Time to topple the King and get season back on track

THERE has been much blaring of trumpets and beating of drums to herald Pep Guardiola reaching the hugely significant total of 1,000 matches as a manager.

- JOHNGIBSON

He achieved the milestone in typical fashion with a 3-0 thrashing of Premier League champions Liverpool last time in action. Now he will manage his 1,001st match when he brings Manchester City to St James' Park to take on Newcastle United as he continues to walk a golden road.

A younger boss, Eddie Howe, will be in charge for the 736th time across the tunnel divide come Saturday teatime, his 191st with United.

At 47 years of age, seven years younger than Pep, he has a considerable bit of catching up to do both in terms of games and certainly silverware, but ambition burns brightly.

In paying due lip service to both the King and a Pretender, it is worth reflecting where they currently stand among the longevity of the greats.

Alex Ferguson is top of the tree, having bossed 2,155 games to Arsene Wenger's 1,702, Brian Clough's 1,453 and Bill Shankly's 1,190. The loneliness of the long distance runner, aye, because a manager is on his own in the public glare, but success became their regular companion.