There has been a reasonable growth in players transitioning into top-level coaches over the years, with many utilizing their experience into swapping jerseys for suits later on in their careers.
So who would really excel in an ultimate team of the active coaches if they were still playing? A number of top-level managers all had decorated careers in their playing days, earning the reputation for being phenomenal footballers. So here we’ll look at an ultimate XI of active coaches from the top European leagues if they were still kicking on.
Goalkeeper: Jose Mourinho
Wait what? While everyone knows about Jose’s managerial credentials, not many know much about his playing career. Basically he had an uneventful career as an average midfielder in Portugal. But he did show off his goalkeeping skills in a charity match couple of years ago.
He showed some sleek moves as a goalie. Plus he brings the necessary shithousery to this team as his rumblings and cunning physicality are bound to rile up modern-day strikers.
Right-Back: Jurgen Klopp
Jurgen Klopp had a much more prominent career to Jose’s and is an actual legend for….Mainz 05. Kloppo was a free-going, expressing right-back who scored 52 league goals (now you see the influence on Trent Alexander-Arnold!) in over 300 appearances for the Bundesliga side.
He actually retired as Mainz’s highest goal-scorer and brings a prominent attacking bite to this side with his bombastic attitude and heavy-metal style capable of flooring the best of them.
Centre-Back: Steve Bruce
Let’s get one thing straight here. Steve Bruce is a downright average manager walking a very tight rope at Newcastle. They are an average side with Bruce and luck is getting the best out of them. But as a player, Brucie was a hard-hitting rock for Manchester United in their early Premier League days.
He made more than 300 PL appearances for United and scored more than 100 goals in his playing career! Bruce had a “slabhead” reputation much before Harry Maguire and looks strong enough to intimidate the present strikers.
Centre-Back: Mauricio Pochettino
Mauricio Pochettino might’ve gained his reputation for his managerial brilliance, but he was quite a no-nonsense defender in his playing days. The former Tottenham boss had a decorated career playing for Espanyol and Paris Saint-Germain.
Before becoming their manager, Poch made over 200 appearances for Espanyol, winning the Copa Del Rey twice. In his 500+ appearances as a player, Poch proved himself a cunning centre-back who could still use make good use of his wits if he were playing nowadays.
Left-Back: Sinisa Mihajlovic
Sinisa Mihajlovic is perhaps among the more underrated managers in Serie A, with his Bologna side exceeding expectations by vying for a possible UEFA Europa League place. As a player, he was well renowned around Italy. Having played for the likes of Roma, Inter and Lazio, he made more than 250 league appearances in Italy.
A sturdy defender with that attacking brilliance around him, he netted 50+ Serie A goals despite his defensive reputation. As Mihajlovic maintains his reputation as an absolute fighter battling leukaemia, he’s proven he can still tough it out on the field.
Centre-Midfield: Gennaro Gattuso
Gattuso was like the ‘raging bull’ of AC Milan in his playing days, with his aggressive style creating fear among opponents. Now as a coach he’s mellowed down (even though moments of rage can still occur) but he was as uncompromising as they come as a player.
The Italian dedicated most of his career to the Rossoneri, making 300+ Serie A appearances and battering opponents with his hard-hitting attitude. Gattuso won a number of Scudetto, Champions League titles with Milan. Going by his attitude nowadays, he’s still capable of brutally taking out players inside the pitch nowadays.
Centre-Midfield: Pep Guardiola
The widely proclaimed “Best manager in recent years” was a rather underrated, but a gem of a player for FC Barcelona. Pep made the “Xavi role’ his own much before his junior came through the system. The former Barcelona captain’s composure, passing range and leadership skills helped galvanize the Spanish giants in the 90s.
Johan Cruyff himself named him among the best midfielders of his generation, as his brilliant work helped Barcelona to six La Liga titles among other cup trophies. Pep’s excellent game-reading skills and proactive nature suggests he can still run rings around midfielders with his exquisite passing range even now.
