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Lionel Messi has enjoyed an illustrious career so far. In a career spanning 17 years to date, several players have been fortunate enough to play alongside the diminutive Argentinian.
Considering the longevity of Messi's career, it's easy to make out that the boy from Rosario has seen his fair share of world-class footballers.
The entirety of Messi's club career was spent at Barcelona before this summer transfer window. But in August, Messi left the Catalan giants and signed a two-year deal with Paris Saint-Germain in a move that was previously considered impossible.
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While his career in France has just started, Messi does bring in a wealth of experience from his days at the Camp Nou. Several of his former Barcelona teammates have retired and gone on to pursue the next phase of their careers.
On that note, let's take a look at Messi's five former Barca teammates who have donned the managerial hat.
#5 Juliano Belletti
Juliano Belletti enjoyed a successful career at both club and country level.
The Brazilian represented several clubs during his playing days, most notably Villarreal, Chelsea and Barcelona. Deployed as a right-back, Belletti was a key figure in the Barcelona setup from 2004-2007, playing alongside Lionel Messi.
Belletti is fondly remembered by Barcelona fans for his contribution in the UEFA Champions League final in 2006. Belletti only scored one goal for the club in three years, but it was the title-winning goal in the final against Arsenal.
He won two La Liga titles and one UEFA Champions League with the Blaugrana before signing for Chelsea in 2007. Belletti spent three years at Stamford Bridge, winning one Premier League title and two FA Cups.
In February 2021, it was announced that Belletti had forayed into management and was appointed assistant manager of his former club Cruzeiro. He remains in the post.
#4 Giovanni van Bronckhorst
Giovanni van Bronckhorst is another player who had the good fortune of playing alongside Lionel Messi.
The Dutchman was signed in 2003 from Arsenal and went on to spend four seasons with Barcelona before returning to his boyhood club Feyenoord. Van Bronckhorst was capable of playing as a midfielder as well as a wing-back, primarily slotting in on the left side.
Van Bronckhorst, who won two La Liga titles and one UEFA Champions League in Barca colors, enjoyed quite a successful career and previously won silverware with Arsenal as well.
In July 2011, it was announced that Van Bronckhorst would take up the role of assistant manager with his boyhood club Feyenoord. In 2015, he was appointed as manager and went on to lead the Dutch club for four years.
He won the Eredivisie once and the KNVB cup twice. In 2020, Van Bronckhorst announced that he had signed with Chinese outfit Guangzhou R&F as their full-time manager. He spent close to a year in China before returning home to his family.
#3 Victor Valdes
Victor Valdes is one of Barcelona's most successful players.
The former goalkeeper represented Barcelona for 12 years, enjoying great success at the Camp Nou.
The shot-stopper was a key figure during Barcelona's dominant era and contributed a large deal to the club's success. He won six La Liga titles, two Copa del Reys, six Supercopas and three UEFA Champions Leagues with the Catalan club, making him one of their most successful players.
In 2018, Valdes announced that he had completed his coaching badges and would take up the managerial role at amateur side ED Moratalaz. In May 2020, he was appointed manager of UA Horta before leaving in 2021.
#2 Thierry Henry
Thierry Henry is arguably one of the best players in football history.
The Frenchman spent three years at Barcelona, lining up alongside Lionel Messi in attack. He enjoyed memorable stints at Arsenal, Barcelona and the New York Red Bulls.
Widely considered one of the best attackers in the history of the game, Henry is a certified club legend at Arsenal. He spent eight years with the Gunners, winning several trophies and becoming the club's record goalscorer.
His three years with Barcelona brought great success as well. Henry won two La Liga titles, one Copa del Rey and one UEFA Champions League trophy with the Blaugrana. He formed a great attacking partnership with Messi and Samuel Eto'o.
Henry was named assistant coach of the Belgian national team in 2016, working alongside Roberto Martinez. He joined his former club Monaco as full-time manager in 2018 before taking charge of MLS outfit Montreal Impact in 2019. He spent two years there before rejoining the Belgian national team as an assistant coach in 2021.
#1 Xavi Hernandez
Xavi Hernandez is one of the most influential players in the history of FC Barcelona.
The Spaniard spent 17 long years at the Camp Nou, winning several trophies and establishing the club's dominance in Spain and Europe alongside Lionel Messi.
Xavi, along with Messi and Andres Iniesta, formed one of the most successful attacking trios in Barcelona history. The Spaniard won eight La Liga titles, three Copa del Reys and four UEFA Champions Leagues during his time at the Catalan club.
His best attributes were his precision passing and his close control in tight spaces. Xavi and Iniesta are credited as arguably the best-ever midfield duo in football history, having won every trophy possible for both club and country.
In May 2019, Xavi signed a deal to become the manager of Qatari outfit Al Sadd. He led the team to three domestic trophies in two years before recently agreeing a deal that would bring him back to Barcelona as first-team manager.
The deal has been described as a poetic reunion of past and present, as the ex-Barcelona man has been entrusted with the task of restoring the club's former glory years. Xavi comes to the Camp Nou during a difficult phase as Barca find themselves in debt and also struggling on the pitch.
Only time will tell if Xavi is able to replicate the success he achieved as a player with Barcelona.
