Managers Who Aren't Ex Players

[Leo No.8]

Reading Moneyball lately and with Chelsea close to appointing Villas-Boas as manager, do people think that perhaps the football world might start to look more outside ex players for future managers?

 

Obviously Mourinho is generally considered as one of the world's best managers and he didn't play professionally, now Villas-Boas is following his success. Reading Moneyball, the game of baseball has shifted to employing many more graduates within their management structures rather than just ex players - Billy Beane's assistant in the book is an ex Harvard grad who never played (who went on to be a General Manager if a rather unsuccessful one). And there are plenty more out there.

 

When you see ex players on the television talking absolute crap about the game, it does make me wonder whether having played previously can be a hindrance, and perhaps its fair to say that many footballers (there are plenty of exceptions) aren't the sharpest tools in the box *cough Rio Ferdinand*. I wonder if there could be a football management Degree started in Universities in the UK - if there isn't already (I know there are some weird and wonderful degrees out there)? With graduates doing placements at clubs.

 

Would clubs look to take on graduate managers and perhaps create a link then place them with non league sides to see how they did? Could there be an opportunity for clearer thinking from people without the same cliched view you see week in week out from ex playing pundits on the television? For example I would much rather someone who talks sense on here like Knox Harrington or Cletus Van Damme manage my football team than Steve Claridge or Ray Houghton.

 

Obviously there are some top managers out there who were ex players, your Rafa's etc who are students of the game - but I think for every one of them there's a hundred who got into management just because they used to play but don't have the brains for it.

Edited June 22, 2011 by Leo No.8

[Hassony]

How many games did Rafa play as a pro?

 

there have been plenty of good footballers who have turned into good managers

 

the chap at Barca seems to be doing fine, Ancelotti, cappelo, Bryan Robson, Deschamp, Blanc

[Fastardo]

there have been plenty of good footballers who have turned into good managers

 

the chap at Barca seems to be doing fine, Ancelotti, cappelo, Bryan Robson, Deschamp, Blanc

 

Ooh, I love an "odd one out" competiton.

 

Let's see... Is it Deschamp?

[dorgie]

Ooh, I love an "odd one out" competiton.

 

Let's see... Is it Deschamp?

 

[Hassony]

Ooh, I love an "odd one out" competiton.

 

Let's see... Is it Deschamp?

 

 

Its cappelo of course, look how he destroyed englands golden generation

[Boca]

I've often wondered why clubs seem reluctant to pay a fee to get the manager they want. They think nothing of spunking millions on second rate players but, with the exception of this Villas-Boas deal, when it comes to getting the man they hope will shape the club for years to come, they baulk.

[Buzz]

Quick scout around the web brings up some interesting things.

Guy Roux only ever played amature football, with Auxerre of course.

Gerard Houllier only played amature, for Alsop.

Carlos Queiroz only played Pro briefly in Mozambique.

Avram Grant never played football.

I thought Lawrie McMenemy never played pro footie, but he did, albeit briefly.

[Hassony]

I've often wondered why clubs seem reluctant to pay a fee to get the manager they want. They think nothing of spunking millions on second rate players but, with the exception of this Villas-Boas deal, when it comes to getting the man they hope will shape the club for years to come, they baulk.

 

players have better sell on value, even if they flop

[Antynwa]

Karl Robinson seems to have done alright for himself.

[Boca]

players have better sell on value, even if they flop

 

 

That's fair enough but presumably when a club looks to appoint a manager they are looking at it as a long term deal. If they trust their own judgement then they should be prepared to pay the money it takes to get the man they want.

[johngibo YPC]

Karl Robinson seems to have done alright for himself.

 

You're always banging on about Karl Robinson

Give it up, you're never going to meet him

[Bigal]

You're always banging on about Karl Robinson

Give it up, you're never going to meet him

 

[Antynwa]

You're always banging on about Karl Robinson

Give it up, you're never going to meet him

 

[Raj]

Rafa only played in the Real B team before getting injured

I think Wenger played a very low level of football and was extremely s*** by all accounts

[The Hitman]

I'm always astounded at the amount of times managers (especially in the Championship,Div 1) that just seem to rotate clubs.

