Fergie and Jackson in league of their own

NOTHING quite illustrates Alex Ferguson’s extraordinary longevity better than the juxtaposition of images from Manchester and Dallas on Sunday.

Just hours after a jubilant Ferguson bowed to the Old Trafford faithful having effectively sealed a 12th Premier League title, his one rival as the greatest coach in world professional team sport of the past 20 years was bowing out of the NBA, his pursuit of a 12th championship in 20 years gone up in smoke.

At 65, almost a full five years younger than Ferguson, Phil Jackson was retreating from the glitz and madness of Los Angeles and its Lakers for the tranquillity of his native Montana, this time, he insisted, for good.