by Gordon Hamilton

Created on: May 30, 2007

Guide to some of the greatest soccer managers the world has ever seen

A debate that will no doubt rage for all eternity, but what is the common omission we are likely to make in any article on this theme? We are likely to, quite understandably, consider only those managers who belong to the relatively modern era of television and enhanced telecommunications technology and whose achievements have been witnessed, celebrated and enjoyed by in many cases a global audience. What if we are to delve further back in to the annals of history and examine the statistical achievements of those perhaps unfortunate enough to have lived and managed in an era before such exposure was available...?

Bill Struth assumed stewardship of The Rangers Football Club in 1920, following the tragic death of the previous incumbent, William Wilton, in a boating accident. He was to manage the club for an incredible thirty-four years before being forced to retire through ill-health. In this period, he won 18 Scottish League titles, 10 Scottish Cups and 2 Scottish League Cups (the latter trophy having only been inaugurated in the late 40's,) as well as many Glasgow Cups, Charity Cups, etcetera. When we consider that this incredible haul does not include "temporary" trophies won during the 1939/45 war years, it surely constitutes a fantastic achievement.

But what else did he win? Well, Mr Struth was of course around in the days prior to the inception of Europe wide competitions but his "unofficial" record on this front makes impressive reading. Rangers' first ever foreign tour, in 1923 of France and Switzerland, saw the 'Gers win six out of six games played, scoring twenty-nine times in the process and conceding only twice. The 1928 tour of North America saw seven wins and three draws from ten games played. A subsequent American tour of 1930 saw a fantastic achievement of fourteen wins from fourteen games played. It was not in fact until 1933 that Struth first saw his side defeated on foreign soil, on a tour of Germany. After winning four out of four against top German select sides, it was the German national side who eventually put Rangers to the sword by the narrow margin of 2-1. Later this same year, Rangers also took on Herbert Chapman's previously all-conquering Arsenal side in the first ever "unofficial" British Championship. Rangers won 2-0 at Ibrox in the first leg then travelled to London to win the second leg 3-1, thus take the "title" 5-1 on aggregate.

Struth was also a man who placed

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