Most well-known soccer managers performed professionally, often 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 compelled to work even more durable, taking an extended and extra arduous path to the highest.
Right here, a take a look at a number of the most high-profile managers who didn’t play the sport on the highest degree and the way they labored their means up…
32. Pablo Machín
Girona coach Pablo Machin throughout a match in opposition to Levante in November 2017. (Picture credit score: Getty Pictures)
Pablo Machín performed only a handful of first-team video games for Numancia in Spain’s Segunda División B, however the right-back was compelled to retire on the age of 23 after struggling a critical knee harm.
Machín went on to teach Numancia’s youth aspect after which the B crew earlier than turning 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 not too long ago, in Cyprus.
31. John Herdman
Toronto FC coach John Herdman gestures with followers after his aspect’s recreation in opposition to Montreal CF in Could 2024. (Picture credit score: Getty Pictures)
John Herdman started teaching for Sunderland’s youth academy in 2001, whereas he was a scholar and part-time lecturer at Northumbria College.
Herdman later moved to New Zealand, the place he ended up in command of the ladies’s nationwide crew. After teaching Canada’s girls for seven years, he took over the boys’s crew and led the Reds to the 2022 World Cup. Upon leaving that publish in 2023, he took over at Toronto FC.
30. Pako Ayestarán
Pako Ayestaran at Valencia forward of a pre-season recreation in opposition to Fiorentina in August 2016. (Picture credit score: Getty Pictures)
A former youth participant at Actual Sociedad, Pako Ayestarán by no means made it to the primary crew and started his profession as a health coach.
Ayestarán labored alongside aspect 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 teach 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 12 months, 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
Sevilla assistant coach Juanma Lillo provides directions throughout a recreation in opposition to Leicester Metropolis within the Champions League in February 2017. (Picture credit score: Getty Pictures)
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
Costa Rica coach Jorge Luis Pinto gestures throughout his aspect’s match in opposition to Uruguay on the 2014 World Cup. (Picture credit score: Getty Pictures)
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 previous in 1984.
Pinto later coached Colombia and Costa Rica twice, memorably main the Central People to prime spot in a bunch 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
Peru coach Sergio Markarian speaks at a press convention in July 2010. (Picture credit score: Getty Pictures)
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 an expert.
Towards the recommendation of associates and colleagues, Markarían gave up his job as normal supervisor in a distribution firm in Uruguay and spent a decade working his means up the teaching ladder. Finally, 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 command of Greece, from which he resigned after a shock defeat to the Faroe Islands.
26. Gregorio Manzano
Mallorca coach Gregorio Manzano celebrates the membership’s qualification for the Europa League in Could 2010. (Picture credit score: Getty Pictures)
Annoyed in his hopes of constructing it as an expert 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 aspect Talavera. The exhausting 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 greatest 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
Sweden coach Lars Lagerback in Could 2008. (Picture credit score: Getty Pictures)
After an uneventful enjoying profession in Sweden’s decrease leagues within the late Sixties and early Nineteen Seventies, Lars Lagerbäck started teaching in 1977.
His huge 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 command of the senior aspect 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
Armenia coach Joaquin Caparros gestures throughout a recreation in opposition to the Republic of Eire in September 2022. (Picture credit score: Getty Pictures)
Joaquín Caparrós got here by the youth ranks at Sevilla, however the spotlight of his enjoying 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
USA coach Bob Bradley provides directions to his gamers throughout a Confederations Cup recreation in opposition to Italy in June 2009. (Picture credit score: Getty Pictures)
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’ Defend at Los Angeles FC and a CONCACAF Gold Cup with america. He additionally had spells in Egypt, Norway, France, Canada and – very briefly – at Swansea Metropolis.
22. Jesualdo Ferreira
Porto coach Jesualdo Ferreira at Outdated Trafford for a Champions League quarter-final in opposition to Manchester United in April 2009. (Picture credit score: Getty Pictures)
Jesualdo Ferreira was born in Portugal and grew up in Angola. Again in his homeland, he was a midfielder for Ovarense’s youth aspect, however hung up his boots on the age of 20 with a view 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
Belgium coach Domenico Tedesco throughout a recreation in opposition to Israel in September 2024. (Picture credit score: Getty Pictures)
Domenico Tedesco was born in Italy however moved to Germany together with his household at a younger age and went on to play newbie 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 aspect Erzgebirge Aue in 2017, he went on to teach Schalke and Spartak Moscow and led RB Leipzig to a German cup. Tedesco was appointed as Belgium boss in February 2023.
