5 brilliant footballers who were better as managers

#2 Pep Guardiola

The Spaniard holds his first trophy as Manchester City manager

Yet another central midfielder (perhaps there's something about playing this position that means one would make a good manager), Guardiola was a highly-regarded player in the 1990's, so much so that he was considered one of the best midfielders of his generation.

Before Xavi and Andres Iniesta, he was the classy playmaker for Spain and Barcelona. Guardiola was the deep-lying creative spark in Johann Cruyff's incredible Barcelona 'Dream Team' that brought the club their first ever European Cup in 1992. He also won 6 league titles as a player at the Camp Nou.

Only 10 years into his managerial career, however, and he's set to beat his league title wins as a player this season. So much has been said about Guardiola's success as a manager; he's simply transformed football more than anyone else in the last decade.

He created one of the best club sides of all-time with Barcelona from 2008 to 2012, a glorious team to witness with players like the aforementioned Xavi and Iniesta and Lionel Messi. He's now, after winning 3 Bundesliga titles in a row with Bayern Munich, helping Manchester City completely dominate English football in incredible fashion.

He took the lessons instructed to him by his mentor Cruyff and has fine-tuned them for the modern game, and his teams are full of pressing, possession, and tactical knowledge.

Amazingly, Guardiola is only 47, and is easily on his way to becoming the greatest football manager in history if he continues his upward trajectory. To be such a graceful and world-class midfielder is one thing, but then change football as a coach is unthinkable, but Guardiola has done it.