all this, and no doubt Rory’s own agonising, his father Gerry, who worked all the hours to get his son to the top, coach Michael Bannon and many others must have wondered what was going on and how best to regain control of this runaway train. In evaluating all the variables the conclusion must have been that Horizon Sports was perhaps the weakest link at this time, even if the money was rolling in all around thanks to their work

For Rory it’s never been about the money it seems. It is about winning. It seems losing is not something that sits well in his vocabulary given he is so competitive. So given all that it makes sense that he must seek a new balance with his back up team to ensure his talent can shine – and he chases the Woods records. As in some cases in sport, it is the winning that solves everything. 

In this case Conor Ridge and Horizon Sports may be the variable that needs changing in order for the winning to return.

One hopes it can all be done and dusted between them with a handshake.

OSM 2013 - All rights reserved

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View from the Top - Muhammad Ali

"It's hard to be humble, when you're as great as I am."

Muhammad Ali

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British and Irish Lions 1971

1971 British Lions  Squad to tour New Zealand 

British Lions Tour Party Team Group

Back-row (left to right): Dr Doug Smith, Mike Gibson, Chris Rea, Ian McLauchlan, Fergus Slattery, Sandy Carmichael, Derek Quinnel, Mike Roberts, John Spencer, Sean Lynch, Delme Thomas, Mike Hipwell, Peter Dixon, Carwyn James.

Middle Row: Ray “Chico” Hopkins, Willie-John McBride, Mervyn Davies, Gordon Brown, John Dawes, Bob Hiller, John Bevan, Alistair Biggar, John Taylor.

Front Row: Ray Mcloughlin, Arthur Lewis, John Pullin, Gareth Edwards, Barry John, Frank Laidlaw, Gerald Davies, JPR Williams and David Duckham.

Caddie Chemistry Not Always a Given

In 2002 Darren Clarke made the final rounds of the Murphy's Irish Open thanks to advice of his stand-in caddie for the day - after his regular caddie Billy Foster had flown back home to Manchester after the birth of his second daughter. Following a call to his friend Paul McGinley, the Dubliner's caddie JP Fitzgerald was the late replacement and his presence proved pivotal at the 18th - according to Clarke.

Speaking at the time Clarke said: "At the last JP said, 'If you lay up and miss the cut by one you'll be as sick as a dog'. 

"So. I said right, I'll have a go at it. And I hit a great shot from the top of the hill. I punched in a five-iron. I had 209 to the front. I didn't know what they cut was going to be, par or one under but it was the right decision in the end," explained Clarke 

At the start of the following year Clarke embarked on a series of drastic changes with his golf in order to challenge for the Majors again and switched back to Butch Harmon as his coach, parted company with Foster, after six years together, and signed a deal to play with TaylorMade clubs. The complete overhaul came after a Christmas letter from sports psychologist Bob Rotella and as part of his new look team he added J P. Fitzgerald. 

Despite much promise the partnership did not last and they subsequently split with Clarke accepting that he is one of the more demanding players on tour to work for, and both parted company following the 2004 Masters - despite winning the 2003 WGC-NEC Invitational at Firestone. 

"I know I've been very hard on JP. My demands were too great, I expected him to pick the right club every time, and while I wasn't jumping down his throat non-stop, I was complaining," said Clarke at the time.

Originally from Castleknock, Fitzgerald represented Baltray as an amateur and actually beat Clarke in the semi-final of the Irish Close Championships in 1987. After attending East Tennessee University on scholarship, Fitzgerald was recruited by his close friend Paul McGinley, helping with that infamous putt in the 2002 Ryder Cup at The Belfry. 

The short spell with Clarke was followed by two seasons in the US with Greg Owen and returned to the big time when Ernie Els called him in late 2007. It was Els manager at the time, Andrew “Chubby” Chandler, who summed up the fragility of the caddie’s role when he explained why Fitzgerald was the ideal replacement for Ricci Roberts 

“JP happens to be in the right place at the right time.” 

“Ernie and Ricci are such close friends that the caddying part of it was putting a strain on their relationship. 

