Xabi Alonso, Cesc Fabregas, and Other Premier League Players With Successful Managerial Careers
Football players often extend their relationship with the game by taking coaching and managerial roles, and try to replicate the magic they weaved on the field. In recent years, there have been many star players who have joined managerial posts and gone on to manage the biggest clubs in the league. The English Premier League has been blessed with outstanding football talents, players who have defied the odds with game-changing performances, bringing consistent laurels to their clubs and earning the ‘Legend’ Status, but few have had the same fortune while transitioning into Coaching.
Premier League legends like Gary Neville, Roy Keane and Steven Gerrard have made the foray into coaching with Clubs and national teams with relative to NO success whatsoever. The father of modern football, Johan Cryuff, once said, “Playing football is very simple, but playing simple football is the hardest thing there is”. Cruyff’s emphasis on ‘simple football’ was premised on the quality of the players and the quality guidance of the manager/coach.
If a manager cannot identify the strengths and weaknesses of the players in his team, then how can the football team be successful?
Xabi Alonso Leads Successful Player-Managers of the Recent Era
Xabi Alonso comes to mind, a former Liverpool, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich midfielder who was a leader on the pitch and won several titles as a player. He was destined to be a success in his playing days, as highlighted by former teammate Philip Lahm, who described him as a:
“A strategist. He was a midfielder who played at the highest level at top clubs throughout Europe. He also had top coaches and different playing styles from different coaches. This certainly shaped him, but he was always someone who occupied a key position in midfield. He understood football, and he knew how you can, and should, play football. He also knows what someone can do well and what he can’t do well, and he knows how to bring together the strengths of the different parts of the team. This makes him an excellent coach.”
Xabi Alonso took charge of Bayern Leverkusen in October 2022 with the club in 17th place on the table. He steadied the ship and, in the following season, created a new league record with Bayern Leverkusen finishing the season unbeaten, winning 3 trophies and a club record 7 consecutive away matches.
His success over 2 and a half seasons with Bayern Leverkusen led former Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp to say this of him:
“The next generation is already there and I would say Xabi is a standout in that department… Former world-class player, from a coaching family as well, which helps a little, he was like a coach already when he was playing. The football he is playing, the teams he sets up, the transfers he did, it is exceptional.”
Picking sides from the depths of decay into luxury has become a habit for Spaniards, as former Arsenal and Chelsea midfielder Cesc Fabregas‘ work with Italian side Como stands out. Producing 111 assists in England, the second most in history, Fabregas won 2 English Premier League titles in 350 matches.
Cesc Fabregas only started thinking about coaching while he was at Monaco in France, and just like Cruyff, emphasised layers as the major protagonists in a football match.
Pepe Reina was making his debut for Barcelona in 2000 while 13-year-old Fabregas was playing in La Masia. Today, Reina plays under Fabregas and believes wholeheartedly that the players respect and adore him because he can communicate his ideas clearly and carries the team along with him.
Como twice went bankrupt, but Cesc Fabregas as a coach helped the side gain promotion to Serie A for the first time in 21 years and, with 4 games to spare, ensured they remain in the top division of Italian football for another quite remarkable season.
Mikel Arteta is ironically another Spanish manager who has achieved relative success after a successful time in the Premier League, taking charge of Arsenal in December 2019 with the club in 8th place. He has not only improved the winning mentality and culture at the club. He has also greatly improved the team’s fortunes, bringing back-to-back Champions League qualification and a Title challenge while winning 2 Community Shields and 1 FA Cup trophy.
Also Read: Three Managers Who Could Replace Xabi Alonso At Bayer Leverkusen.
Xavi also deserves a special mention here. Although his second season with FC Barcelona was not a big success, the tactician managed to win a title for his boyhood club as a manager. For the player, taking on the toughest position so early in his managerial career is a commendable achievement.
Frank Lampard‘s best achievement as a manager in the Premier League was Champions League qualification in 2020 with Chelsea, despite scoring over 200 goals for the London club. He was eventually sacked by the club in 2021. He was also sacked by Everton in 2023-24 after 9 losses in 12, leaving the club second from bottom.
Gary Neville won 8 Premier League titles, 3 FA Cups and 2 Champions League trophies, but nothing could prepare him for the difficult managerial stint at Spanish side Valencia, as he was sacked after only 4 months in charge of the club with former president Paco Roig describing him as the worst coach he had ever seen. Neville left Valencia job after less than 4 months, with 3 wins in 16 games, and has continued in his punditry role with Sky Sports.
Wayne Rooney was another successful manager who failed to translate his on-field success. Wayne Rooney’s managerial record across all his clubs includes 46 wins, 36 draws and 87 losses – a disappointing 26.5% win rate. This includes his time with Derby County, D.C. United, Plymouth, and Birmingham. achievements in the managerial post.
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