Most well-known soccer managers performed professionally, normally to a reasonably excessive degree, with teaching a logical profession alternative after hanging up their boots.
However some didn’t make it of their careers as footballers and took the choice to turn out to be coaches as an alternative.
These managers have been typically pressured to work even more durable, taking an extended and extra arduous path to the highest.
Right here, a take a look at among the most high-profile managers who didn’t play the sport on the highest degree and the way they labored their manner up…
32. Pablo Machín
Pablo Machín performed only a handful of first-team video games for Numancia in Spain’s Segunda División B, however the right-back was pressured to retire on the age of 23 after struggling a severe knee damage.
Machín went on to educate Numancia’s youth facet after which the B group earlier than changing into assistant and eventually taking up as supervisor on the Soria-based membership in 2011. Since leaving in 2013, he has had spells at Girona, Espanyol and Sevilla, amongst others, in addition to working in Saudi Arabia and extra just lately, in Cyprus.
31. John Herdman
John Herdman started teaching for Sunderland’s youth academy in 2001, whereas he was a scholar and part-time lecturer at Northumbria College.
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Herdman later moved to New Zealand, the place he ended up in control of the ladies’s nationwide group. After teaching Canada’s ladies for seven years, he took over the lads’s group and led the Reds to the 2022 World Cup. Upon leaving that submit in 2023, he took over at Toronto FC.
30. Pako Ayestarán
A former youth participant at Actual Sociedad, Pako Ayestarán by no means made it to the primary group and commenced his profession as a health coach.
Ayestarán labored alongside facet Rafa Benítez at Osasuna, Extremadura, Tenerife, Valencia and Liverpool. Later, he had a season as Unai Emery’s assistant at Valencia earlier than occurring to educate in his personal proper in Mexico, Israel, Spain and Portugal. The Basque took Tecos again to Mexico’s prime flight in 2014 and gained an Israeli Premier League title with Maccabi Tel Aviv the next yr, however brief spells at Valencia and Las Palmas have been much less profitable. He returned to England as Emery’s assistant at Aston Villa in November 2022.
29. Juanma Lillo
Juanma Lillo started teaching native membership Amaroz KE as a 16-year-old and earlier than turning 30, he had turn out to be the youngest supervisor in La Liga as he took over at Salamanca.
Lillo has labored with a sequence of Spanish sides, together with Almería, Zaragoza and Actual Sociedad, in addition to teaching Millonarios and Atlético Nacional in Colombia. He has been most profitable as an assistant, although, alongside Pep Guardiola at Manchester Metropolis and beforehand Jorge Sampaoli with Chile and at Sevilla.
28. Jorge Luis Pinto
Jorge Luis Pinto studied bodily schooling at college in Bogotá and launched into an extended teaching profession, taking up at Colombian giants Millonarios at 31 years outdated in 1984.
Pinto later coached Colombia and Costa Rica twice, memorably main the Central Individuals to prime spot in a gaggle that includes Italy, England and Uruguay on the 2014 World Cup after which to a spot within the quarter-finals. He has additionally managed Honduras and gained membership championships in Colombia, Costa Rica, Peru and Venezuela.
27. Sergio Markarían
Born in Uruguay of Armenian descent, Sergio Markarían spent a lot of his childhood in Argentina. He performed as a centre-back till the age of 17, however by no means made it as knowledgeable.
In opposition to the recommendation of associates and colleagues, Markarían gave up his job as common supervisor in a distribution firm in Uruguay and spent a decade working his manner up the teaching ladder. Ultimately, larger alternatives arrived in Uruguay, Paraguay and later in Peru. Highlights of a 39-year teaching profession embrace Paraguayan titles with Olimpia and Cerro Porteño, Peruvian championships with Universidad de Deportes and Sporting Cristal, plus a run to the ultimate of the Copa Libertadores with the latter in 1997. He additionally led Peru to 3rd place on the 2011 Copa América, coached Panathinaikos and had a quick spell in control of Greece, from which he resigned after a shock defeat to the Faroe Islands.
26. Gregorio Manzano
Pissed off in his hopes of constructing it as knowledgeable footballer, Gregorio Manzano labored as a college instructor and a psychologist in his 20s whereas finding out to turn out to be a coach.
Manzano has revealed he travelled over 760 kilometres a day simply to coach Segunda División B facet Talavera. The laborious work paid off with a suggestion from second-tier Toledo after which a sequence of La Liga golf equipment, together with Mallorca (thrice), Atlético Madrid (twice), Sevilla, Racing Santander and Rayo Vallecano. His largest success was successful Mallorca their first-ever trophy – the Copa del Rey in 2002/03. Later, he labored for a number of years in China.
