Post-Match Questions
The questions readers and young coaches send us most often, answered as plainly as we can.
What makes a manager "underrated" on this site?
We look for achievement out of proportion to resources, influence on later coaches, or innovations credited to others. Some of our subjects are well known for one chapter of their career; we profile the chapter that was overlooked.
Who first used the withdrawn centre-forward?
Márton Bukovi developed it at MTK Budapest in the late 1940s. Gusztáv Sebes then used it with Hungary, and Nándor Hidegkuti made it famous in the 6–3 win over England at Wembley in 1953. See Ideas Others Borrowed Later.
Why is Graham Taylor considered underrated?
His England spell dominates memory, but between 1977 and 1983 he took Watford from the Fourth Division to second place in the First Division, then to an FA Cup final in 1984. Read his portrait on Promotion on a Modest Wage Bill.
Who gave Johan Cruyff his Ajax debut?
Vic Buckingham, an Englishman, in November 1964. Earlier, another Englishman, Jack Reynolds, had shaped Ajax's coaching culture and given Rinus Michels his debut in 1946.
Which manager led five nations at World Cups?
Bora Milutinović: Mexico in 1986, Costa Rica in 1990, the United States in 1994, Nigeria in 1998 and China in 2002.
What can young coaches learn from these managers?
Four recurring lessons: make roles clear, teach rather than instruct, recruit for character as well as talent, and shape your ideas around the players you actually have.
Are the photographs of the actual managers?
No. Our images are illustrative natural-light scenes of dugouts, training grounds and team talks, labelled as such. We do not use photographs implying they show a specific person.
How do you check facts?
We cross-reference club histories, biographies, federation records and contemporary reporting. Where sources disagree, we say so. Corrections are welcome through the contact page.
Are you affiliated with any club?
No. RhythmFoxMinglerct is an independent editorial site with no affiliation to any club, league, federation or manager.
Can I suggest a manager?
Yes, please do. Use the nomination form to tell us who they are and what they achieved with what they had.