After Manchester United, Wilf McGuinness’ next job was Aris, followed by Panachaiki, also in Greece. His only other permanent managerial post was at York City. After leaving Old Trafford, Frank O’Farrell went to Cardiff and then on an eclectic journey to Iran, Torquay, Al Shaab and Torquay again.
All of which has an added pertinence now, more than half a century after their reigns ended. For Ruben Amorim, the next destination on the footballing map feels altogether more glamorous: AC Milan, making him a successor to Arrigo Sacchi and Fabio Capello, Nereo Rocco and Carlo Ancelotti. At Old Trafford, however, Amorim was not so much the new Matt Busby or Sir Alex Ferguson as arguably the worst United manager since World War Two, an unwanted tag that may otherwise have rested with McGuinness or O’Farrell. They were tarnished by disappointments as Busby’s successors. Their careers never recovered.
