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Over the years, we have seen several world-class footballers change roles seamlessly and evolve into some of the world's best football managers.
The current crop of managers in world football says it all. Many of them have played football at the highest level. While some players have openly spoken about their interest in management, there are several others who boast all the right attributes to develop into world-class managers.
Many of Europe's top clubs are managed by former footballers, such as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Mauricio Pochettino, Pep Guardiola and Mikel Arteta, to name a few.
Having said that, let's take a look at five current players who could become world-class managers.
#5. James Milner - Liverpool
James Milner is a player who is on the right path to becoming a world-class manager.
Milner boasts a world of experience. He has represented six clubs during his 19-year career. Starting out through the Leeds youth system, Milner has gone on to play for several English clubs, including Manchester City and now Liverpool.
The 35-year-old has made over 500 Premier League appearances and has been coached by over 15 managers. He brings an incredible amount of football knowledge to the table and is very highly regarded by the coaches who have managed him.
Currently with Liverpool, Milner is under the management of Jurgen Klopp, one of the world's premier managers. Whether Milner will foray into management remains to be seen, as the Englishman still has at least arguably two years of top-flight football left in him.
#4. Jordan Henderson - Liverpool
Jordan Henderson is another player who makes the list of the top five current players who could develop into world-class managers.
The Englishman has built quite the reputation over the past few years. Having started out as a run of the mill player, he has since evolved into one of the world's best midfielders.
The 31-year-old is currently Liverpool's captain and has been a Premier League and Champions League winner in the last three years. Having come up through Sunderland's youth system, he was signed by Liverpool in 2011.
In the 10 years since, Henderson has developed into one of the club's modern-day legends. Henderson has been managed by some of the world's biggest names in football, including Brendan Rodgers, Sir Kenny Dalglish, Steve Bruce and Jurgen Klopp.
Henderson's managers have always spoken very highly of him. They often regard him as one of the most intelligent footballers they have had the pleasure of working with. His leadership capabilities have also been talked about often.
A particularly vocal figure, Henderson is one of the most prominent names in English football right now. It would certainly be an interesting proposition to see if Henderson can replicate his club's success as a manager.
#3. Joshua Kimmich - Bayern Munich
Joshua Kimmich is one of the most intelligent players in world football right now.
Still only 26, Kimmich signed for Bayern Munich in 2015 from RB Leipzig. He has enjoyed immense success in the six years since, winning the Bundesliga six times as well as the UEFA Champions League in 2020.
Blessed with an outstanding reading of the game, Kimmich has shown that he is capable of playing in almost any position on the football pitch. Primarily a defensive midfielder, he has played in defense and is capable of supporting the attack as well.
Kimmich has played under some of the world's best managers such as Hansi Flick, Carlo Ancelotti and Pep Guardiola. His past managers have heaped praise on the German, often regarding him as one of the brightest minds in the football world.
With Kimmich still in the formative years of his career, fans will have to wait a while to see if he will take up management in the future.
#2. Giorgio Chiellini - Juventus
Giorgio Chiellini is another player who looks like he could develop into a world-class manager.
Having turned pro in 2000, Chiellini has 21 years of top-flight football under his belt. One of the most experienced footballers on the current football scene, Chiellini has made over 700 professional appearances for club and country.
Chiellini's trophy cabinet is a sight for sore eyes. He has won Serie A nine times and the Coppa Italia five times. He most recently won UEFA Euro 2020 with Italy, captaining the side through to victory in the competition.
Chiellini has spoken about his interest in management in the past. In his autobiography, Chiellini has hinted that he would like to don the role of a manager after retirement and even has a degree in management.
Considering Chiellini is in the twilight years of his career, it is very likely that we will see him take charge on the touchline very soon. Only time will tell which team opts to give Chiellini his first hand at management.
#1. Cristiano Ronaldo - Manchester United
Cristiano Ronaldo is arguably one of the most likely players to develop into a world-class manager.
Ronaldo is a household name in world football. Having won every trophy at club level, Ronaldo has enjoyed a glamorous career across Portugal, England, Spain and Italy.
Ronaldo has built a reputation for being synonymous with success. He has won trophies with every club he has represented and with his most recent transfer, continues to shine for Manchester United in England.
On the international stage, Ronaldo captained Portugal to UEFA Euro success in 2016. Although he was forced off the field through injury in the final, Ronaldo showed glimpses of his management prowess on the touchline. He was seen shouting instructions at his teammates and pushing them towards an eventual triumph.
He has also been seen rallying his teammates during penalty shootouts, often sparking motivation and encouragement within them during pressurizing times. There is no doubt that the leading goalscorer in football history knows a thing or two about winning games.
Ronaldo is still putting up world-class numbers and certainly has at least a couple of years of top-flight football left in him before retiring. Having hinted repeatedly in the past about his interest in management, fans will have to wait a few years to see if Ronaldo will take charge on the touchline.
