I think if you are questioning what makes someone a great manager on this game its time to step away from the computer screen.

What next? Operating more than one team? Posting thousands of times on a forum for the game? Making signature's for your teams and posting your "achievements" like some badge of honour?

It seems way too over the top and desperate. It's almost like a badge of honour to some that they have spent so long (and in some peoples cases so much money) on a game. It does look like it controls peoples lifes and they have used it to mould who they are as a person.

There is no such thing as great managers on this game. Anyone half competent can get promoted most seasons. Maybe missing the odd few seasons to build the squad up a bit, but over time getting higher up isn't a hard thing to do.

It's a fun time killer. It isn't something to be pondering questions over what makes someone a great manager or not. The game is too flawed that skill in management in relation to success is pretty much moot. I'd ask what makes a user so desperate to seek some sort of acceptance from others over a computer game.

That's just my opinion on it anyway.