25. Lars Lagerbäck
After an uneventful taking part in profession in Sweden’s decrease leagues within the late Nineteen Sixties and early Nineteen Seventies, Lars Lagerbäck started teaching in 1977.
His massive breakthrough got here when took a job with the Swedish Soccer Federation in 1990, initially as youth coach, and went on to spend 9 years in control of the senior facet between 2000 and 2009 – alongside Tommy Söderberg as twin supervisor for the primary 4 of these. Later, he had spells with Nigeria, Iceland and Norway.
24. Joaquín Caparrós
Joaquín Caparrós got here via the youth ranks at Sevilla, however the spotlight of his taking part in profession was a spell with Leganés in Spain’s fourth tier within the late Nineteen Seventies.
Caparrós started his teaching profession on the age of simply 26. He led Sevilla again into La Liga in 2001 and went on to handle Deportivo de La Coruña, Athletic Membership, Mallorca, Levante, Granada and Osasuna in Spain’s prime flight. Later, he labored in Switzerland and Qatar, earlier than two years as Armenia coach between 2020 and 2022.
23. Bob Bradley
Bob Bradley performed soccer at highschool and college, however opted for a profession in teaching and was named as head coach of the Ohio College Bobcats’ NCAA Division I soccer program on the age of simply 22.
Bradley went on to win an MLS Cup and two US Open Cups with Chicago Fireplace, a Supporters’ Protect at Los Angeles FC and a CONCACAF Gold Cup with the USA. He additionally had spells in Egypt, Norway, France, Canada and – very briefly – at Swansea Metropolis.
22. Jesualdo Ferreira
Jesualdo Ferreira was born in Portugal and grew up in Angola. Again in his homeland, he was a midfielder for Ovarense’s youth facet, however hung up his boots on the age of 20 with the intention to think about teaching.
As soon as criticised by José Mourinho for failing to win trophies in an extended profession, Ferreira went on to steer Porto to 3 championships between 2006 and 2009. Later, he gained two Egyptian titles throughout two spells with Zamalek and one other in Qatar with Al Sadd.
21. Domenico Tedesco
Domenico Tedesco was born in Italy however moved to Germany along with his household at a younger age and went on to play beginner soccer within the nation.
The Italian-German started working in youth growth at VfB Stuttgart in his early 20s. After a brief spell with second-tier facet Erzgebirge Aue in 2017, he went on to educate Schalke and Spartak Moscow and led RB Leipzig to a German cup. Tedesco was appointed as Belgium boss in February 2023.
20. Reinaldo Rueda
Reinaldo Rueda performed soccer at beginner and school degree, however opted to chop brief his profession to focus on teaching.
Rueda has devoted a lot of his profession to managing worldwide groups, with two spells in control of Colombia, two with Honduras and one every with Chile and Ecuador. At membership degree, he led Atlético Nacional to the Copa Libertadores in 2016 and reached two finals with Flamengo the next yr.
19. José Bordalás
José Bordalás got here via the youth ranks at Alicante-based membership Hércules however by no means made an look for the primary group. After intervals on mortgage at Español de San Vicente, Orihuela Deportiva, Villajoyosa, Rayo Ibense and Benidorm, he performed for Denia, Torrevieja, Petrelense, Español de San Vicente and Altea.
By no means that includes increased than the Tercera División (Spain’s non-professional fourth tier, with 80 groups that includes within the outdated Segunda B on the time), Bordalás ended his profession resulting from accidents on the age of 28. He started his teaching profession at Alicante in 1994 and his greatest recognized for his two tenures at Getafe and a brief spell at Valencia.
18. Ante Čačić
Ante Čačić graduated from the College of Bodily Training on the College of Zagreb and was one of many first 10 coaches in Croatia to accumulate the UEFA Professional Licence qualification.
A two-time Croatian champion on the helm of Dinamo Zagreb, Čačić coached Croatia between 2015 and 2017 and has additionally labored in Slovenia, Libya and Egypt in a profession relationship again to the mid-Eighties.
17. Will Nonetheless
Will Nonetheless performed youth and beginner soccer as a young person however determined at an early age to focus on administration and commenced his teaching profession at simply 17 years outdated.
Partly impressed by the Championship Supervisor and Soccer Supervisor video video games, the Belgium-born Nonetheless moved to England to check at Myerscough Faculty in Preston. He started his managerial profession at Belgian membership Lierse in 2017. After a brief spell at Beerschot and two years with French facet Stade de Reims, he was appointed as coach of fellow Ligue 1 outfit Lens in 2024.
16. Zdeněk Zeman
Born in Czechoslovakia, Zdeněk Zeman has lived in Italy for the reason that Nineteen Sixties and has spent the vast majority of his 5 a long time of teaching within the nation.
