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The past few decades have established with firm certainty that paradoxical anomalies are staples of the football world. Several players and managers who were never expected to make a mark in European football have become undisputed legends of the game today.
Pep Guardiola, for instance, was not regarded as a potential genius when he took over the reins of a below-par Barcelona in 2008. Jose Mourinho's path to success was vastly different from the Catalan's but also fraught with difficulties and obstacles.
The past year has seen a new generation of former players taking up coaching roles with high-profile clubs across the world.
The likes of Steven Gerrard and Thierry Henry have been appointed as head coaches in Scotland and France. Frank Lampard's bid to reinvigorate his Blues side has been surprisingly successful so far, given that Chelsea have had to contend with the loss of Eden Hazard and a transfer ban.
While the Artetas and Lampards of the world establish their managerial careers, a new generation of head coaches is mere months away from taking decisions that could potentially shape the way football is played for decades to come.
Successful managerial careers depend on a combination of leadership skills and tactical ability with a touch of good fortune. The players on this list will back their respective skill-sets to fill the considerably large boots of their predecessors.
#10 Jordan Henderson
Stepping up to the level of a certain Steven Gerrard is a nearly impossible task. The Reds legend is irreplaceable at Anfield, and Jordan Henderson knows that all too well. It should, therefore, come as no surprise that Liverpool's present captain has decided to carve out a legacy of his own.
The English midfielder was appointed the captain of the Liverpool side in 2015 following Steven Gerrard's departure from the club. Henderson had enjoyed a decent 2014-15 campaign and looked set to carry the Merseyside club into a new era with Jurgen Klopp.
However, a difficult and tumultuous year was in store for the newly appointed captain. as the midfielder missed a massive portion of his first season due to injury.
Fast forward to 2020 and Jordan Henderson is flying as high as any captain in Liverpool's illustrious history. The former Sunderland midfielder led the Reds to a Champions League triumph in 2019 - Liverpool's first since the famous 2005 victory.
Henderson has endured tough times and has been dismissed as an average midfielder in the past. However, what Jordan Henderson lacks in skill and finesse, he makes up for with excellent leadership skills and an unrivalled passion for the club's crest.
The English midfielder has proven himself to be a brilliant man-manager and an inspirational figure within the team. Jordan Henderson may well decide to take a leaf out of his predecessor's book and venture into the realm of coaching and management.
For a player who has had to overcome criticism and ridicule on a daily basis for most of the past decade and emerge as a successful captain of one of the best teams in the world, Jordan Henderson would welcome the rigours and challenges of coaching a football club with aplomb.
#9 David Silva
David Silva, or 'Merlin' as he is fondly known in Manchester's sky-blue pubs, is arguably Manchester City's greatest ever player. The Spaniard was the grand initiation of the renaissance that took place at Manchester City in 2010. The Etihad Stadium hasn't looked back since then, and neither has David Silva.
The Spanish maestro has contributed immensely to Manchester City's success in the past decade and has put in some splendid performances. David Silva's vision and ability on the ball allows him to dictate the Manchester side's play and offer outlets for persistent attacking threats in the final third. That it is difficult to identify a single performance as David Silva's magnum opus is a testament to his brilliance.
The Spaniard took over as Manchester City's captain in his final season at the club and has announced his departure from the club at the end of the season. While Silva's plans have not been made public, his teammates at Manchester City have backed the club legend to return in a managerial role in the future.
David Silva has had the distinction of sharing the field with some of the most illustrious and tactically intelligent players to have ever played the game. The midfielder has also worked with the likes of Pep Guardiola, Vicente del Bosque, and Manuel Pellegrini, and his understanding of the tactical aspects of the game will hold him in good stead should he decide to take up a coaching role.
#8 Virgil van Dijk
While Jordan Henderson is adept at injecting the energy and passion that is vital to Liverpool's style of play under Jurgen Klopp, Virgil van Dijk's ability to hold the fort in defense offers Liverpool's potent attacking trident the liberty to wreak havoc in the final third.
Van Dijk is arguably the best centre-back in the world, and while he is technically highly proficient, it is his tenacity and organisational skills that set him apart as a member of the elite.
Van Dijk himself has insisted that Liverpool's defensive solidity has been a result of the efforts of the team as a whole, but the Dutch defender's presence has had an unmistakable impact on Liverpool's defensive prowess. Van Dijk has proven to be a revelation at the heart of the defense and his leadership skills have elevated Liverpool to a position of near invincibility.
