Pep’s heir to Fergie’s shadow: Why clubs can't move on - The Sports Agents
The News Agents
Global
4.1 • 5.4K Ratings
🗓️ 9 January 2026
⏱️ 23 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
What does a strong succession plan look like? Before Darren Fletcher took over as Man United's interim manager he felt he needed Sir Alex Ferguson's blessing. But when everyone's still harping back to Ferguson, who left the club over 12 years ago, you know the succession plan has gone wrong.
Man City will be taking note, as their own legendary manager Pep Guardiola isn’t staying forever. While Chelsea have used their multi-club system to take Liam Rosenior from Strasbourg - primed and ready to play in that system but leaving Strasbourg distraught.
Mark catches up with football journalist Guillem Balague.
Plus we look back at the best bits of The Sports Agents this week, from the Ashes aftermath to Ruben Amorim getting sacked, and the weird and wonderful things managers are asked to do.
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | This is a Global Player original podcast. |
| 0:05.7 | Before Darren Fletcher took over as Manchester United interim manager, |
| 0:09.5 | he still felt like he needed to talk to Sir Alex Ferguson. |
| 0:13.2 | Don't like to make any major decisions or things without speaking to Sir Alex, |
| 0:17.4 | and that's something I've done since I've been at the club |
| 0:19.0 | and since I've left the club and everything I do. |
| 0:21.6 | It's probably the first person the phoned actually, so I wanted to speak to him first. |
| 0:25.6 | And ultimately to get his blessing, to be perfectly honest with you. |
| 0:28.6 | But when everyone is still harping back to Ferguson, who left the club over 12 years ago, |
| 0:33.6 | you know Manchester United's succession plan has gone wrong. |
| 0:38.0 | Across the city, the blue half will be taking note. |
| 0:41.0 | Their own legendary manager, Pepcadiola, won't be staying forever. |
| 0:44.7 | And Chelsea have used their multi-club system to take Liam Rossini from Strasbourg, |
| 0:49.3 | primed and ready to play in that system, |
| 0:52.0 | but leaving those connected with Strasbourg angry. |
| 0:55.4 | So what does a strong succession plan look like? |
| 0:58.6 | Welcome to the Sports Agents. |
| 1:04.4 | The Sports Agents. |
| 1:09.8 | With Gabby Logan and Mark Chapman |
| 1:12.2 | Just me today |
| 1:15.8 | Guillem Ballagay Football Journalist |
| 1:17.6 | joins us to talk about |
... |
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