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Having a successful playing career doesn't necessarily guarantee success as a manager. You only need to look at the likes of Diego Maradona, Edgar Davies, Thierry Henry and Paul Scholes to realise that there's no correlation between success on the pitch translating to the dugout too.
In fact, some of the most successful managers in the game's history had nothing of note during their playing days. Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger are decent case studies. The duo had modest success on the field, but are widely regarded as two of the greatest tacticians in Premier League history.
There are more examples of such managers in the present football world. On that note, we take a look at five such active managers in the game:
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#5 Julian Nagelsmann
Julian Nagelsmann was appointed Bayern Munich's manager this summer. At 34, he is the youngest manager in Europe's top five leagues at the moment.
Unlike many tacticians, the German stepped onto the management scene without any notable accomplishments in his playing days. Nagelsmann couldn't progress into professional football, spending his entire playing career in the youth system with Augsburg, Bayern Munich and 1860 Munchen.
The German, though, has enjoyed a successful spell in management, coaching Hoffenheim, RB Leipzig and Bayern Munich. His spell with the Bavarians has kicked off on a promising note. Bayern sit atop the league table at the moment, with 16 points from six games.
#4 Rafa Benitez
Rafa Benitez was a midfielder during his playing days, progressing through the youth ranks at Real Madrid. The Spaniard's career, though, never got off the ground, with injuries playing spoilsport.
After spending some time in the Segunda division of Spanish football, Rafa Benitez decided to quit playing and embraced management. His first managerial assignment was that of Real Madrid's U17 team in 1986, where he served for seven years.
Benitez spent a few more years coaching Los Blancos' B team before leaving for Real Valladolid in 1995. Since then, he has switched between several big teams across Europe, including the likes of Liverpool, Inter Milan, Chelsea, Valencia, Napoli and Everton.
He has also won many trophies. That includes the Champions League, La Liga, Premier League, FA Cup and Europa League, among others.
#3 Thomas Tuchel
Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel played for eight years without breaking into the professional scene. He operated as a defender with the likes of Augsburg and Stuttgarter Kickers in German youth football before retiring in 1998.
Tuchel made the switch to management, and earned his maiden assignment to coach Stuttgart's youth team. After a few years working with Mainz and Augsburg, the German was handed the reins of Borussia Dortmund in 2015.
He introduced himself to European football during his time with BVB, and it didn't take long before Paris Saint-Germain snapped up the German manager. Following two splendid years in the French capital, Tuchel was appointed Chelsea's manager midway through last season. He made his mark by leading the Blues to their second Champions League title.
#2 Jurgen Klopp
One of the finest managers in European football right now, Jurgen Klopp has enhanced his reputation after arriving in the Premier League in 2015. During his six-year stint at Liverpool, the Reds have won the Champions League, Premier League, Club World Cup and UEFA Super Cup.
Like the other names on the list, the 54-year-old failed to establish himself as a player, though. Klopp spent several years at the grassroot level of German football, but failed to break through. The best he got was a free transfer to Mainz 05 in 1990 where he spent 11 insignificant years before retiring in 2001.
Klopp's journey as a manager began with Frankfurt's youth team, from where he moved on to manage Mainz 05. The tactician joined Borussia Dortmund in 2008 before switching to Liverpool, where he has spent the last six years.
#1 Jose Mourinho
The 'Special One' captured the hearts of fans by introducing a new approach to defending. His system proved to be a huge success, as he shocked Europe by leading Porto to the Champions League title in 2004.
Thanks to that spectacular spell, the Portuguese got the chance to manage some of the biggest clubs on the continent. That includes Chelsea, Inter Milan, Real Madrid, Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur and AS Roma.
He has won everything there is to win in club football, with many recognising him as one of the greatest managers in history. However, not everyone is aware that Mourinho tried to become a professional footballer without success.
The 'Special One' played football at the amateur level in Portugal, representing the likes of Belenenses, Rio Ave, Sesimbra and Industria. After eight years of wandering around, he decided to put an end to a fruitless career. Mourinho later made the switch to management, and that proved to be a hugely successful decision.