After finding out at a sports activities faculty and buying his teaching licenses, Zeman’s first position as head coach got here at Sicilian facet Licata. He has gone on to handle the likes of Roma, Lazio, Napoli, Parma, Fenerbahçe and Pescara in an extended profession. After present process coronary heart surgical procedure, he stepped down from his third spell at Pescara in February 2024.
15. Avram Grant
Avram Grant started his teaching profession as an 18-year-old at hometown membership Hapoel Petah Tikva. In command of the youth facet for 14 years, he finally took the highest job and led the group to 2 Toto Cup titles.
After spells withs Maccabi Tel Aviv, Maccabi Haifa and the Israel nationwide group, Grant moved to Portsmouth as technical director and was appointed as Chelsea supervisor by his buddy Roman Abramovich following José Mourinho’s sacking in 2007, famously dropping his job regardless of ending as a runner-up within the Premier League, Champions League and the League Cup. He has since had spells with Portsmouth, West Ham, Ghana and Zambia.
14. Mano Menezes
As of 2024, Mano Menezes had coached seven of Brazil’s largest 12 golf equipment and in addition had a spell in control of the nationwide group.
Menezes was a ahead as a teen, however dropped into midfield and later grew to become a centre-back. Nonetheless, he solely performed at beginner degree in Brazil and retired earlier than the age of 30 to focus on his teaching profession.
13. Brendan Rodgers
Brendan Rodgers noticed a promising profession as a defender finish prematurely on the age of 20 resulting from a persistent knee drawback, having moved from Ballymena to Studying as an 18-year-old.
Rodgers continued to play non-league soccer. Later, he hung out in Spain finding out teaching strategies. He was provided a job with the youth group at Chelsea by José Mourinho and went on to handle Swansea, Liverpool, Celtic and Leicester. The Northern Irishman led the Swans to the Championship play-off trophy, was a Premier League runner-up with the Reds, gained an FA Cup with the Foxes and a sequence of trophies at Celtic throughout two spells.
12. Man Roux
Man Roux spent three years at Auxerre as a midfielder between 1954 and 1957 in France’s fourth tier and later grew to become the membership’s player-manager.
When Auxerre have been promoted to France’s third division in 1970, Roux retired to pay attention solely on teaching. He went on to handle the membership for over 40 years, successful the title in 1995/96 and 4 French Cups in an unbelievable profession. He briefly got here out of retirement to educate Lens in 2007, however lasted simply seven video games.
11. Leonardo Jardim
Born in Venezuela to Portuguese mother and father, Leonardo Jardim grew up on the island of Madeira and commenced his teaching profession as an assistant at native facet Camacha on the age of simply 27.
After spells in cost at Camacha after which with Chaves in Portugal’s third tier, Jardim steered Beira-Mar to Portugal’s prime flight and impressed at Braga. Later, he led Olympiacos to a Greek Tremendous League title, completed second in a season with Sporting CP after which gained Ligue 1 with Monaco in a four-year spell. After briefly returning for a second stint, Jardim has added titles in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
10. Alberto Zaccheroni
A full-back who performed youth soccer for Cesenatico and Bologna, Alberto Zaccheroni’s taking part in profession was curtailed by a lung illness which saved him out for 2 years. And when he returned, he performed just for beginner golf equipment Meldola, Civitella and Savio.
After teaching a sequence of smaller sides, his breakthrough got here at Udinese as he guided the Bianconeri to a formidable third-placed end in Serie A. In 1998/99, he led AC Milan to the Scudetto and later grew to become the primary Italian coach to win a world trophy with a international group as steered Japan to the Asian Cup in 2011. He additionally had spells at Lazio, Inter, Torino and Juventus and completed his profession with simply over a yr in control of the United Arab Emirates.
9. Jorge Sampaoli
Born in Argentina, Jorge Sampaoli led Chile to the Copa América crown – the primary main soccer title within the nation’s historical past – in 2015.
Sampaoli later coached Argentina, together with various prime golf equipment – together with Sevilla (twice), Marseille, Santos and Flamengo. A youth participant at Newell’s Previous Boys in his homeland, he didn’t make an impression, citing “stage fright”, and retired on the age of 19 after struggling a severe damage. Later, he labored part-time in a financial institution, earlier than slowly making his mark as a coach at a sequence of South American sides. Ultimately, he gained titles at Universidad de Chile in a two-year spell between 2010 and 2012, which led to his appointment with Chile’s nationwide facet later that yr.
8. Maurizio Sarri
Maurizio Sarri performed his whole profession as a centre-back for beginner membership Figline after failed trials with Torino and Fiorentina.
In a training profession which started manner again in 1990, the chain-smoking Italian slowly labored his manner up via the divisions. After taking Empoli as much as Serie A, he earned rave critiques at Napoli and was later appointed by Chelsea, the place he gained the Europa League in 2019. He went on so as to add a Serie A title at Juventus in 2020 and joined Lazio the next yr.
