Square Mile Sport Awards - Vote Now!
There are many different types of sporting leaders. Influential players on the pitch; inspirational managers or coaches; or those behind the scenes who create a platform from which a sport or its stars can thrive. The winner of the MF Global Spreads Sports Leader of the Year was chosen from the five nominees below…
Sir Alex Ferguson, Football
21 years at the helm of the world’s biggest football club can age a man. That man is not Sir Alex Ferguson. The fiery Scotsman’s passion for the sport and his club remains undiminished despite the passing of time. Cantona, Keane, Beckham, Van Nistelrooy. The players come and go but Ferguson remains. You could have been forgiven for thinking that when Abramovich’s bottomless wallet propelled Chelsea to back-to-back titles that Ferguson might have considered retirement last season. Instead, he came back stronger, fashioning another in a long line of generations of United teams to reclaim the Premiership title for a ninth time in 15 seasons. 65 years young, he shows no signs of slowing down and even fewer signs of his managerial hold being questioned.
Anthony Hamilton, F1
British motorsport fans have got a lot to thank Anthony Hamilton for. Not only can he take credit for igniting the passion for the sport in his son Lewis by introducing him to the joys of karting at the tender age of eight years old, but he has also been a rock-like figure in the young sensation’s life during the most impressive debut season ever witnessed in F1. During a season in which events off the track were as prominent as those on it, Anthony Hamilton has managed to keep a smile on his son’s face despite the most intense media pressure any driver of his age has been forced to endure. The older Hamilton’s constant presence shouldered the responsibility for any distracting or unwelcome attentions and allowed Lewis to concentrate on what it does best – driving a F1 car incredibly fast.
John Lloyd, Tennis
British tennis. The words seem to catch in the throat before you’ve had chance to say them. But through the maze of mediocrity that has been the last 20 years in the sport’s history in this country, hope is emerging that British tennis as a collective body can surface from the dark days. Much of this hope is emerging from the efforts of the GB Davis Cup team which, under the leadership of new captain John Lloyd, returned to the elite World Group by vanquishing Croatia in Tim Henman’s last match as a professional. Previously a team too reliant on one man and disparate enough to raise question marks over the very use of the word ‘team’, Lloyd has managed to foster some much-needed unity, bringing through the Murray brothers as viable alternatives to replace the departing Henman.
Andy Gomarsall, Rugby Union
The astonishing turnaround in the fortunes of the England rugby team at this year’s World Cup defied even the most colourful of scriptwriters. One minute, an embarrassment, next minute World Cup finalists. While coach Brian Ashton has taken some of the plaudits, many believe that the driving force behind the remarkable u-turn came from within the playing camp itself. In the eyes of those in the know, it was not the example set by captain Phil Vickery nor the boot of Jonny Wilkinson that brought the team together but more the chivving and urging of effervescent scrum half Andy Gomarsall. A squad player in the victorious 2003 World Cup winning team, Gomers’ constant chat and geeing up of his comrades made them believe they were good enough to compete with the best. Not bad for a 33-year old who had been consigned to the scrap heap of pub rugby sevens only 12 months earlier.
Tony Smith, Rugby League
The southern hemisphere has long held the bragging rights in international rugby league but all that changed in 2007 when the Great Britain team recorded their first series victory in 14 years, comprehensively whitewashing New Zealand 3-0. It might seem ironic that it took an Australian to lead Britain back to winning ways but Tony Smith’s four-year stint as coach of Leeds Rhinos prior to taking the British job more than sealed his dedication to the cause in the eyes of the fans. By securing victory over New Zealand, Smith has made the most successful start of any British coach. His mixture of brave selection choices and a policy of rotation drew raised eyebrows initially but the results proved beyond doubt Smith’s ability to get the very best out of his players.