5 Great Players who made dreadful managers

By: Rob | December 4th, 2008

So, Roy Keane’s tenure at Sunderland has come to a premature end. He need not worry though, he’s a long way from being the worst player-turned-manager. For every Johan Cruyff or Franz Beckenbaur, there is a player who was loved and respected who was absolutely awful when they made it into management. The sensible ones (see Bobby Charlton) got the hell out when they realised they were no good. The worst ones (see Souness and Alan Ball) kept going, seemingly getting worse with every single club the joined. Here is just a selection of those “talents”.

Greame Souness
As a player, people were frightend of him. Largely because he was a psychopath. Only a psychopath would do this. The problem with Souness is that he knows nothing about football. He knows how to strike fear into his rivals, he doesn’t know what makes a good team tick – just listen to his punditry on Sky Sports. Failing that, look at his track record as a manager. While Liverpool manager he conducted a big interview about his heart surgery with The Sun, reviled on Merseyside for its reporting of the Hillsbrough disaster. He was never very good at PR, but The transfer market is his biggest downfall, he is a rubbish judge of players. He once told Deco he wouldn’t make it. He bought Mark Pembridge instead. He also signed Ali Dia believing him to be reccomended by George Weah. He wasn’t.

Hristo Stoichkov
I know this is a Prem blog, but I had to give a shout out to the man who once said “I don’t believe in tactics”. He was a wonderful player to watch, and as a manager, he often played 2 at the back to make things more exciting. Wasn’t that successful.

Ossie Ardiles
Speaking of attacking tactics, God Spurs were a joy to watch under Ossie. A legend at the club from his playing time, Ardiles decided he wanted to entertain as a manager as well, and decided on a five-up-front tactic. To be fair he did put a defensive midfielder in behind them. Every week during his short tenure, Spurs either whacked someone 5-0 or got absolutely stuffed by the same score. Fantastic to watch, but ultimately, not very successful, and Ardiles was out the door.

Alan Ball
He was a wonderful player, and by all accounts a lovely man, but he was a dreadful manager. He once opined that every player had a “key” a way to make them play better. He never really found many keys, as only one side he managed (Southampton, thanks to the heroics of Matthew Le Tisser), didn’t get relegated. Famously told his Manchester City team they only needed a draw to stay up. They needed a win, and their defensive keep-ball tactics ran the clock down to relegation.

Bobby Charlton.
Another of the Class of ‘66, Charlton didn’t stay in management long, realising he didn’t have a knack for it. Prolonged his playing career as Player-Manager at Preston North End, before leaving, and joining Wigan as caretaker manager. Quickly got the hell out and never even thought about going back since.