Top 5 Player turned Coaches of the 21st century

#4 Frank Rijkaard

Rijkaard was a Dutch defensive midfielder and was considered one of the best of his generation. He plied his trade with clubs like Ajax and Milan, where he won multiple trophies. This included three Champions League titles, two with Milan and one with Ajax. He played under legendary coaches like Sacchi and Cruyff, which undeniably helped him when he became a coach.

For the Netherlands, Rijkaard was capped over 70 times and won the Euro in 1988. And it was with his National side where he started his managerial career. He was successful despite his critics who stated that he was inexperienced. Rijkaard led the Dutch into the semi-finals of the Euro 2000 but did not continue after the tournament. That followed a doomed campaign with Sparta Rotterdam, where they got relegated from the Eredivisie.

But Rijkaard greatest achievement as manager came after that. While many may consider Pep Guardiola as the one of Barcelona's greatest manager, Rijkaard should be considered as one their most important ones. Rijkaard came at a time when Barcelona was struggling. The Blaugrana have not won the La Liga or a trophy since 1999. Suffice to say, Rijkaard's appointment in 2003 came as a surprise. But Rijkaard stuck around and used the knowledge he had acquired under Sacchi and Cruyff to good effect.

Rijkaard can be credited with bringing in players like Ronaldinho to Barca

Firstly, he brought the La Liga title back to Camp Nou. Rijkaard breathed new life into the team and they were playing some of the best football not only in La Liga but in Europe. Under him, Barcelona took the first steps into being the club they are today.

Secondly, he brought players like Ronaldinho, Eto'o, and Deco to compliment the young players from the La Masia system like Xavi and Iniesta. Rijkaard gave La Masia graduates a chance to shine in the senior team, which has been paying dividends even today.

And lastly but most importantly, Rijkaard introduced the world to a teenager from Argentina. Lionel Messi would not have been playing at Barcelona had Rijkaard not given him the chance or atmosphere within the senior team to grow. And the world now enjoys the mesmerizing football thanks to the Dutchman.

In five years, Rijkaard won two La Liga titles and the Champions League in 2006, the later the first since 1992. Rijkaard moved on to Galatasaray, but he could not replicate the success he found in Camp Nou. In fact, Rijkaard would retire from coaching in 2013. While his managerial career was short-lived, he certainly laid the foundations in Barcelona for Pep Guardiola to come and assert his possession philosophy. Without Rijkaard, Barcelona's modern history might have been quite different from the one we know today.