The impact of player signings on elite managers

AN elite manager’s status depends on the players he has purchased throughout his career. Some players can make a manager, while others can doom them.

The football community judged Sir Alex Ferguson based on the game-changing acquisitions of Eric Cantona, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Nemanja Vidic, among others; and assessed Arsene Wenger by the signings of Thierry Henry, Patrick Vieira, and others.