The remarkable NHL coaching career of Scotty Bowman has ended with yet another Stanley Cup triumph.

Detroit's 4-1 series win over Carolina capped a tremendous season for the Red Wings and also sealed Bowman's unrivalled status.

His latest close encounter with ice hockey's greatest prize was his ninth as a head coach.

He also won one as a director of player personnel with Pittsburgh, giving him a 10th winner's rings.

He made this team and he taught us how to win Wings captain Steve Yzerman

Only Phil Jackson and Red Auerbach in basketball have matched Bowman's nine titles a coach.

Jackson got his ninth the night before when the Los Angeles Lakers swept the New Jersey Nets.

Bowman's 1,244 regular season victories over three decades will likely never be matched.

This post-season, he eclipsed even his mentor Toe Blake's record for Stanley Cup championships and playoff victories, ending with 223.

Never fired

So with yet another Stanley Cup in hand, the timing was right to call it quits, Bowman said.

"I'm so happy to go out now," said the 68-year-old. "I just felt it was time, and I'm especially happy to go out with a winning team."

Bowman has been a winner everywhere he has coached.

Bowman celebrates with Brett Hull

He had five Cup wining teams at Montreal, three more in Detroit and two in Pittsburgh.

He also was general manager-coach with the Buffalo Sabres for seven seasons and coached the St Louis Blues early in his career.

He is proud that, in a sport where coaches are hired to be fired on a regular basis, he was never dismissed from an NHL coaching position.

Bowman expects to remain in the Red Wings' organisation in some capacity.

"I got a contract but I haven't worked out what I'll be doing yet," he said. "It will depend on how busy I want to be."

Bowman has had a few minor health concerns in the recent years.

The death of his brother Jack, a long-time NHL scout, a few years ago gave him a different perspective on the game and on life.

His immediate plans are to play a lot of golf and spend time with his family and in particular grandchildren.

Love and hate

A private man, Bowman told only a very few close friends of his decision to retire, which he says he made during the NHL's Olympic break in February.

Not always the most popular man in his own dressing rooms, Bowman still receives heady praise for past and current players alike.

Steve Yzerman, his captain in Detroit for all three of his last Cups said: "I have learned so much from Scotty, he is a great coach.

"What a great way to start retirement. "He made this team and he taught us how to win."

For years it has been said of Bowman that many of his players hated him 364 days a year.

The only time they really liked him, due to his demanding ways, was the day they picked up their Stanley Cup rings.

If that's the case, he will be well-liked once again for the ninth time when the 2002 Red Wings pick up theirs.