Football Food For Thought / Paul Moon / 07 September 2011 / 4

We can all list the great modern-day managers who were brilliant players but for each of those there's a top gaffer who was an ordinary player or who never played the game at all. Paul Moon looks at those who used other skills and experience to climb the management ladder.

To be a successful football manager, do you need to be a good player first? The answer is a categorical no. Playing does not necessarily give you a greater insight as to what happens on the pitch, that assumption is inaccurate. The measure of skill a footballer possesses has no correlation whatsoever as to what football management entails and in recent years the statistics tells us that, with one of two exceptions, most of those who have played at a high level are actually disadvantaged.

Technology and education dispel the myths and negate the importance of playing. Experience is valuable but the reality is that less successful players often make better managers. They seem to work harder and relate better to the less technically able.

Success in football management requires proficiency of a different kind yet there remains a certain amount of snobbery amongst existing players, former players, present managers and the media towards managers who did not play. A case in point is television pundit Steve Claridge, who played for 15 clubs and has qualified as a coach. He (foolishly) said, that asking him to go on a FA coaching course was like asking 'Gordon Ramsay to make beans on toast'. The presumption is that players can become good coaches automatically. He is wrong of course- they cannot, and his coaching record is testament to that.

Ex-shoe salesman Arrigo Sacchi articulately reminds us that a jockey does not need to be born a horse to ride. He was the last coach to win back-to-back European Cups (AC Milan in 1989 and 1990) and some attribute the pressing game at the highest level (that Barcelona use with such success these days) to him.

Carlos Parreira (68) is diversely respected and just one of two coaches who has led five national teams to the World Cup. He did not play football, yet managed 25 teams and is a World Cup winner. Felipe Scolari was a World Cup winner in 2002 and a 2004 Euro finalist. He played for Caxias, Juventude, Novo Hamburgo and CSA: has anyone heard of any of those teams? Amongst those who are arguably the top four managers in the world presently in a job - namely, Jose Mourinho, Sir Alex Ferguson, Guus Hiddink and Josep Guardiola - only the latter excelled as a player prior to management!

Assimilating a collective, preparing a blend and nurturing a vision is something far removed from just playing. The ability to man-manage, empathise, understand human nature (including greed and limitations) is just the start. They must carry authority and assuredness, deal with directors, fans and the media with equal aplomb but most of all need to be able to resolve, teach and coach. It is the biggest job description of any sport and none of these attributes are necessary for a football player.

Mourinho and Guardiola have taken management a step further and have raised the 'attention to detail' bar. They understand its ephemeral nature and recognise the game is played off the pitch as well as on it and this is the new level that the new Chelsea boss Andres Villas-Boas must aspire to.

In regard to acceptance within the Stamford Bridge dressing room, non-player and new kid on the block Villas-Boas has the luxury of following in the footsteps of Mourinho and therefore can expect less resentment than would otherwise have been expected. Latest Betfair prices on him achieving success and winning the 2011/12 Premier League suggests he has work to do: Man Utd [2.44] Man City [3.2] Chelsea [5.8] Liverpool [15.0] Arsenal [28.0] Spurs [150.0] Bar [1000.0].

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1. Richie Cunningham | 09 September 2011

   It;s True you do not have to be a good player to become a good manager and as long as you understand the rules and regulations of the game and are tactically sound you can become a decent manager.
   Man management and leadership are also part of the make up .
   If you can remember all those years ago Alex Ferguson when he became manager of Manchester United he was given a few extra games to turn the bad run of results around and he just about did it and now look at his record second to none and he was just an average player.
   I agree about Steve Claridge, he seems to talk a good game but coaching techniques and man management fail him.
   One thing in football which i hate and its grown over the years is Player power where if certain players I.E ( John Terry & Frank Lampard ) dont like or agree with the manager they eventually get them the Sack .
   One player Who Mr Moon has not mentioned and his goal scoring record was Second to none at Middlesbrough was Brian Clough and he was a great manager ?

2. Jason Smith | 09 September 2011

   I agree that most of the good managers around today were not top players & top players do have a history of struggling as managers.
   A lot the recent top players who have gone into management Zola, Adams, Shearer have all really struggled & ultimately failed in there jobs & it is puzzling as to why these guys that were top pros, cannot transfer this success into management.
   Perhaps, it's not just the understanding of the game but more the man management of stars & there personalities to try to gel everyone together as a team rather than individuals.
   This cannot be helped by the modern day attitude, personna & money paid to these top players, who can hold a club to ransom, demand moves & team input & generally make the managers job impossible.

3. Lee | 09 September 2011

   Good article. There are many who try their hand at managing when their playing days are up but don't quite cut it...a great example would be Bryan Robson; 345 games for Man Utd and 90 for England, but a failed manager with Middlesbrough, West Brom, Bradford City, Sheffield United and finally Thailand!

   As for the players of today the main contributing factor is the money, players have the money and live the lifestyle that comes with having money so they don't spend the time to learn and understand the managing and tactics of the modern game. It seems to be just the people who didn't hit it off big time in their playing careers like Mourinho and now Villas-Boas!

4. yogesh | 24 October 2011

   MARADONA

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