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Winning the Ballon d'Or is usually the pinnacle of the career of a professional footballer as it is the ultimate individual award available in the sport.
A select few players have won the prestigious award on multiple occasions, which is a testament to their ability. This includes the likes of Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Zinedine Zidane, Ronaldinho and Ronaldo.
A number of Ballon d'Or winners became brilliant managers.
Over the years, however, some of these legendary players have transitioned to management with resounding success. The achievements of these men as footballers and managers are no mean feat by any standards, and should be highlighted as such.
Without further ado, here is a list of five players who won the Ballon d'Or as players and went on to have a great managerial career.
#5 Matthias Sammer
Former Germany international defensive midfielder Matthias Sammer had a brilliant playing career. He won the Bundesliga and DFL Supercup back-to-back in 1995 and 1996 Borussia Dortmund in the German Bundesliga. Sammer also won the UEFA Champions League and Intercontinental Cup in 1997.
Sammer represented Germany at the 1996 UEFA European Championship as they claimed the title. He was named as Player of the Tournament. He received the Ballon d'Or in 1996 following an excellent year all round.
Sammer moved into management after his playing career in 2000 and won the Bundesliga in 2002 with Borussia Dortmund. He also led them to the final of the UEFA Cup in the same season, but they were defeated by Feyenoord.
Sammer did not manage for long as he became a technical director for the German national team in 2006. He ensured that he made his name as a player and as a manager in European football.
#4 Kevin Keegan
Two-time Ballon d'Or winner Kevin Keegan had an extremely successful playing career. The Englishman played for heavyweights such as Liverpool, Hamburg SV and Newcastle United during his brilliant career as a player.
Keegan won the UEFA Cup twice, the European Cup once, and a number of league and Cup titles in England and Germany. Keegan won the Ballon d'Or in 1978 and 1979 for his impressive showings for club and country.
Eight years after his football career ended, Keegan ventured into management with a struggling Newcastle United in 1992. He promptly led them to the Division One title.
In their first season back in the Premier League in 1993-94, he led them to a third-place finish and the UEFA Cup for the first time in two decades. He resigned in 1997 after a number of near-misses in the Premier League title challenge.
Keegan managed Manchester City in Division One in 2001 and led them to the title as well as Premier League promotion. Keegan remains one of the most respected English managers of his era for his ability to turn the fortunes of struggling sides around.
#3 Ruud Gullit
Another Ballon d'Or winner who carved out a name for himself as a manager is Ruud Gullit. Retired Dutch midfield legend Gullit enjoyed a spectacular playing career for club and country. He was largely successful as a manager as well.
During his playing days, Gullit was so remarkable that he played in attack, defense and midfield at various points in his career. In 1987, Gullit moved from PSV in his native Netherlands to AC Milan. There he was a part of the Dutch trio of himself, Frank Rijkaard and Marco Van Basten.
Gullit was awarded the Ballon d'Or in 1987, and he captained the Dutch national team to glory in UEFA Euro 1988. The elegant midfielder won three Serie A titles and the European Cup twice at AC Milan before leaving the team permanently in 1995 for Chelsea.
At Chelsea, he was made player-manager and won the FA Cup in his first season in the role. With this he became the first foreigner and black manager to win the FA Cup. Disagreements with his bosses saw him lose his job on several occasions, but the Dutchman proved himself to be a brilliant manager.
#2 Zinedine Zidane
Zinedine Zidane is probably the most well-known case on this list. The Frenchman was an elegant midfielder in his playing days. Known for his silky dribbling, playmaking and wizardry, Zidane dazzled for the French national team, winning the 1998 FIFA World Cup and Euro 2000.
Zidane achieved great success while playing for Juventus and Real Madrid. He is one of only eight players to win the World Cup, Champions League and Ballon d'Or. He won the Ballon d'Or in 1998 and was named World Footballer of the Year in 1998, 2000 and 2003. Zidane scored one of the greatest Champions League goals ever in the final for Real Madrid in 2002 against Bayer Leverkusen.
Zidane managed Real Madrid from 2016, winning the UEFA Champions League thrice consecutively before leaving the club in 2018. He also won the FIFA Club World Cup and UEFA Super Cup twice in his first spell.
He returned for a second spell in 2019 and won the La Liga title as well as the Supercopa. He was named the Best FIFA Men's Coach in 2017.
#1 Johan Cruyff
Johan Cruyff was one of the managers who revolutionized football. The father of the famed 'Cruyffism' style of play and advocate for a quick passing game with high pressing, Cruyff achieved great success in football.
Cruyff had a successful career playing for Ajax, Barcelona and the Netherlands, reaching the FIFA World Cup final in 1974. At Ajax, he won the European Cup three times and eight Eredivisie titles before moving to Barcelona. A multiple Ballon d'Or winner, he won the Ballon d'Or thrice in 1971, 1973 and 1974.
As manager, he built Barcelona's dream team that contained the likes of Pep Guardiola, Hristo Stoichkov and many others. His Barcelona side was known for playing attacking football and dominating opponents. Barcelona's La Masia academy was his brainchild as he wanted to make it easier for reserves and youngsters to key into his footballing philosophy.
Cruyff won 11 trophies as manager of the club, the most of any manager aside from Pep Guardiola. He passed away in 2016 at 68 years of age, but is fondly remembered till date for his influence on the modern game.
