5 current managers who had successful playing careers

There's a popular saying that great players don't make great managers. Those who believe in this ideology quickly point to names like Diego Maradona, Paul Scholes and Edgar Davies, and rightly so. These are ones who dominated during their playing days, but failed to replicate the same level of success when they took to management.

However, over the last few years, we've witnessed several successful footballers taking on the challenge of managing teams and excelling at it. Thanks to their first-hand experience, these men have been able to transmit their ideas into the current generation of players and help build amazing teams.

Of course, they are mainly recognized by the current crop of fans for their exploits on the sidelines. But to remind everyone of how successful they were in their playing days, here's a list of five current managers who thrived as players.

#5 Ole Gunnar Solskjaer

The Norwegian won multiple trophies as a Manchester United player.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer had brief spells at Norwegian clubs Clausenengen and Molde before joining Manchester United in the summer of 1996. He established himself as a key player in Sir Alex Ferguson's team at Old Trafford, where he enjoyed nine successful years.

The supporting striker won a whopping six Premier League titles, one Champions League crown, two FA Cups and four Community Shields with the Red Devils. He retired in August 2007 and made a leap to management, getting his maiden first-team coaching job at Molde in 2013.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer returned to manage Manchester United midway through the 2018-19 campaign. He came in as a caretaker manager following the dismissal of Jose Mourinho. The 48-year-old got the role permanently in 2019, signing a contract with the Red Devils until the summer of 2024.

#4 Ronald Koeman

The most prolific defender in history

It wouldn't be far-fetched to say Ronald Koeman thrived more as a footballer than he has as manager so far. The Dutchman was a huge force to reckon with during his playing days, making history with the likes of Barcelona, Ajax and the Netherlands.

The centre-back holds the record for the most goals scored by a defender in history, with an impressive 253 goals to his name. He also won several trophies, like the European Cup, La Liga, Eredivisie, Euros, and many more.

So far in his coaching career, he has managed Vitesse, Ajax, Everton, Southampton, Benfica, Feyenoord and now Barcelona. He led the Blaugrana to Copa del Rey success last season.

#3 Roberto Mancini

Roberto Mancini led Italy to success at the Euros this summer.

Roberto Mancini was appointed the Italy manager in 2018, and he has overseen an impressive period with the national team. The tactician made history by leading the Azzurri to European Championship success this summer, beating England on penalties in the final.

The Italian has also had a stellar managerial career at club level, winning 13 honours with clubs like Manchester City, Inter Milan, Galatasaray, Fiorentina and Lazio. In addition to his coaching exploits, the Italian also has an impressive playing resume.

As a player, Mancini represented the likes of Bologna, Lazio, Sampdoria and Leicester City, winning 13 trophies, before calling time on his career in 2001. He is well respected for his contribution to the game, both on the pitch and on the sidelines.

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#2 Carlo Ancelotti

The Italian represented some of the biggest teams in Europe, both as a player and as a manager.

The Italian is one of the most decorated managers in history, having claimed a whopping 21 honours so far in his career. They include three Champions League crowns, three UEFA Super Cups and multiple domestic titles across England, Spain, Italy, France and Germany.

In his playing days, Carlo Ancelotti operated as a central midfielder, representing the likes of Parma, AS Roma and AC Milan. He enjoyed a successful spell on the pitch, claiming 13 trophies in a career that lasted 16 years.

The 62-year-old took his first step into management when he was appointed Italy's assistant manager in 1995. Since then, he has managed several elite clubs across Europe. That includes Juventus, AC Milan, Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain, Bayern Munich, Everton, Napoli and Real Madrid.

#1 Pep Guardiola

The Manchester City manager enjoyed a stellar spell at Barcelona.

Pep Guardiola was a key member of Barcelona's dream team that took European football by storm in the 90s. Functioning as a pivot in midfield, the Spaniard thrived in Barca colours and won several major honours.

He spent a whopping 17 years at the club, winning an impressive 16 trophies before leaving for Brescia in 2002. The Spaniard also played for Al-Ahli SC and Dorados de Sinaloa, where he retired in June 2007.

Pep Guardiola crossed into management immediately after his retirement, taking charge of Barcelona's youth team. He was appointed their first-team manager in July 2008, overseeing the most successful period in the club's history.

He left Camp Nou in 2012, and has since managed Bayern Munich and Manchester City. With a whopping 31 titles in his cabinet, the Spaniard is arguably one of the most decorated managers in the history of the game.