5 great managers who were average players

#2 Sir Alex Ferguson

Sir Alex Ferguson won 49 honours as a manager

The greatest manager in Premier League history wasn’t as great as a footballer. The 75-year old impressively made 317 appearances as a footballer, but none were made at the top level. His notably British footballing career shaped the thinking and mindset that dominated English football for close to two decades.

Ferguson made his debut in football as a semi-pro 16-year-old at Queens Park Rangers. The Scotsman would then move on to St. Johnstone and Dunfermline before turning professional in 1964.

A few seasons in the Scottish First Division would then grant Ferguson the honour of playing for Rangers. However, a changing room bust up with the manager would end Ferguson’s time at the Ibrox, forcing him to move to smaller clubs in Falkirk and Ayr United. As a prolific low quality striker, Ferguson racked up 171 goals in his footballing career.

After putting to an end a lacklustre football career, Ferguson decided to try his luck at management at the age of 32, by taking over at Aberdeen. Fast forward a few years and he was heading the helm at Old Trafford. Sir Alex now has 2062 games under his managerial career, one of the highest totals ever.