While the Dutchman has ruled out the possibility of becoming a manager and has instead hinted at becoming a scout, a degree of overlap between the two roles would not be outside the realm of possibility.
Van Dijk's ability to organise and lead his side could easily translate into one of umpteen coaching roles, be it for a youth team or for a senior side playing at the highest level.
#7 Gianluigi Buffon
Gianluigi Buffon is a veteran of the modern-day game. The Italian shot-stopper made his debut with Parma in 1995 and has carved himself a legacy in Italian football. The 42-year-old is still going strong with Juventus after a short stint at Paris Saint-Germain and has a trophy cabinet teeming with success.
The Juventus legend has never shied away from discussing his retirement and insists that he will strive to continue as a fixture between the sticks for as long as his fitness sustains him. Buffon also discussed his coaching ambitions in a recent interview and has voiced his aspirations of coaching the Italian national team.
"I feel within me the need to take this challenge on. I feel the essence of life is to say that at the end of my life I can be satisfied with what I've achieved because you've lived your life to the full."
Italy's most capped player has a certain aura about him, and one wouldn't bet against the Juventus goalkeeper taking over as Italy's manager in the future.
Buffon has been an integral part of the football world for nearly 25 years, and has evolved and adapted to changing tactics and environments with immense success. Managing the national team would be a challenge like no other, but Buffon is well aware that he is fully equipped to step up to the job.
#6 Rodri
The youngest player on this list by nearly a decade, there are still several variables in Rodri's career that may alter the course of his future.
However, the Spaniard is a rare blend of tenacity and pure tactical ability, and has been compared with the most impeccable of Spain's golden generation of defensive midfielders. Rodri has had the rare distinction of working with some of the world's best managers and has demonstrated the ability to carry the midfield on his own.
The addition of Pep Guardiola's vision and managerial ability can only serve to accentuate Rodri's fledgling abilities and elevate them to greater heights. Rodri's game has a lot in common with a certain Sergio Busquets, and the young Manchester City midfielder considers Busquets a role model. As far as idols go, Rodri could not have made a better choice.
With many of Manchester City's stalwarts reaching the end of their careers, the stage is set for Rodri to orchestrate the side's midfield for years to come. Pep Guardiola has publicly declared his admiration for the Spaniard and has stated that he hopes that Rodri stays at Manchester City for years to come.
The Spanish midfielder's versatility and willingness to adapt will only steepen his learning curve. Sould a coaching role be offered to him at the end of his career, Rodri would not have to think twice as far as tactical knowledge and skill is concerned.
#5 Andres Iniesta
Had flawless technique and pure footballing brilliance been the primary prerequisites to a fine head coach, Andres Iniesta would have become one of the best managers in football history. Iniesta's ability to weave spells with his feet and single-handedly puppeteer matches with his magic set him apart as one of the greatest midfielders to have ever graced the game.
Iniesta may not have been the most vocal player on and off the pitch, but his passion for the game speaks for itself. The Barcelona legend is loved universally by followers of the game for his ability to step up at crucial junctures of the game and spark inspired performances. His rare ability to make the unthinkable happen is a quality that very few managers possess.
Andres Iniesta's tactical instincts are unquestionable. The midfielder has been the primary source of influence in some of the greatest sides in history, and his innate ability to lead his side out of difficult stalemate and dire situations has come to the fore several times in the past.
Iniesta currently plies his trade with the Japanese side Vissel Kobe and will soon hang up his boots. Iniesta has also stated that he has been thinking about becoming a coach once his playing days are over. Given his experience and knowledge of the beautiful game, Iniesta would excel as a manager in the game's next generation.
#4 James Milner
James Milner may not be the most obvious choice in the world of football, but Jurgen Klopp is someone worth listening to. The German coach has, after all, been right about most things for the past five years.
Milner is a Premier League veteran and has bundles of experience in England to go with his ability to bring the best out of his teammates. It is a well-known fact that the English midfielder contributes immensely to Liverpool's training sessions and plays an important role in guiding the squad's younger members.
Milner has had to adapt to a variety of environments during his playing career. The Premier League stalwart has played for five different clubs, often taking up different roles within the team to work for the greater good. Milner's career hasn't always been a pretty picture, but if you delve deeper into his feats, an ideal team player comes to the fore.
Milner seems to have a flair for taking initiative and ensuring that his team performs at the highest possible level, irrespective of whether he has a role to play in the starting eleven.
