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We have seen a lot of managerial changes happen over the last year and clubs are finding it increasingly hard to stick on to a single manager for the long-term. Finding the right manager is a very tricky job for any club.
There are all sorts of problems ranging from how varied the philosophies of the incoming manager and that of the club could be to the trouble of making sure he is on the same page as the board. However, a lot of these issues are wiped off if someone who is attuned to the club's philosophy takes over at the helm.
As such, football players returning to manage the clubs that they used to play for has often worked wonders. Today, we take a look at some footballers who became successful managers for the clubs that they used to play for.
#5 Carlo Ancelotti - AC Milan
Carlo Ancelotti was a legendary player who used to be a strong, composed and creative midfielder. He was neither the paciest nor the most athletic player but he made up for it with his tenacity and temperament.
Ancelotti could play as an attacking midfielder or take a wider role out on the flank and he was able to deliver results from anywhere on the pitch thanks to his versatility. He is also credited for mentoring the likes of Albertini and Pirlo at AC Milan.
Ancelotti initially made a name for himself as a manager at AC Milan before going on to manage Chelsea, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, Napoli and Everton. From 2001-2009, he spent 8 years managing AC Milan.
He was also very successful at his former club. Ancelotti won 2 Champions League titles, 1 Serie A, 2 UEFA Super Cups, 1 Coppa Italia, 1 Supercoppa Italiana and 1 FIFA Club World Cup with the Rossoneri.
The Italian is still considered as one of the elite managers even now.
#4 Kenny Dalglish - Liverpool
Kenny Dalglish was the star of Liverpool when they had their best period in the English top flight in the 80s. He won a whopping 22 significant titles during his stint as a player on Merseyside. As Liverpool's forward, Dalglish won 6 English top flight titles and 3 European Cups in addition to several other titles.
Dalglish eased himself into the managerial role at Liverpool following the departure of Joe Fagan after first taking over as player-manager. Dalglish would then make sure that Liverpool kept their good run going for the next few years winning 3 First Division titles, 2 FA Cups and 2 Charity shields before calling it a day in 1991.
Kenny Dalglish later returned to manage Liverpool in 2011 following the sacking of Roy Hodgson and though he didn't last long, he still guided the team to two cup finals and won the English League Cup. Kenny Dalglish will forever be viewed as a legend at Anfield.
#3 Zinedine Zidane - Real Madrid
Zinedine Zidane was an absolute magician with the ball at his feet. One of the best midfielders of a generation that did not have any shortage of top talent, the World Cup winning midfielder has also had an illustrious club career.
He spent 5 years at Real Madrid from 2001-2006 and won the La Liga, the UEFA Champions League title, the UEFA Super Cup and the Intercontinental Cup once each. He also won the Supercopa de Espana on two occasions.
After learning the ropes as a coach at the Real Madrid youth academy, Zinedine Zidane was handed the responsibility of taking over as the manager of the senior team. Many believed that it was an ill-advised decision. However, against the odds, Zinedine Zidane delivered results and then some.
In his first stint with the club, Zidane won 3 back to back UEFA Champions League titles. He had also won the La Liga once and the UEFA Super Cup on two occasions. Zidane then decided to move on to other challenges. However, he returned to the club after the Blancos' decision to appoint Lopetegui did not bear fruit.
Zizou won the La Liga title once again this year in addition to the Supercopa de Espana and is already considered one of the greatest modern day football managers.
#2 Pep Guardiola - Barcelona
Considered by Johan Cruyff as one of the greatest midfielders of his generation, Pep Guardiola was one of the finest technicians to have played in the Barcelona midfield and that in itself is quite something.
Pep used to operate as a deep-lying playmaker for one of the most dominant Barcelona sides of all time that won 6 La Liga titles between 1990 and 1999 including 4 back to back titles. He has also won the European Cup once and the Supercopa de Espana on 4 occasions.
Pep's playing style is said to have inspired the likes of Andres Iniesta and Xavi Hernandez to model their game after him. Pep Guardiola is easily one of the best managers of the 21st century and at Barcelona, he managed perhaps the greatest club side since the turn of the millennium.
Pep Guardiola was in charge of the Barcelona side from 2008-2012 and he won the La Liga on 3 occasions in addition to winning 2 UEFA Champions League titles, 3 Supercope de Espana, 2 UEFA Super Cups and 2 FIFA Club World Cups.
Pep Guardiola is currently at Manchester City and though his team is unstoppable on their day and have been very successful domestically, Champions League glory has eluded him.
#1 Johan Cruyff - Ajax and Barcelona
Johan Cruyff is a footballing genius and his extraordinary achievements both as a player and as a manager speak for itself. He is one of those rare gems who have been credited with changing the way the game was played.
Cruyff is the man who made La Masia, the famed football academy that produced legends of the game like Xavi, Iniesta and Messi, what it is today. Cruyff was a generational talent, winning the Ballon d'Or on 3 occasions in 1971, 1973 and 1974.
The Dutchman was the proponent of the 'total football' theory that has been and still is adopted by several top managers. Cruyff broke into the limelight at Ajax winning 3 European Cups in addition to 8 domestic titles and one Intercontinental Cup.
After moving to Barcelona in 1973, he played for the club till 1978 and won the La Liga title and the Copa Del Rey once each. After retiring as a player in 1984, Cruyff returned to his former clubs in a managerial capacity.
Cruyff did not have that glorious a time in terms of silverware if you look at his 3 years as the manager of Ajax. But it is the setup that he structured that eventually won them the Champions League in 1995.
Johan Cruyff then moved on to Barcelona where he transformed the club into an absolute juggernaut. He won 11 titles in his 8 years at Barcelona that included 4 back to back La Liga titles and one UEFA Champions League.
There is no other footballer in the history of the game that has had as lasting an impact on the culture and the ethos of it as Johan Cruyff has had and he will forever remain as one of the most influential figures associated with football.