Roberts started back with Els in May of 2001 - after a split in the latter part of 1998 – with two U.S. Open victories in 1994 and 1996 to their credit. In the period of Roberts absence there were only a couple of PGA wins for the South African and it fell well short of what was achieved on Ricci’s return when Ernie won The Doral, The 2002 Open Championship, and The Sun City post season event. In that time, the pair also added the World Match Play Championship at Wentworth. 

Ironically, Ricci Roberts joined Darren Clarke in April 2011 playing their first event at the Trophee Hassan II in Morocco with Clarke’s manager Chandler no doubt playing a role in the decision. 

In the same week, almost much ink and paper met on the why’s and wherefores of what went wrong with Rory McIlroy at the tenth tee box on the Sunday of The Masters at Augusta National. The last moment the young McIlroy was to lead the 2011 tournament. After which much of the focus started to move in the Fitzgerald direction. 

In the musical chairs environment that exists in the caddy shack, those cannot have been good days for the Dubliner - as no one was short of helpful analysis. In some cases, drawing comparisons with other such golfing collapses by Greg Norman or Jean van de Velde. As well as Sergio Garcia 

Makes one recall some of those memorable Masters stories. 

Like when Bruce Edwards recalled the walk up the 18th fairway in 1996 at Augusta with Greg Norman's bag, who turned to him and said, 'I guess it's better to be lucky than good.' A remark that left Edwards stunned given Faldo had outplayed the Australian all day. Edwards reply was tough as he turned to Norman and said, 'I just want to caddie for someone who has heart.' 

For McIlroy, it was a touch of the same when Schwartzel chipped in at the first and then eagled a blind shot so dramatically at the 3rd. It was clear from those early moments that destiny was marking the South African's card and in all the post analysis the role of fortune and luck got no mention. The reality is no major has been won without it. 

Nor any other sporting event for that matter. 

At Sandwich for the 2011 Open it was the turn of John Mulrooney to be in the right place at the right time and Clarke was generous in the praise of his caddie when collecting the Claret Jug on the eighteenth green. One hoped that it was the start of a longer terms thing. But it was not to be that enduring.

One of more enduring partnerships is Phil Mickelson and Jim “Bones” McKay. Which undoubtedly has been tested to its limit with all challenges in Phil's private life, given his wife, Amy’s, battle with cancer. Compounded by a similar fate befalling his Mother, along with Phil’s own health worries of sporadic arthritis.

Those events notwithstanding Mickelson won his third green jacket in 2010 with a tournament winning shot on the 15th which commentators suggested his caddie should have advised him against. These days it makes for uplifting footage that confirms that destiny was with Lefty that day and the gap between those pine trees was never an issue. 

In the most high-profile team of Tiger Woods and Steve Williams the toughest of personal challenges beset the player. With indiscreet remarks by the New Zealander also problematic at times for his employer. Although others were fired for less Williams offered some key components on the course to the former world number 1 and was richly rewarded for his efforts. So much so the Kiwi commuted almost weekly across the Pacific Ocean as he tried to maintain his own personal life intact as well as caddying. 

Having been fired by Norman in 1989 Williams admitted he had got too close personally to Norman, although both remain good friends to this day. To the point that Norman later admitted he had made a mistake during the Kiwi and tried to rehire him. The fall out last year between the Woods and Williams team showed that nothing lasts forever.

On the other hand, the stories of swift caddie changes that have led to dramatic results also abound. 

The addition of Phil “Wobbly” Morbey to the side of Ross Fisher shortly before the 2011 3 Irish Open as a replacement for Andrew Morrow proved immediately successful. Fisher won the €500,000 cheque in Killarney with the caddied that had done the same with Ian Woosnam and Thomas Bjorn previously. 

“I think Wobbly has given me that extra bit of added confidence, some self-belief, and like I say, he's great on the bag. He tells me exact little how it is. Doesn't beat about the bush. Tells me exactly where I need to go, what club it is and it's just real positive. So far, the relationship is good and fingers crossed, we can go a very long way,” explained Fisher in July 2010. 

JP Fitzgerald has been part of the more enduring partnerships in golf history. Becoming one of the most successful with four major titles to his name.

Good thing Rory ignored all those experts back in 2011

OSM - All rights reserved

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