Managers Aim To Beat Eight Year Record

Two of the Premiership's best young manager's go head to head on Sunday in the hunt for their first major piece of silverware as Bolton Wanderers and Middlesbrough contest the Carling Cup Final at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff.

Allardyce

Bolton's Sam Allardyce, a tough tacking centre half in his playing days who saw service with seven league clubs including two spells with the Wanderers before a successful management career which has seen him acheive success at Blackpool, Notts County and latterly Wanderers. He won the Division 3 title with Notts County as well as promotion via the Play Offs in 2001 with Bolton and is famed for his ability to work under a tight budget and bring out the best in players who are unwanted.

McClaren

Boro's Steve McClaren, a midfielder who served Hull City and Derby amongst others during his playing career is used to winning things having spent time as Sir Alex Ferguson's Assistant at Manchester United and his reputation as a coach lead him to his first managerial appointment in 2001 where he has managed to make Boro into a decent force again.




Whether it be Bolton or Middlesbrough who take the trophy home on Sunday the hoodoo of an English manager not winning a domestic trophy in eight years will now be broken and Brian Little's record having stood since Aston Villa won the same trophy in 1996 will now be broken.

The Premiership is often accused of having too many foreign nationals but with the likes of Allardyce and McClaren as well as Curbishley, Adams, Moyes and Coleman the future for homegrown managers looks bright in what is arguably one of the best leagues in the world.