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Its hard enough to get a chance to play at the FIFA World Cup but to both play and later manage your national team is extraordinary.Here are 5great legends who have managed to do so.
#5 Marco van Basten
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Van Basten played 58 games for Netherlands scoring 24 goals from 1983-1992. His first majot tournamnet was Euro 1988 where he scored 5 crucial goals and was named Player of the Tournament. He has however never scored in the World Cup despite playing in the 1990 World Cup. Netherlands were knocked out in the second round by Germany. He has had an amazing domestic career however scoring 218 goals in 280 appearances for Ajax and AC Milan.
Van Basten coached Netherlands for 4 years from 2004-2008. He was heavily criticized for dropping regulars like Clarence Seedorf, Patrick Kluivert and Edgar Davids as he believed that they were underachieving or past their prime. During the 2006 World Cup, the Netherlands won all their group stage matches but were eliminated by Portugal in the Round of 16.
Many critics blamed the loss on Van Basten as he picked Dirk Kuyt, who failed to score in the entire tournament over Ruud van Nistelrooy. He stepped down after Netherlands were knocked out of Euro 2008 in the quarter-finals.
#4 Diego Maradona
Maradona’s skills as a player are unquestionnable with many considering him to be the best football player of all time. He played in 4 FIFA World Cups with Argentina. After a poor performance in the 1982 World Cup, he captained his side during the 1986 World Cup where he played a crucial role with 5 goals and 5 assists. In the final, he provided the crucial pass for Jorge Burruchaga to score the winner for Argentina in a tight game against West Germany. He won the Golden Ball for Best Player of the tournament.
He led them to the final again in 1990 but this time Argentina lost 1-0 to West Germany. In the1994 World Cup, he played only two games as he was sent home for failing a drug test. He was also named FIFA’s Player of The Century along with Brazilian legend Pele.
He coached Argentina from 2008-2010. Maradona was criticized for his off the field antics which earned him a two-month ban and for the team’s losses. This however didn’t affect Maradona as he led his side to victory in all their group stage matches in the 2010 World Cup. Argentina then beat Mexico 3-1 in the knock out stages but were eliminated following a 4-0 thumping by Germany in the quarter-finals.
The AFA didn’t renew his contract in 2010 and thus he was forced to leave. He later burst out saying that AFA President Julio Grondona had lied to and betrayed him.
#3 Jurgen Klinsmann
Jurgen Kilnsmann was a goal machine for West Germany scoring 47 goals in 108 appearances and helping his side win the 1990 World Cup. He also won the Euro 1996 tournament. He was the first player to score 3 or more goals in three consecutive World Cups and is Germany’s third highest goalscorer at World Cups behind Miroslav Klose and Gerd Muller.
He was surprisingly offered the Managerial postion at Germany in 2004 after retiring in 1998. Klinsmann was criticised in the beginning for Germany’s poor defensive performances but silenced his critics during the 2006 World Cup with Germany winning all their group stage matches, beating Sweden in the knockout stage and Argentina 4-2 on penalties in the quarter-finals. They lost a close game against Italy in the semi-finals and then won the third place play-off against Portugal.
Klinsmann retired as Germany manager after the World Cup. He has been coaching the United States National Team since 2011.
#2 Franz Beckenbauer
Franz Beckenbauer is a defender who played in 3 World Cups for West Germany. Nicknamed Der Kaiser (The Emperor) for his dominance and leadership on the pitch, Beckenbauer led his team to the 1974 World Cup triumph. He played 103 games for West Germany and captained them for over 50 games from 1965-1977. He was named European Footballer of the Year twice for his contributions to West Germany.
After retiring from playing, he coached West Germany from 1984-1990. In his first World Cup as manager in 1986, he led his team to the final where they lost 3-2 to Argentina in a dramatic match. In the 1990 World Cup final, West Germany faced Argentina again but won 1-0 making Beckenbauer the second person to win the World Cup as both Player and Manager.
#1 Mario Zagallo
Mario Zagallo’s legacy as a football legend remains untouched. Nicknamed El Lobo (The Wolf), he has played a part in 4 out of 5 World Cup wins for Brazil. He played for Brazil as a midfielder/forward from 1958 to 1964 and won two World Cups in 1958 and 1962, playing a key role in both campaigns.
He returned to coach Brazil in 1970 and inspired them to win the World Cup that year managing great players like Pele, Jairzinho, Tostao, Gerson, Rivelino and Carlos Alberto. He was the first manager to use the 5-3-2 formation and it helped Brazil immensely as they won all 6 of their matches and scored 19 goals in the World Cup.
He returned as Assistant Manager for Brazil in 1991 and introduced the attacking full-back tactic that helped Roberto Carlos, Cafu and Leonardo shine. He led Brazil to their 4th World Cup in 1994 and became the first person to win the World Cup as both a Player and Manager.