Centre-Midfield: Antonio Conte
Much before he was a prolific manager, Antonio Conte earned his reputation for being an industrious midfielder in Italy. The Italian became a darling at Juventus during his playing days, where he made more than 300 appearances for the Bianconeri and ruled the roost as a clever midfielder.
He won a series of Scudettos as well as a Champions League crown with Juve, with his stylish skills dictating games helping the Italian dominate teams in the league. Going by his wits, Conte perhaps still possesses enough craft to bewilder midfielders on the pitch.
Attacking-Midfield: Zinedine Zidane
Zizou’s managed an incredible feat of winning the Champions League three times in a row as manager, something none of his current colleagues can boast. There's no doubt about Zidane’s managerial credentials, but even as a player, he was among the very finest of his generation.
The Frenchman’s exquisite skills on the ball, confidence in dominating games and coming up with crucial goals or assists at regular intervals made him an asset for Juventus as well as Real Madrid. Zizou won a flurry of elite titles as a player and as seen in recent charity games, he's still skilful enough to bewilder modern-day defenders.
Attacking-Midfield: Frank Lampard
It hasn’t been many years since Frankie Lampard switched his kit for a managerial suit and he’s almost been a buddy to his players since. However, the Englishman’s brilliance for Chelsea cannot be undermined. After coming through the system at West Ham United, he became the poster boy of Chelsea’s evolution and ruled the roost with an iron fist.
Lampard netted 147 PL goals for the Blues, winning a number of leagues, cup competitions before helping them win their first-ever Champions League crown in 2012. Lampard still seems fit enough to tough it out on the pitch and his clinical nature can even be an asset for this Chelsea side yearning for a goal-scoring midfielder.
Striker: Ole Gunnar Solskjaer
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer might be a polarizing manager in the Manchester United community, but he was an absolute darling during his playing days. After moving from Molde, he redefined the word “Supersub” with his excellent performances from the bench.
Solskjaer quickly turned into a cult hero at United, helping them win many trophies (famously the 1999 Champions League) and destroying defenders with a smile. He netted 91 league goals for United, with his performance against Bayern Munich legends last year indicating he still possesses the goal-scoring ruthlessness.
Bench
Julen Lopetegui
Lopetegui appeared for both Real Madrid as well as Barcelona and is well worth of being a backup keeper even in this age.
Chris Wilder
The cunning Sheffield United gaffer played for a number of English clubs over his more than 13-year-old playing career, possessing the reputation for being a sturdy right-back.
Mikel Arteta
The Arsenal manager was a hard-working, stylish midfielder back in the days and can use his dictating style to good use even in the current scenario.
Patrick Vieira
The bombastic midfielder now manages Ligue 1 side Nice. His bullish attitude and technical wizardry gave him reputation for being an evergreen player who can still tough it out on the pitch.
Diego Simeone
The emotional manager was a prolific midfielder back in the days, with his creativity and goal-scoring instincts helping him succeed at Atletico Madrid as well as Inter. His high energy-levels indicates he’ll still be able to work his magic around midfield.
Quique Setien
Setien might be an easy-going manager now, but was a real dogged midfielder in his playing days where he shone for Racing Santander. The former energetic midfielder has the wits and knowledge to teach a knowledgable lesson on dictating games, which is why he makes the bench!
Carlo Ancelotti
Don Carlo was a real stylish midfielder in his days, dominating oppositions while playing for Roma and AC Milan. His hair might be grey, but the Italian’s mind still works well enough for him to boast his beautiful passing skills.
Ralph Hasenhuttl
The Southampton boss was a prolific striker in his days, having netted 100+ goals in and around Austria as well as the German lower divisions throughout his career. His enthusiasm indicates he can still probably still score a few these days.
Do you agree with this lineup? Let us know in the comments below or tell us your own best coaches XI in our newly opened blogging platform.