20. Reinaldo Rueda
Honduras coach Reinaldo Rueda seems on throughout a match in opposition to Mexico in November 2023. (Picture credit score: Getty Pictures)
Reinaldo Rueda performed soccer at newbie and faculty 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 command 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 12 months.
19. José Bordalás
Getafe coach Jose Bordalas seems on forward of a recreation in opposition to Actual Sociedad in September 2024. (Picture credit score: Getty Pictures)
José Bordalás got here by the youth ranks at Alicante-based membership Hércules however by no means made an look for the primary crew. 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 previous Segunda B on the time), Bordalás ended his profession on account of accidents on the age of 28. He started his teaching profession at Alicante in 1994 and his greatest identified for his two tenures at Getafe and a brief spell at Valencia.
18. Ante Čačić
Dinamo Zagreb coach Ante Cacic seems on forward of a recreation in opposition to Salzburg in October 2022. (Picture credit score: Getty Pictures)
Ante Čačić graduated from the School of Bodily Schooling 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-Nineteen Eighties.
17. Will Nonetheless
Lens coach Will Nonetheless seems on forward of a pre-season pleasant in opposition to Bayer Leverkusen in August 2024. (Picture credit score: Getty Pictures)
Will Nonetheless performed youth and newbie soccer as a teen however determined at an early age to focus on administration and started his teaching profession at simply 17 years previous.
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 aspect Stade de Reims, he was appointed as coach of fellow Ligue 1 outfit Lens in 2024.
16. Zdeněk Zeman
Pescara coach Zdenek Zeman seems on forward of a recreation in opposition to Empoli in October 2017. (Picture credit score: Getty Pictures)
Born in Czechoslovakia, Zdeněk Zeman has lived in Italy for the reason that 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 aspect 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 watches on throughout a Chelsea match at Hull Metropolis in September 2007. (Picture credit score: Getty Pictures)
Avram Grant started his teaching profession as an 18-year-old at hometown membership Hapoel Petah Tikva. In control of the youth aspect for 14 years, he ultimately took the highest job and led the crew to 2 Toto Cup titles.
After spells withs Maccabi Tel Aviv, Maccabi Haifa and the Israel nationwide crew, Grant moved to Portsmouth as technical director and was appointed as Chelsea supervisor by his pal Roman Abramovich following José Mourinho’s sacking in 2007, famously shedding 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
Brazil coach Mano Menezes earlier than a recreation in opposition to the USA in August 2010. (Picture credit score: Getty Pictures)
As of 2024, Mano Menezes had coached seven of Brazil’s greatest 12 golf equipment and likewise had a spell in command of the nationwide crew.
Menezes was a ahead as a teen, however dropped into midfield and later turned a centre-back. Nevertheless, he solely performed at newbie degree in Brazil and retired earlier than the age of 30 to focus on his teaching profession.
13. Brendan Rodgers
Brendan Rodgers salutes the Celtic followers after a recreation in opposition to Rangers in September 2024. (Picture credit score: Getty Pictures)
Brendan Rodgers noticed a promising profession as a defender finish prematurely on the age of 20 on account of a persistent knee downside, 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 supplied a job with the youth crew 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
Auxerre coach Man Roux seems on throughout a match in opposition to Nancy in Could 2000. (Picture credit score: Getty Pictures)
Man Roux spent three years at Auxerre as a midfielder between 1954 and 1957 in France’s fourth tier and later turned 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 teach Lens in 2007, however lasted simply seven video games.
