3 managers who proved that you don't need to be a player to be a great manager

It is absurd to say that one has to be a footballer to become a professional manager. Just because you were good at the sport does not mean you can manage or coach a team. Although it can have its benefits, by far, it is not a necessity and in fact, best rarely makes the best coaches.

If you are a player, then you do have an opportunity to learn about managing from your coaches and managers, but this does not reflect every aspect. There are other issues than what meets the eye. The manager spends numerous hours on planning, preparation, and orchestrating other kinds of stuff. As they say "Manager needs to trouble the comforted and give comfort to the troubled."

One of the most overrated thoughts out there is that if you weren't a great player, you can't be a great coach. It's a big fallacy.-- Frank Martin

---

#3 Guy Roux

In the middle of France, about 165 kilometres southeast of Paris, lies the little city of Auxerre.

Way back in 1961, a 23-year-old was handed to lead a pretty unknown and unheard club in Europe. His name was Guy Roux. He had no experience and background and was just an amateur football player. He had joined Auxerre as a player in 1954.

Auxerre was a small local club which never progressed into the national leagues. Roux understood his capabilities as a player, and he made his decision to apply for the post of manager in 1961.

He agreed to work for low wages and maybe that was one of the reasons he got this opportunity. In his 44 years stay at Auxerre, he transformed a small, unknown amateur club into an internationally known club.

In 1995/1996 he led the club to the Ligue 1 title. He has certainly immortalized himself as a living legend and one of the greatest managers who never played professional football.

#2 Arrigo Sacchi

Sacchi

Like all others on this list, Sacchi never played any professional football. He even worked as a shoe salesman to meet his needs. He is one of the most influential managers of all time, and he redefined Italian football with his tactics and managed AC Milan twice.

When he first took over as Milan manager, things were not easy for him. Media bashed for being an inadequate player and questioned his capabilities as a manager. In addition to this harsh scrutiny, Milan was also struggling in the league.

"I never realized that in order to become a jockey you have to have been a horse first."

In his debut season, he led Milan to their first league title in 9 years. That success followed with back to back European Cup win. He made Milan arguably the greatest side in modern football history. He was also the head coach of Italy from 1991-1996 and led them to the final of World Cup 1994 where they lost to Brazil on penalties.

#1 Bill Struth

Bill Struth

Bill Struth was the second manager of Rangers football club and without any doubt the most influential one. Bill Struth never played professionally. He was a stonemason by profession.

He made a name for himself as a middle-distance runner, and that landed him training jobs. He joined Ranger in 1914 as an assistant coach, and in 1920 he was elevated to the post of a full-time coach. He instilled greatness and tradition and made Rangers a special club.

He won 30 major trophies in his glorious career that includes 18 Scottish league championship. He was the first one to win the treble in Scottish history. He was so influential that in his memory Rangers renamed the famous Main Stand at Ibrox The Bill Struth Main Stand in 2005.