The Hottest Seat in Toon
Please note that figures are correct up until the end of the 2007/2008 season
Kevin Keegan has returned to one of the hottest seats in football. Twenty three managers have sat there on a permanent basis. Who can lay claim to be the most successful and who has got a burnt bottom? Lets examine the stats and find out the truth!
All Competitive Games
On a points per game basis (awarding 3 points for a win and 1 for a draw for all seasons and all competitions) Keegan - despite the problems encountered on his return - still leads the way with 1.82.
His nearest challengers are George Martin (1.73), Duggie Livingstone (1.68), Bobby Robson (1.60), Arthur Cox (1.53) and Gordon Lee (1.50).
At the other extreme we have Ossie Ardilles (1.02), Richard Dinnis (1.14), Norman Smith (1.16), Bill McGarry (1.21) and Jackie Charlton and Sam Allardyce (1.25).
In terms of winning games Keegan (53%) still leads the way and is the only manager who won more than half his games. His nearest rivals are George Martin (49%), Bobby Robson (47%) and Duggie Livingstone (50%)
Ossie Ardilles (21%) quickly assumes his place at the bottom of the table with Richard Dinnis (29%) , Bill McGarry and Jackie Charlton (both 31%) for immediate company.
United lost 40% of their games under Ardilles; losing even more were Norman Smith (48%), Richard Dinnis (46%) and Charlie Mitten (44%)
Martin (25%). Keegan (26%) and Robson (28%) lost the least percentage of games.
Ossie's team were also draw specialists (38%) though this was a case of points lost rather than gained . Other draw specialists were Dalglish (28%), Charlton (31%) and Jim Smith (31%); so no surprise there.
The comparatively high position of Roeder (5th) and Souness (7th) is helped considerably by the number of wins gained in those matches against top-notch European sides.
Domestic Games Only
When only domestic games are taken into account the picture remains - as you would expect - very similar with the only real changes being that Roeder and Souness (sans Euro ties) slip well down the ranking order.
However
Although the stats do provide an indication of the relative merits of each manager they do not take into account extenuating factors; the most important of which would be the finances available to each manager at the time.
Nor do they give any bonuses for actually winning something (only Seymour, Harvey and Livingstone would benefit) or deduct points for getting us relegated.