In no particular order, and simply a pick of five, from what could have been many.
Harry Redknapp- Redknapp, or 'Arry', as he is affectionately known, is a master in getting the most out of his players. Be it young or old, he has overseen both the blossoming of careers, (Gareth Bale, Joe Cole and Frank Lampard) and the prolonging of them (Paul Merson, Brad Friedal and his own son Jamie). Redknapp is especially successful with British players, knowing how they tick, as well as knowing their sins and desires. He is of the old school, having been in management since 1983 with Bournemouth, and his wealth of experience, with some of the most notorious players, and indeed Chairman's, to grace the English game (think Di Canio and Mandaric) has served him well. Any player under his management, respects his opinions and decisions, and this was epitomised at Tottenham, where he managed to keep a fiercely competitive squad, in the main, happy. The most significant reason that he was fans favourite for the England job, revolved around the fact that he, of all people, could eradicate any ego's and disputes in camp, and create a set up based on trust and togetherness as a group. His time at Portsmouth, during their years in the Premiership, displayed his man management ability well. His side stayed up and then consistently over achieved under his reign and things deteriorated quickly after he left. Players will be careful not to follow in the footstep of one anonymous player though, who during training, left Redknapp fuming. Well worth a view.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EOgTCbz-XmU
Sir Alex Ferguson- If Harry Redknapp's seen a lot, then Sir Alex Ferguson has seen it all. And he has become a master, in the dealings of manager and player. Having established himself as a clear authority figure in his 26 years at Manchester United, every United player knows his place. And when they step out of line, they are sure to know about it. But Ferguson is fair, if a player is in the wrong, he will always take the correct measures. The other players respect him for that, which is why they keep a happy house at Old Trafford all season long. A good man manager makes sure everybody is on board, pulling in the right direction, and if their not, then their gone. Van Nistelrooy, Beckham and very nearly Rooney experienced this. Ferguson has always been hands on, even at his age now, and is often knowledgeable, at the right times, about his players. He will know when Giggs needs a rest, he will be aware of when to leave Rooney out and he can gauge when it is time to move a player on (be it through age, Andy Cole, or through situation, Ronaldo). For Ferguson, knowing his side inside out is what has been part of his incredible success. He is also very encouraging to his youngsters, and is not afraid to blood them in early. As a young player, there is no better man to learn off then Ferguson. Ferguson has seen Paul McGrath, Roy Keane, David Beckham, Paul Ince and Cristiano Ronaldo pass by his watch and man managed them as good as anyone other would have. The master of mind games too, Ferguson is a brilliant man manager, by distracting attention from his players on the big occasions. Keven Keegan and Rafa Benitez have been rattled to breaking point, by his deliberately infuriating claims, and it has helped take media heat of off his squad, allowing them to focus on their own performances on the pitch.Dave Bassett- Nobody in their right mind would have taken on the Wimbledon job, and stayed on for as long as Dave Bassett did. Knowing that he could only do so much to control the 'Crazy Gang', Bassett's greatest feat, was to make no attempt to control them. Under Bassett's seven year reign, Wimbledon made it all the way to Division 1 (having been in Division 4 on his arrival) and begun to cause the big teams all kinds of trouble. Bassett understood his teams qualities, intimidation, aggression and direct football, and he encouraged this style of play. He oversaw the careers of Vinnie Jones and Dennis Wise, players with tempers which needed to be kept in check, and Bassett succeeded in doing this, most of the time. A real motivator, he encouraged team bonding and high morale, and his players fed of this. With a team like Wimbledon, you had to have someone at the top, someone who told Dave Beasant what gloves to bring to training, to tell Lawrie Sanchez what time the team bus was leaving, and to actually pick a side. Left to their own devices, the 'Crazy Gang' would have been just too crazy, let alone the little structure they did have under Bassett. But Bassett did remarkably well with what he had, and showed a sense of humour, when even he was part of the numerous pranks, something which endeared him to the players, and made them eager to win for him.
Neil Warnock- A master in creating an atmosphere of 'us against them', it is no wonder Warnock seems to always take on roles at clubs with civil unrest and unbalanced hierarchy's. Very much The Marmite man, you either admire his approach or despise it. However, looking at his accomplishments, it is hard to argue against the fact that he has down incredibly well, given the situations he has found himself in. At Crystal Palace, he helped the club avoid relegation, having gone into administration mid season, positioned near the play-offs. Just the sort of man for the moment, Warnock refused to panic, reverting his mindset from promotion push to relegation dogfight, and was integral in keeping his bunch of players together, encouraging them to believe survival was still possible. Having then moved to QPR, he inherited a shambolic mess, a side with a squad that was fighting relegation when it should have been fighting for promotion. Given a full season, Warnock delivered promotion, for a set of immensely demanding owners, and achieved in keeping Adel Taarabt satisfied. Often complimentary of his players in post match interviews, he knows how to maintain his team's happiness, and is brutally honest and forgiving where others may not be. The Mad Hatter, that is Ken Bates, now Chairman at Leeds, has obviously seen some sense. If anyone can piece together a decaying Leeds side its Warnock. A man with a wicked temper when pushed, (see the link), but on the whole an excellent man motivator. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OJNH26QR3SI
Brian Clough- Being under Clough's management could be terrifying at the best of times, but he was an extremely clever man, who understood the make up, and philosophy, of a player, better then anyone else at the time did. Peter Taylor, his trusted assistant, once said of their partnership, "My strength was buying and selecting the right player, then Brian's man management would shape the player." Man manage Clough would most certainly do, and he oversaw some supremely talented players, and indeed future managers. A young Roy Keane learnt the ropes under his stewardship, and Stuart Peace became a natural leader with Clough's aid. Looking further back, during his time at Derby, Clough bought in Dave Mackay, a defender many believed to be past his prime, washed up and on the brink of retirement. Clough reminded him of his qualities, and playing him as a sweeper, build a highly successful team. It is not a surprise to see a host of managers, that once played under Clough, now succeeding. Martin O'Neill, a man with an abundance of energy, brings a breath of fresh air with him wherever he goes, similarly to Clough. His hunger, and habit of making players feel good about themselves, is a trait surely learnt from Clough. Clough was both respected and feared, though to the right degree. An honest professional, he was out on the training ground, getting his hands dirty, and managing his players from close quarters. His success was founded upon his character and charm. This link, http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/film/4967697/Brian-Clough-remembering-Cloughie.html, provides an entertaining read, from those remembering Clough.
A perfect blend for any manager. A manager that you know you can joke and laugh with on the walk back from training, but who you know expects you to give your all in the match, and you respect him for this. His celebratory cigar, after the FA Cup win, endeared him to the English public, and showed a manager who knows the time to relax, and reap the rewards of his success. The Capello's and Benitez's could take note here. Finally, Arsene Wenger must receive a mention. Although he has his criticisms on field and in transfer policy terms, his man management on the training ground, and with youth development, has been exceptional. He has helped foreign players establish themselves as world class players since arriving in England. He was aware of precisely what Henry, Fabregas and Bergkamp needed to add, or develop, in their game, to make them winners in the Premier League. Furthermore, he has consistently turned young players with potential, into great players. Alex Song, Jack Wilshire and Samir Nasri all benefited from his insistence on the Arsenal way of playing. Sadly, many of his prodigies have deserted him, but they should be thankful to him, for having taught them many things along the way.
I hear what you are saying however you have omitted Egil Olsen who was an all time legend of a manager in his own right.
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