STEPHEN Staunton showed a penchant for making the hard decisions any manager has to take on Tuesday when he left the Sheffield United goalkeeper Paddy Kenny out of his squad for next week’s San Marino game, but he still has a long way to go to match Alex Ferguson’s achievements.

The Manchester United manager celebrated 20 years in charge at Old Trafford on Saturday when his team hammered Portsmouth 3-0 to stay on top of the Premiership table, a suitable place for them to be on Fergie’s anniversary.

The great man has won every honor possible with United, but he has never forgotten that the same club almost sacked him not long into his reign as results went against Ferguson on the pitch.

That’s why Ferguson believes all young managers should be given time to adjust to the demands of their job before clubs and national associations throw them out for the next man.

“We are too quick to sack managers these days, they should be given more time by their clubs and the supporters,” said Ferguson at a lunch on Monday to honor his 20 years with the Red Devils.

Those 20 years have seen every trophy possible come United’s way, but Ferguson’s greatest triumph was definitely the 1999 Champions League comeback from the dead and ultimate victory against Bayern Munich in the Barcelona final.

And Ferguson’s stirring halftime speech will always go down as one of the great inspirational moments in the history of the beautiful game.

The United team were on their knees when Ferguson thumped the dressingroom table and told them, “At the end of this game, the European Cup will be only six feet away from you and you’ll not even be able to touch it if we lose. And for many of you that will be the closest you will ever get. Don’t you dare come back in here without giving your all.”

The history books will tell you that those United players did give their all for Ferguson that night, and Ole Gunner Solskjaer’s late, late winner won the European Cup.

It was a night to remember for Fergie and Co., a night that will always act as a signpost to success for Staunton and other young managers like him.