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Football punditry, contrary to popular belief, is in no way an easy job. Not only does it demand a great deal of tactical proficiency, it also takes a great deal of courage and valour to stand up for what you believe in when a multitude of cameras are pointed at you.
There are always two sides to any coin and the opinion of these pundits are so often met with vehement criticism. They are the constant victims of taunts and their voices are frequently interpreted by the football faithful in their own words.
They dissect key moments to analyse the right and wrong, and offer their insights to incidents that define games. By doing so, they are not only making their voices heard to the public but also help the viewer understand more about the affair.
It has always been a trend for players in the twilight of their career, who after retirement tend to move on to football punditry. We have seen the likes of Gary Neville, Jamie Carragher, Thierry Henry and Rio Ferdinand establish themselves in the field in recent years.
So, we look at 5 active players who have the tactical command to become great pundits in the future:
#5 Michael Carrick (Manchester United)
Michael Carrick is without question one the best English midfielders of our generation and it is such a crime that he has so often been neglected and overshadowed by the more glamorous stars.
The midfielder has more than 700 caps for club and country and has won every single trophy available at club level. A deep-lying playmaker, he is known for his incredible understanding and reading of the game as well as his ability to play inch-perfect passes.
He has announced his retirement the end of the season and has accepted an invitation from Jose Mourinho to become a member of his coaching staff next season.
This proves the tactical prowess he possesses and he has every attribute to become a great pundit in the future should he choose to go down that path.
#4 John Terry (Aston Villa)
One of the best defenders of our time and in many people's eyes the best defender to grace the Premier League, John Terry has left a long-standing impression on English football. He is the gauge against which many defenders are measured these days.
The iconic Englishman is the highest scoring defender in the Premier League and also holds the record for captaining his team to the most number of league titles.
A well drilled, no-nonsense defender, Terry was the backbone of everything good about Chelsea in the last 15 years. He is also very comfortable in front of the camera.
Terry has more than enough calibre in him to excel as a pundit and when he eventually hangs up his boots, it is extremely likely that we may see him alongside fellow players such as Frank Lampard, Gary Neville and Rio Ferdinand on TV.
#3 Thomas Muller (Bayern Munich)
The Raumdeuter (Interceptor of spaces), Thomas Muller is one of the most versatile players in world football. Capable of playing anywhere across the front-line and also as a number 10, the 28-year-old is already a legend in his own right.
Not the fastest nor the strongest, Muller's strength lies in his extraordinary ability to find pockets of spaces between the lines and inside the box, drawing defenders out of their natural position in the process.
He is always the right man at the right place and his ruthlessness in front of goal is widely credited for as well.
His knowledge of the game is on show every time he plays and perhaps he can move on to punditry and help us all understand how he does everything so effortlessly! The man is not sheepish in front of the camera and is always brutally honest in his outlook.
#2 Toni Kroos (Real Madrid)
Toni Kroos has been the undisputed midfield general for the past few years and his ability to dictate a game on his own is heralded by players and managers alike.
Kroos is the heart of Real Madrid, was the heart of Bayern Munich and has engraved his signature in the hearts of Germany fans as well. His vision and ball distribution is a class apart and is also excellent from dead-ball situations.
He has made over 500 appearances for club and country and has won numerous accolades- both for club and for himself.
To be able to set the tempo for Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and the German national team takes tremendous dexterity and it is a mystery how he makes it look so simple.
He will make an excellent pundit if he does decide to be one and we can all look forward to him analysing games on the mini-screen in the future.
#1 Andres Iniesta (Barcelona)
Barcelona's architect, Spain's talisman and truly a gift to the beautiful game, Iniesta has been wowing us all for more than a decade now and is held in very high regard by the footballing fraternity.
The midfielder's know-how and tactical nous in the final third, his ball control, balance and an extraordinary talent to pick his moments and do what the situation demands of him is the measure of a man who has captivated us all.
He has made close to 800 appearances for club and country and has won every trophy the game has to offer.
There have been rumours that he is set to leave Barcelona at the end of this season and a move to China looms large, but if there is one man capable of being a pundit, then it is him.
We can all hope that he moves on to punditry at some point in his career and share the prodigious wisdom he boasts. Iniesta's way with words when he combines tactics with poetry (as seen in documentaries) is something fans can look forward to if he eventually picks up the mic.
