5 great managers who were average players

Great players don’t always become great managers. Just take a look at the likes of Pele, Diego Maradona, Luis Figo and Alan Shearer; all were great players but none could hack it in the managerial world. In fact, many of the best managers in the world weren’t particularly eye-catching on the pitch.

What this proves is that you don’t have to have the touch of Lionel Messi to be able to tell other people how to play. Managers possess a different skill set to that of players, a skill set not all talented players are blessed with. Basically, all of us fans still have a chance of lifting the World Cup one day…as managers.

Here are 5 great managers who were average players.

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#5 Louis van Gaal

Van Gaal has won 20 trophies as a manager

The charismatic Dutchman is a prominent figure in the managing realm but as a player, he never truly made any lasting impact.

Louis van Gaal may be branded as an Ajax icon, but the Dutchman never actually played professionally for the Dutch giants. He did begin his playing career there but never quite made the cut, subsequently being sold.

Van Gaal’s renowned philosophy of dominating possession emanates from his playing position, holding midfielder. But as a player, he wasn't able to control his destiny.

As a player, Van Gaal played 331 games, scoring 34 goals in the process. The Dutchman spent most of his time in the 2nd divisions of Belgium and Holland. More specifically, at Royal Antwerp, Telstar, Sparta Rotterdam and AZ Alkmaar, these evidently pale in comparison to the clubs he’s now managed.

As a manager, Van Gaal has been in charge of 382 games, leading greats like Ajax, Manchester United and Bayern Munich to domestic glory.

#4 Arsene Wenger

As a player, Arsene Wenger was often complimented for his game-reading qualities

The philosopher of football may have a degree in Economics but he wasn’t able to use his savvy business mind to start a competent playing career. The Frenchman only made 64 appearances as a footballer, scoring 4 goals in the process.

As a player, Arsene Wenger was often complimented for his game-reading qualities but notably, his physical traits held him back from ever executing what his brain wanted. His lack of pace, power and strength portrayed him to be an average player with a great mind for the game.

Inevitably his eye for the game couldn’t be denied and now the Frenchman is the most successful manager in Arsenal history with 19 honours to his name.

#3 Jose Mourinho

José Mourinho has won 431 competitive games as a manager

As a player, José Mourinho made just fewer than 100 appearances for 4 different Portuguese clubs, in that time he scored 13 goals. None of those clubs held any weight in the world of football, José played for; Rio Ave, Belenenses, Sesimbra and Comercio e Industria. Don’t worry, I haven’t heard of any of them either.

The fact that José pursued a career on the pitch is a testament to his love for the game. As a teenager, he worked for his father as a scout in Portugal. It was from this interest in football that he decided to stop scouting and instead become the one being scouted.

Nothing really materialised from his short career on the pitch, but at least it provided the foundation for one of the most successful managerial careers we’ve ever seen. The 54-year old has gone onto manage 664 games, winning 20 honours in the process.

#2 Sir Alex Ferguson

Sir Alex Ferguson won 49 honours as a manager

The greatest manager in Premier League history wasn’t as great as a footballer. The 75-year old impressively made 317 appearances as a footballer, but none were made at the top level. His notably British footballing career shaped the thinking and mindset that dominated English football for close to two decades.

Ferguson made his debut in football as a semi-pro 16-year-old at Queens Park Rangers. The Scotsman would then move on to St. Johnstone and Dunfermline before turning professional in 1964.

A few seasons in the Scottish First Division would then grant Ferguson the honour of playing for Rangers. However, a changing room bust up with the manager would end Ferguson’s time at the Ibrox, forcing him to move to smaller clubs in Falkirk and Ayr United. As a prolific low quality striker, Ferguson racked up 171 goals in his footballing career.

After putting to an end a lacklustre football career, Ferguson decided to try his luck at management at the age of 32, by taking over at Aberdeen. Fast forward a few years and he was heading the helm at Old Trafford. Sir Alex now has 2062 games under his managerial career, one of the highest totals ever.

#1 Arrigo Sacchi

Sacchi won 8 trophies at AC Milan

Pep Guardiola is considered by many as the best manager on the planet today, but the Spaniard himself admitted that he learnt the foundation of his managing style from Arrigo Sacchi.

At first, you don’t succeed, try and try again, but for Sacchi, he tried and failed. Instead of wasting his time at a profession he clearly wasn’t good at, Sacchi tried his luck as a shoe salesman before eventually getting into management. Sacchi wasn't even good enough to make it as a semi-pro down in the Sunday leagues in Italy.

A man that couldn’t even make it as a semi-pro became the first man to win back to back European Cups. Sacchi was a below average player but undoubtedly a great manager. The Italian managed 284 games at the top level.