7. Gérard Houllier
Born in Paris, Gérard Houllier performed as a midfielder for Le Touquet and commenced his teaching profession with the beginner membership in 1973.
Houllier later coached Lens and Paris Saint-Germain, successful a French title in 1985/86, and in addition had a spell in control of France. However he’s in all probability greatest remembered for his time at Liverpool, the place he gained two League Cups, an FA Cup and a UEFA Cup. He additionally led Lyon to 2 Ligue titles and had a brief spell at Aston Villa.
6. André Villas Boas
André Villas-Boas lived in the identical condominium block as Bobby Robson and was given a job in Porto’s remark division by the late former England supervisor at Porto as a 16-year-old.
Villas-Boas later labored as an assistant to José Mourinho at Porto, Chelsea and Inter. After a spell at Académica, he led Porto to a Primeira Liga title and a Europa League crown. He was much less profitable at Chelsea and Tottenham, however gained a Russian Premier League title with Zenit Saint-Petersburg in 2014/15 and have become Porto’s president in 2024.
5. Julian Nagelsmann
Julian Nagelsmann was a promising participant at youth degree, however the former centre-back was pressured to retire on the age of 20 after failing to make any senior appearances at both 1860 Munich or FC Augsburg resulting from accidents.
He targeted on teaching as an alternative, and having helped Thomas Tuchel with some scouting at Augsburg, he went on to check enterprise administration and sports activities science. After impressing at Hoffenheim’s youth sides and even incomes the nickname “mini-Mourinho” from former goalkeeper Tim Wiese, he grew to become first-team coach on the age of simply 28. German Supervisor of the Yr in 2017, Nagelsemann went on to work for RB Leipzig, Bayern Munich and the German nationwide group.
4. Rafa Benítez
A promising younger defender at Actual Madrid, Rafa Benítez suffered a severe damage whereas taking part in for a Spanish College XI in Mexico and was unable to function for Los Blancos’ youth group, Castilla, in Spain’s Segunda División.
Benítez went on to play for Parla and Linares in Spain’s third and fourth tier, however retired in 1986 after one other damage setback. His teaching profession started with Actual Madrid’s youth sides, earlier than spells at Valladolid, Osasuna, Extremadura and Tenerife. His massive break got here at Valencia, the place he gained two La Liga titles and a UEFA Cup, earlier than main Liverpool to the Champions League, an FA Cup and a UEFA Tremendous Cup. Later, he gained trophies at Inter, Chelsea and Napoli, and led Newcastle to the Championship title in 2016/17. Extra just lately, Benítez has additionally had spells in control of Actual Madrid, Everton and Celta Vigo.
3. Carlos Alberto Parreira
Carlos Alberto Parreira was Brazil’s coach for the South Individuals’ fourth World Cup win, in 1994, and was in control of the nationwide group for 3 spells in whole.
Parreira has taken 5 totally different nations – Kuwait, United Arab Emirates, Brazil on two events, Saudi Arabia and South Africa – to the World Cup. He by no means performed skilled soccer, as an alternative concentrating on a profession in teaching, which started with a spell in control of Ghana’s nationwide group on the age of simply 23.
2. Arrigo Sacchi
Not adequate to play for native membership Baracca lugo, Arrigo Sacchi coached the group as an alternative on the age of 26 and needed to win over gamers who have been a lot his senior.
Sacchi labored as a shoe salesman for years, whereas teaching on the likes of Bellaria, Cesena and Rimini within the decrease leagues. Ultimately, he impressed at Parma and earned a transfer to AC Milan in 1987. Even then, some have been suspicious of his non-playing previous. “I by no means realised that with the intention to turn out to be a jockey you must have been a horse first,” he famously mentioned, occurring to steer the Rossoneri to a Serie A title and back-to-back European Cups in 1989 and 1990. He later led Italy to the 1994 World Cup remaining, narrowly lacking out on penalties to Brazil. Much more considerably, he’s thought-about one of the vital revolutionary coaches in soccer historical past for popularising using excessive urgent, the offside entice and a excessive defensive position.
1. José Mourinho
The son of a former goalkeeper, José Mourinho performed briefly below his father at Rio Ave and Belenenses, earlier than brief spells at Sesimbra and Comércio e Indústria in Portugal’s decrease leagues. Looking forward to a profession in teaching, he had hung up his boots by the age of 23.
Mourinho went on to check sport science and take teaching programs. He even labored as a PE instructor earlier than taking up assistant roles after which incomes his break alongside Bobby Robson at Sporting CP, Porto and Barcelona. Later, he went on to turn out to be one of the vital profitable coaches in historical past, successful a sequence of main trophies at Porto, Chelsea, Inter, Actual Madrid, Manchester United and Roma.