They get sacked from one,get appointed at another,get sacked at that one,get appointed at another etc etc.

 

There's any number of them that seem to get jobs,based on nothing in particular,that I look at and think,"really,they've got another job? How the hell did that happen?".

 

It's like chairmen and boards believe there's a limited pool of resources to select from,when in reality there's sh*tloads of folk out there who know an awful lot about the game,but for one reason or another are always kept on the fringes.

 

Interestingly,does anybody remember Mark Goldberg (the old Chairman of Crystal Palace during the Venables and Lombardo years)? He was installed as manager at my local team,Bromley Town,a few seasons ago and did really well-with no playing experience whatsoever. Got them promotion in their first season,if I remember correctly.

[Raj]

I'm always astounded at the amount of times managers (especially in the Championship,Div 1) that just seem to rotate clubs.

They get sacked from one,get appointed at another,get sacked at that one,get appointed at another etc etc.

 

There's any number of them that seem to get jobs,based on nothing in particular,that I look at and think,"really,they've got another job? How the hell did that happen?".

 

It's like chairmen and boards believe there's a limited pool of resources to select from,when in reality there's sh*tloads of folk out there who know an awful lot about the game,but for one reason or another are always kept on the fringes.

 

Interestingly,does anybody remember Mark Goldberg (the old Chairman of Crystal Palace during the Venables and Lombardo years)? He was installed as manager at my local team,Bromley Town,a few seasons ago and did really well-with no playing experience whatsoever. Got them promotion in their first season,if I remember correctly.

 

I never understood in a million years why Burnley decided to appoint Brian Laws, after Coyle had left.

I think he had just been sacked by Sheff Wed. One of the most bizarre appointments I've seen

[The Hitman]

That's exactly the sort of thing I'm talking about.

Totally f*cking nuts.

 

Similar to the amount of times people kept appointing Bryan Robson.

[Hassony]

That's exactly the sort of thing I'm talking about.

Totally f*cking nuts.

 

Similar to the amount of times people kept appointing Bryan Robson.

 

[Cobs]

Interestingly,does anybody remember Mark Goldberg (the old Chairman of Crystal Palace during the Venables and Lombardo years)? He was installed as manager at my local team,Bromley Town,a few seasons ago and did really well-with no playing experience whatsoever. Got them promotion in their first season,if I remember correctly.

 

another Palace connection - remember Ron Noades, chairman @ Brentford, made himself manager and won the League - Div 3 granted but still...

[Behind Enemy Lines]

I never understood in a million years why Burnley decided to appoint Brian Laws, after Coyle had left.

I think he had just been sacked by Sheff Wed. One of the most bizarre appointments I've seen

It established Laws Law, whereby the next managerial appointment is better than the one you've just been sacked from for not being up to the job.

[Rimbeux]

I think it's inevitable that more chairman will now take the plunge and go for career coaches and technical people to manage the team, now it has been shown to work. It's been a closed shop in some ways, ex-pros feeding and buying into the myth that only players really know the game and everyone else can clap along and pay to watch, but dont step over the line into thinking you really understand the finer details.

[Flasher]

The LMA will not like Leo's initial view and recommendation. for that reason, I'm in.

[Leo No.8]

The LMA will not like Leo's initial view and recommendation. for that reason, I'm in.

 

This is it - you're exactly right Flasher the LMA are everything that's wrong with football managers, illustrates my point perfectly.

[drdooom]

I've often wondered why clubs seem reluctant to pay a fee to get the manager they want. They think nothing of spunking millions on second rate players but, with the exception of this Villas-Boas deal, when it comes to getting the man they hope will shape the club for years to come, they baulk.

 

Have you really? Often?

How often do clubs actually baulk at paying fees for managers?

[Boca]

Have you really? Often?

How often do clubs actually baulk at paying fees for managers?

 

It keeps me up at night.