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Forest path carries a warning for dynasties past their prime
Manchester United must avoid following in the footsteps of some of football's greatest sides
Stuart James Saturday December 10, 2005 The Guardian
Manchester United may be coming to the end of an era but their fall from grace is hardly unique. Since the Football League's inception more than 100 years ago a select group of clubs have enjoyed sustained periods of success heralding domestic and, at times, European hegemony, only to later spiral into decline. Aston Villa were the first at the turn of the 20th Century and United, under Sir Alex Ferguson, will certainly not be the last.
Article continues The reasons for triumph are as intriguing as the cause of failure, though with the exception of the second world war, which abruptly ended Arsenal's supremacy in the 1930s, it is futile to seek a single factor that precipitates the end of the road. "You sometimes can't see a decline coming as a player and sometimes managers can't see it either," said Alan Kennedy, who played in the great Liverpool sides that dominated the 1970s and 1980s.
Some managers, however, have more foresight than others, exemplified by Sir Matt Busby's decision to stand down in 1969. United reached the semi-finals of the European Cup that year but 11th place in the league and a team past its peak pointed to a different direction. Ferguson, it seems, was similarly astute when he announced 2002 as the year of his retirement though, having made the mistake of extending his tenure, he now faces the ignominy that comes with presiding over a team whose fortunes are on the wane.
Brian Clough endured that very experience, ending an illustrious 18-year reign at the City Ground on the sour note of relegation in 1993. European champions in 1979 and 1980, Nottingham Forest provide the most shocking example of how a footballing power can self-destruct. Forest, now languishing in ninth place in League One, have the unwanted distinction of being the only winners of the European Cup to have been relegated out of the top two divisions in their country.
"Most teams that are successful tend to have a number of experienced players and within a year or two the team needs to be changed," said Frank Clark, who played for and later managed Forest. "That's not easy to do. It's difficult to bring new people in and still maintain that level of performance.
"Brian built another team which for many years was never out of the top eight and would have played in Europe but for Heysel. But when he left things happened that were specific to Forest and would have no relation to any other football club."
Though Clark, alluding to the financial problems that besieged Forest when they became a plc, believes it is impossible to draw parallels with other clubs, the ageing team bereft of fresh impetus is a recurrent theme among those that suffer a slump, and perhaps resonates with United's current predicament.
It is a trait that can be traced back as far as the early 1960s when Stan Cullis was controversially sacked as Wolves manager after leading the club to three titles in the space of six years.
"The majority of the successful side was coming to the end of their careers," said Bobby Thomson, who broke into the Wolves team in 1961 and went on to play for England. "You can't replace people like Roy Keane and Eric Cantona and that was same at Wolves where we had a half-back line of Eddie Clamp, Bill Slater and Ron Flowers who were all England internationals."
Of all the great teams it is Liverpool's record, with 11 league titles and four European Cups over two decades, that remains the most impressive.
"The thing we had at Liverpool was continuity," said Kennedy. "Ronnie Moran was there to help Joe Fagan and Joe Fagan was there to help Bob Paisley. You never thought the success would end." It did, though.
The boot room era came to a close, Graeme Souness took over from Kenny Dalglish and Manchester United seized Liverpool's crown. Now it could be their turn to stand aside.
The rise and fall of football's ruling elites
Aston Villa in the 1890s
What they won League 1894, 1896, 1897, 1899, 1900. FA Cup 1895, 1897.
What happened next? Villa went from champions in 1900 to fourth from bottom the following season. A period of rebuilding followed and they reclaimed the title in 1910.
Where are they now? Languishing in 15th place in the Premiership and out of the League Cup after a humiliating 3-0 defeat at Doncaster Rovers.
Huddersfield in the 1920s
What they won League 1924, 1925, 1926. FA Cup 1922.
Biggest laugh i've had in agesCareful and accurate analysis, apart from the fact that one player has contributed to a successful side doing well in the league and one has...
What happened next? Herbert Chapman took the world of football by surprise by leaving the champion Huddersfield side in 1925 to take over a struggling Arsenal. Although Huddersfield won the league the following season, Chapman's departure ultimately precipitated a change in fortune.
Where are they now? Second in League One having won promotion from League Two in 2004.
Arsenal in the 1930s
What they won League 1931, 1933, 1934, 1935, 1938. FA Cup: 1930, 1936.
What happened next? The Second World War brought an abrupt end to the success that Herbert Chapman, who died in 1934, had instigated. Where are they now? Chasing Chelsea in the Premiership, where they occupy fifth place, and in the quarter-finals of the Carling Cup and the second round of the Champions League.
Wolves in the 1950s
What they won League 1954, 1958, 1959.
What happened next? Stan Cullis, who had led the club to unprecedented success, was controversially dismissed in 1964 after Wolves finished ninth from bottom. Nine months later Wolves were relegated and have yo-yoed ever since.
Where are they now? Ninth in the Championship.
Liverpool in the 1970s and 1980s
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What they won League 1973, 1976, 1977, 1979, 1980, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1986, 1988. FA Cup: 1974, 1986, 1989. League Cup 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984. European Cup 1977, 1978, 1981, 1984.
What happened next? Graeme Souness replaced Kenny Dalglish as manager and brought an end to the boot-room era. A period of under-achievement followed as Souness made a number of ill-judged signings.
Where are they now? Third in the Premiership, in the second round of the Champions League but out of the Carling Cup.
Nottingham Forest in the 1970s
What they won League 1978. League Cup 1978, 1979. European Cup 1979, 1980.
What happened next? Brian Clough split with his buttistant Peter Taylor in 1980 though Forest continued to compete domestically until they lost their top-flight status in 1993.
Where are they now? Treading water in League One after relegation from the Championship last season.
Manchester United in the 90s and 00s
What they won League 1993, 1994, 1996, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2003. FA Cup 1990, 1994, 1996, 1999, 2004. League Cup 1992. European Cup Winners' Cup 1991. European Cup 1999.
Where are they now? Second in the Premiership, though ten points behind Chelsea, out of Europe with the Carling Cup their best chance of silverware. -- "i'm just a soul whose intentions are good, Oh Lord, please don't let me be misunderstood"
