5 brilliant footballers who were better as managers

#4 Antonio Conte

Conte controls from the touchline in typically energetic style

He may be undergoing a rough spell currently, but Conte has emerged in this decade as one of the world's foremost coaches. His career shares many similarities with Simeone, as both were aggressive midfield battlers who went on to manage teams in this style (there's only a year apart in their age too).

Conte came to English football last season and, after a rocky start, comfortably returned the EPL title to Stamford Bridge. No team had an answer for Chelsea's excellent 3-5-2 formation, which gave Eden Hazard the freedom he needed to thrive and also made bit-part players like Marcos Alonso and Victor Moses into stylish wing-backs.

Conte has become a league specialist as a manager, as he guided Juventus to 3 consecutive league titles from 2012 to 2014. He transformed the club and returned them to the top of Italian football, and they haven't left their perch since.

In truth, Conte was a quite limited footballer - like an inferior Rino Gattuso - who used extreme work ethic and effort to make it on the top level. He possessed none of the skills of Zinedine Zidane but was almost as vital to Juventus's great team in the 1990's.

He won 5 league titles as a player with the Turin side, and a Champions League in 1996 as well, but that he only received 20 caps from Italy is a testament to his lack of natural talent.

Every side needs a workhorse, however, and Conte filled this role admirably. His commanding nature and leadership ability, though, were ready-made for a managerial career.

Conte is perhaps the best tactician behind one other EPL manager (who will follow in this list) in football. Time will tell if his future lies with Chelsea, but Conte will be a wanted-man around Europe if he does leave the club.