West Brom boss Clarke hails 'typical grumpy Scot' Sir Alex Ferguson

Dec 31, 2012 10:00:00 AM

The Manchester United manager celebrates his 71st birthday on December 31 and the Baggies head coach has paid tribute to his longevity at the top of the Premier League

West Brom head coach Steve Clarke has hailed the longevity of Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson following the Baggies' 2-0 to defeat to the current league leaders at Old Trafford on Saturday.

Sir Alex celebrates his 71st birthday on Monday and Clarke is full of admiration for a man he says remains "a typical grumpy Scot".

Clarke was a teenager at St Mirren when the Govan-born boss was manager of the Scottish club and believes that his reign at Old Trafford - now in its 26th season - may never be matched.

"I don’t know if I'd last until 71," Clarke told the Mirror. "The way the game has gone, it’s more short-term now and it will be really difficult, if not impossible, to match his achievements.

"It will be much harder to build a dynasty and be in a job as long as he has been. I've met a few grumpy 70-year-olds and he is a typical grumpy Scot. He hasn't lost his hunger or his desire.

"I worked with Sir Bobby Robson at a similar age and he was maybe not quite as aggressive but he was the same. He had that determination and will to win. It’s great to see."

United took the lead on Saturday through a Gareth McAuley own goal and sealed the points thanks to Robin van Persie's 90th minute effort.

Clarke admitted that he was disappointed to have left Manchester empty-handed but suggested that his frustration demonstrated the progress they have made in recent months.

"We've shown this season we are a good team," Clarke insisted. "You don't get 20 games in with the points and wins we have if you're not a good team.

"I'm disappointed not to get anything from the game because I expected a positive result. Maybe it shows you where we are as a club and as a group and how much we think we have improved."

Sign up with William Hill for a free bet up to £25
Sign up with bet365 for a free bet up to £200
Sign up to Paddy Power for £250 in free bets
Sign up today with Coral and get a £50 FREE bet - no strings attached!
Sign up today with BetVictor and get a £25 FREE BET!

play

open

Inside Goal.Com

Player Ratings: Siena 1-2 AC Milan
Goal was on hand to judge all the players as Allegri's men finished third in Serie A and secured a Champions League berth next season
Player Ratings: Barcelona 2-1 Valladolid
Goal rates the players on show as the newly-crowned Liga champions cruised past the challenge of Miroslav Djukic's men to keep up hopes of reaching 100 points
Arsenal hold their nerve in top-four battle
Arsene Wenger's side produced a clinical performance to secure a top-four Premier League finish but now they must kick on if they wish to challenge for honours next year
Player Ratings: Newcastle 0-1 Arsenal
Laurent Koscielny's 52nd-minute volley secured the Gunners the win over Alan Pardew's side and made sure they would be playing Champions League football next season
Player Ratings: West Brom 5-5 Man Utd
Sir Alex Ferguson was given a farewell to remember, but certainly not for the right reasons as the Romelu Lukaku-led hosts battled back from three goals down to earn an unlikely point