Gothenburg legacy lives on

Dons legend Fergie reveals his pride at Pittodrie pupils

By Andrew Moir

Published:

The Gothenburg Greats line up at Teddy Scott's testimonial match in 1999.

GOTHENBURG HEROES: The Dons celebrate after beating Real Madrid in 1983.

THE GREAT Sir Alex Ferguson has achieved more than most other managers ever will.

He’s been a winner on the domestic front on both sides of the border, as well as on the European arena.

And as he enters the twilight years of his incredible managerial journey, he can now cherish his achievements more than ever.

But while his silverware haul has helped to meet his insatiable demand for success, it’s his lasting managerial legacy that fills him with most pride.

“One of the greatest things for me is that so many of the Aberdeen team that won the Cup Winners’ Cup have stayed in the game in different capacities,” said Ferguson.

“Willie Miller is the director of football at Aberdeen while Neil Simpson, Jim Leighton, Peter Weir and John McMaster all have roles there.

“Neale Cooper is up at Peterhead while big Doug Rougvie had a go at it at Cove for a while.

“John Hewitt was there for a bit as well.

“Gordon Strachan is the Celtic manger, Mark McGhee is at Motherwell and Alex McLeish is the Birmingham boss.

“Andy Watson was also in that squad although he never played that night in Gothenburg, and he’s assistant to Alex.

“Bryan Gunn, another lad who was on the bench in Gothenburg, is involved with Norwich.

“There’s also Eric Black at Wigan while Dougie Bell is the assistant manager at Clyde where he has done very well.

“That’s a fantastic spread of players giving something back to the game.

“During their careers they were all terrific players, but have gained something by being at Aberdeen.

“I’m really proud that these men have made it into management.”

Fergie has had a huge influence on nearly every player he’s ever managed.

Not only has he helped to create a dynasty of bosses from that Gothenburg side, but the Premier League is also littered with many of his former pupils.

Roy Keane, Mark Hughes, Steve Bruce and Paul Ince are among some of the other players who have made the transition from playing into management.

But it’s the original group of future managers who played at Pittodrie that Fergie loves to reflect on.

He added: “Somewhere along the line I have helped them to learn something.

“When a football team stays together as long as the one I had at Aberdeen at that time did, then people tend to evolve together.

“I was there for eight years, but the team that transformed the history of the club was born before Gothenburg.

“The start came of it was in the 1981-82 period and that was a golden time for the club.

“You just hope that they take things away from that.

“It looks as though they have, and all of the lads had, and probably still have, that great competitive edge.

“As individuals they wanted to win, but as they grew as a team they formed different relationships.

“I still speak to big Alex McLeish, Willie Miller and Neale Cooper regularly.

“I see some of them quite often and it’s always great to catch up with them.

“So you can tell that their period at Aberdeen has been very influential on their careers.”

THE GOTHENBURG GREATS AS MANAGERS

Dougie Bell – Clyde assistant boss

Doug Rougvie – Former Cove boss)

Peter Weir – Dons youth coach

Jim Leighton – Dons goalkeeping coach

Bryan Gunn – Head of player recruitment at Norwich

Neale Cooper – Peterhead manager

Ian Angus – Now a househusband

Andy Watson – Birmingham assistant manager

Mark McGhee – Motherwell manager

Stuart Kennedy – Runs bed and breakfast

Gordon Strachan – Celtic manager

Alex McLeish – Birmingham manager

Willie Miller – Aberdeen director of football

John Hewitt – Former Cove Rangers assistant

Neil Simpson – Aberdeen youth coach