11. Leonardo Jardim
Monaco coach Leonardo Jardim throughout a pleasant in opposition to Valencia in August 2014. (Picture credit score: Getty Pictures)
Born in Venezuela to Portuguese dad and mom, Leonardo Jardim grew up on the island of Madeira and started his teaching profession as an assistant at native aspect 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
Alberto Zaccheroni at a Japan coaching session in January 2011. (Picture credit score: Getty Pictures)
A full-back who performed youth soccer for Cesenatico and Bologna, Alberto Zaccheroni’s enjoying profession was curtailed by a lung illness which stored him out for 2 years. And when he returned, he performed just for newbie 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 powerful third-placed end in Serie A. In 1998/99, he led AC Milan to the Scudetto and later turned the primary Italian coach to win a global trophy with a overseas crew 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 12 months in command of the United Arab Emirates.
9. Jorge Sampaoli
Jorge Sampaoli throughout a match between Flamengo and Sao Paulo in September 2023. (Picture credit score: Getty Pictures)
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 quite a lot of prime golf equipment – together with Sevilla (twice), Marseille, Santos and Flamengo. A youth participant at Newell’s Outdated Boys in his homeland, he did not make an affect, citing “stage fright”, and retired on the age of 19 after struggling a critical harm. 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. Finally, 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 aspect later that 12 months.
8. Maurizio Sarri
Maurizio Sarri celebrates with the Europa League trophy after Chelsea’s win over Arsenal within the 2019 Europa League closing. (Picture credit score: Getty Pictures)
Maurizio Sarri performed his total profession as a centre-back for newbie membership Figline after failed trials with Torino and Fiorentina.
In a training profession which started means again in 1990, the chain-smoking Italian slowly labored his means up by 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 12 months.
7. Gérard Houllier
Liverpool supervisor Gerard Houllier celebrates with the UEFA Cup trophy after the Reds’ win over Deportivo Alaves in Could 2001. (Picture credit score: Getty Pictures)
Born in Paris, Gérard Houllier performed as a midfielder for Le Touquet and started his teaching profession with the newbie membership in 1973.
Houllier later coached Lens and Paris Saint-Germain, successful a French title in 1985/86, and likewise had a spell in command 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
Porto coach Andre Villas-Boas throughout a match in opposition to Sporting CP in April 2011. (Picture credit score: Getty Pictures)
André Villas-Boas lived in the identical house block as Bobby Robson and was given a job in Porto’s statement 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 seems on throughout a match between Bayern Munich and Bayer Leverkusen in March 2023. (Picture credit score: Getty Pictures)
Julian Nagelsmann was a promising participant at youth degree, however the former centre-back was compelled to retire on the age of 20 after failing to make any senior appearances at both 1860 Munich or FC Augsburg on account of accidents.
He centered 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 turned 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 crew.
4. Rafa Benítez
Valencia coach Rafa Benitez throughout a recreation in opposition to Sevilla in October 2001. (Picture credit score: Getty Pictures)
A promising younger defender at Actual Madrid, Rafa Benítez suffered a critical harm whereas enjoying for a Spanish College XI in Mexico and was unable to characteristic for Los Blancos’ youth crew, 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 harm setback. His teaching profession started with Actual Madrid’s youth sides, earlier than spells at Valladolid, Osasuna, Extremadura and Tenerife. His huge 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 not too long ago, Benítez has additionally had spells in command of Actual Madrid, Everton and Celta Vigo.
3. Carlos Alberto Parreira
Brazil coach Carlos Alberto Parreira seems on throughout a recreation in March 2005. (Picture credit score: Getty Pictures)
Carlos Alberto Parreira was Brazil’s coach for the South People’ fourth World Cup win, in 1994, and was in command of the nationwide crew for 3 spells in whole.
Parreira has taken 5 completely 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 command of Ghana’s nationwide crew on the age of simply 23.
2. Arrigo Sacchi
Arrigo Sacchi pictured on the Pageant of Sport in Trento in October 2019. (Picture credit score: Getty Pictures)
Not ok to play for native membership Baracca lugo, Arrigo Sacchi coached the crew 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. Finally, 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 a view to turn out to be a jockey you must have been a horse first,” he famously stated, 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 closing, narrowly lacking out on penalties to Brazil. Much more considerably, he’s thought of one of the vital revolutionary coaches in soccer historical past for popularising the usage of excessive urgent, the offside entice and a excessive defensive position.
1. José Mourinho
Jose Mourinho salutes the Porto followers in April 2004. (Picture credit score: Getty Pictures)
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. Waiting for 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 over 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.