Milner's most endearing quality is his indomitable spirit, both on and off the pitch. The midfielder always seems to want more from the game, and a managerial role would be the ideal next step.
#3 Sergio Busquets
Sergio Busquets is the embodiment of awareness. The Catalan midfielder pulls strings in the middle of the pitch like no other and is arguably the most unique midfielder to have ever graced the game.
In a time where physicality and tenacity are supposed to elevate a midfielder to the upper echelons of the footballing world, Sergio Busquets has redefined what it means to be a defensive midfielder.
Busquets was the pivot in Guardiola's famed 4-3-3 formation at FC Barcelona and played the role graced by the manager himself during his playing days. Busquets was only 20 years old when he made his debut for Barcelona in a position he would make his own for years to come.
Being the lone defensive midfielder in Barcelona's formation requires a unique skill set, but also allows you to view the game from the best possible perspective. Sergio Busquets spent the formative years of his career under a brilliant manager watching the best midfielders in the game cast spells before his very eyes.
It comes as no surprise, therefore, that the defensive midfielder's awareness and knowledge of the game borders on omniscience."Sooner or later he will become a manager. We will see Busquets on the bench," said Pep. When one of the best managers in the world makes a prediction, the world must pay heed.
Guardiola's words do make a considerable degree of sense. Sergio Busquets' playing career is panning out quite like his mentor's, and it is quite likely that Barcelona's star midfielder will follow in the footsteps of the Manchester City manager.
#2 Wayne Rooney
Wayne Rooney is a bonafide Manchester United hero. The forward played for the Red Devils for 13 years and tore through every obstacle to keep Manchester United at the top of the Premier League perch at the start of the decade. While his departure from the club may not have been particularly pleasant, fans of the club swear by the former Evertonian as a leader.
As far as leadership is concerned, Wayne Rooney is a guiding light. To Wayne Rooney, the football pitch is a battleground and few leaders can match his tenacity and passion for the game.
Following stints with boyhood club Everton and MLS side D.C. United, Rooney signed as a player-coach with Derby County to hone his managerial skills. Rooney was also appointed the captain of the side and bagged an assist on his debut with the club.
Owing to his ability on and off the ball, Wayne Rooney has been able to adapt to a variety of roles and positions throughout his career. The Englishman is best in an attacking midfield role but can play as a sole striker or on either wing. Rooney has also played in a deeper midfield role in the past, and his versatility gives him a unique set of skills that will come in handy if he decides to become a manager.
For the time being, Rooney will likely continue to polish his coaching skills with Derby County. However, with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer himself hinting at Rooney's likely ascendancy to the Manchester United hot-seat, we may be able to witness Wayne Rooney's grand return to Old Trafford.
#1 Cesc Fabregas
Not many players possess the privilege of playing under the best coaches that the world of football has to offer.
One of the few things more impressive than Cesc Fabregas's trophy cabinet is the list of managers he played under. Arsene Wenger, Pep Guardiola, Jose Mourinho, Tito Vilanova, and Vicente del Bosque have all imprinted their ideas on to the Spaniard, and have made him an integral component of their sides.
While all these managers played a pivotal role in shaping Cesc Fabregas, a bulk of the credit must go to Arsene Wenger. Wenger brought the best out of a young Fabregas in typical Wenger fashion: throw them in the deep end.
At 16 years of age, the Spaniard made his debut for the Gunners, playing alongside the likes of Thierry Henry, Gilberto Silva, and Patrick Vieira. Fabregas became a fixture in the side after Viera's departure and took over as the club captain at only 20 years of age. The young Arsenal squad did have a few growing pains, but Cesc Fabregas flourished as captain and provided several moments of inspirational brilliance.
The former Arsenal captain's time at Barcelona will also hold him in good stead should he decide to become a manager in the future. Fabregas returned to his boyhood club in 2012 to play alongside the likes of Messi, Xavi, Iniesta, and Busquets in a fluid system under Guardiola and Vilanova.
While Fabregas may not have succeeded in filling the exceedingly large boots of his childhood idols at Barcelona, a glimpse into the minds of the visionaries at the club will give him the cutting edge that most managers require today.
Cesc Fabregas has made vocal his desire to take up a coaching role at some point in the future. Only time will tell whether the Spaniard has what it takes to succeed as a manager, but the skills that he possesses and his vast experience are positive signs.
