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Following the sacking of Dean Smith, Aston Villa have appointed Steven Gerrard as their new manager. The Englishman is one of the most talented midfielders in modern football, emerging as one of the most sought-after managers in English football.
The Liverpool legend has enjoyed a stellar start to his managerial career, winning the 2020-21 Scottish Championship with Rangers. Gerrard applied his brilliant football acumen and years of experience to end Celtic's nine-season league-winning streak.
The Englishman is just one of several players who have transitioned into management, and enjoyed success on the sideline. On that note, here is a look at five legends who excelled as both player and manager.
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#5 Didier Deschamps
Didier Deschamps is one of only three managers to have won the FIFA World Cup as both player and manager.
He captained France to the 1998 FIFA World Cup on home soil before winning the European Championship two years later. Since taking over the reins of the French national team in the summer of 2012, Deschamps has assembled one of the best squads in the nation's history.
The 53-year old oversaw France's 2018 FIFA World Cup triumph in a managerial role. He had also taken Les Bleus to the final of Euros 2016. His most recent managerial achievement was winning the 2021 UEFA Nations League title. Considering his achievements, Deschamps is expected to remain in charge of the France team at least till the FIFA World Cup next year.
As a player, Deschamps donned the colours of Juventus, Chelsea, Valencia and Marseille. In addition to his international accolades, Deschamps won two Champions League titles, three Serie A titles, three Ligue 1 and the FA Cup, to name a few.
#4 Franz Beckenbauer
Franz 'Der Kaiser'' Beckenbauer is undoubtedly one of the greatest and most successful players in the history of the game.
The former West Germany captain won every major trophy during his playing career with his national team and Bayern Munich. Arguably the greatest leader in footballing history, Beckenbauer led his national team to the 1972 European Championships. He followed that up with a FIFA World Cup title just two years later.
Beckenbauer was also key in Bayern Munich's dominance of German and European football in the 1970s. He led the Bavarian giants to three consecutive Bundesliga titles between 1972 and 1974. He also won three successive European Cups with them between 1974 and 1976.
Along with Deschamps, Beckenbauer is one of only two men to have won the FIFA World Cup as both captain and manager. The other one is Mario Zagallo of Argentina.
Beckenbauer also has the unique distinction of being the last manager to have managed a German side without any East German representation.
#3 Zinedine Zidane
Zinedine Zidane is only the seventh man to have won the UEFA Champions League as both player and manager.
The French legend is also the only manager to win three successive Champions League titles. Real Madrid became the first club to do so in the Champions League era, winning four titles in five years (one with Carlo Ancelotti).
In his brief managerial career, Zidane has won the World's Best Club Coach accolade twice. He is currently one of the most sought-after managers in world football.
The Frenchman's playing career speaks for itself. The 1998 Ballon d'Or winner has won one the FIFA World Cup, UEFA Champions League, La Liga and European Championship.
Representing the likes of Real Madrid and Juventus, Zidane racked up an incredible tally of 631 appearances in his club career. He managed a stellar output of 121 goals and 119 assists. The Real Madrid legend will undoubtedly go down in history as one of the greatest playmakers in the history of football.
#2 Pep Guardiola
Pep Guardiola is the most successful manager of the 21st century, with over 30 titles under his belt.
The Spaniard has enjoyed success everywhere he's been in his managerial career. Guardiola burst onto the managerial scene after taking over the reins at his boyhood club FC Barcelona. He became the first manager to win the sextuple in a calendar year. A decade later, he became one of only four managers to win three Premier League titles.
Guardiola learned from one of the best brains in the history of football - Johan Cruyff. He adopted the legendary Dutchman's 'total football' ideology, and improvised it to meet the demands of modern football. The tiki-taka system employed by Barcelona in Guardiola's four years in charge revolutionised modern football.
The 50-year old also enjoyed a very successful career as a player. Guardiola donned the colours of Barcelona for most of his career, but has also represented the likes of AS Roma and Brescia, among others.
Guardiola also has a Champions League title and six La Liga trophies from his playing days in Catalonia.
#1 Johan Cruyff
Johan Cruyff is regarded by many as the most extraordinary mind in the history of our sport. He enjoyed unprecedented success as both player and manager.
The legendary Dutchman has played an indispensable role in football history, and is largely responsible for defining the modern game. Cruyff revolutionised and modernised the game through his innovative approach and unorthodox tactics. He was also the chief architect of Barcelona's famed La Masia academy, which has produced the likes of Lionel Messi, Xavi and Iniesta.
Cruyff was also key in establishing Ajax as one of the European powerhouses. Their stadium was rebranded as Johan Cruijff ArenA in 1996. Ajax are known to have unearthed some of the biggest talents in European football over many years.
The legendary manager won the European Champions Clubs Cup as manager of Barcelona. He also won four La Liga titles and two Dutch Cups with Ajax Amsterdam.
During his playing career, Johan Cruyff won the prestigious Ballon D'Or award thrice. He transformed a mediocre Dutch team into one of the powerhouses of world football. He was voted the European Player of the Century in 1991 by the International Federation of Football History and Statistics.
