– Of the 20 Premier League managers, at most four can claim to have been world class players in their heydays
– Not many people know Stoke City manager Mark Hughes is one Manchester United’s best players ever
– Most of the Premier League managers played as midfielders or defenders with just two as attackers
We know the Premier League managers when we see them in suits and tracks but do we know what they looked like with out the potty bellies, white hair and wrinkled faces.
We name the teams they are presently managing, their native countries and positions during their playing days.
1. Arsène Wenger (Arsenal/France/defender): Wenger’s managerial has overshadowed his playing career. He was a major player for Strasburg in France.
2. Eddie Howe(Bournemouth/England/defender): A Bournemouth legend as a player and as a manager already. One of the best young minds on football.
Howe playing for Bournemouth in the 1995/6 season (left) and posing ahead of the 1997/8 season (right). PHOTOS: Getty
3. Mark Hughes (Stoke City/Wales/attacker): A real legend of the game during his playing days. Hughes is one of Manchester United’s best players ever and is always included in the list of their top ten players ever. Had a stint whith Barcelona which was relatively successful.
Mark Hughes, Manchester United
4. Manuel Pellegrini (Manchester City/Chile/defender): A relatively successful playing career where Pellegrini was an old fashioned defender who was rough in the tackle.
Pellegrini poses during his playing days for Universidad Chile
5. Roberto Martínez (Roberto Martinez/Spain/defensive midfielder): Played in the lower leagues for the likes of Wigan and Walsall.Started his career at Real Zaragoza.
Martinez playing for Wigan in 1995
6. Mauricio Pochettino (Tottenham/Argentina/defensive midfielder): One of the best midfielders during his playing days. he was an Argentine international and played for the likes of PSG and Espanyol.
Mauricio Pochettino at Paris Saint Germain
7. Ronald Koeman (Southampton/Netherlands/defender): One of the best players in the world in the 1990’s. He was a defender with the nack for scoring goals.
Ronald Koeman(right) playing and captaining Netherlands
8. Louis van Gaal (Manchester United/Netherlands/midfielder): Palyed most of his career for Sparta Rotterdam. Was a good midfielder during his days.
Louis Van Gaal during his playing days
9. Tony Pulis (West Brom/Wales/defender): Was a disciplined defender during his playing days. Was tipped to be a huge manager after he got his coaching badges as young as 21.
Tony Pulis at Bournemouth
10. Alan Pardew (Crystal Palace/England/defender): Got to the FA Cup final with Crystal Palace during his playing day. Pardew was an old fashioned defender who was known for his crunching tackles.
Alan Pardew as a Crystal Palace player
11. Alex Neil (Norwich City/Scotland/attacker): Retired in April 2013. Still just 34 years old, Neil has won Football League Championship play-offs in his short career.
34 year old Alex Neil just before his retirement
12. Quique Sánchez Flores (Watford/Spain/right-back): Flores was an exceptional defender during his playing days. Played for Real Madrid for two years and played for the Spanish national team.
Quique Sanchez Flores at Real Madrid
13.Slaven Bilić (West Ham/Croatia/defender): One of the best defenders in the late 1990’s. Was part of the defence that secured Croatia third place at the 1998 World Cup. Enjoyed a successful career with West Ham and Everton.
Slaven Bilic playing for West Ham
14. Steve McClaren: (Newcastle/England/midfielder): As a player, McClaren was a midfielder who spent most of his career in the lower leagues of English football. The bulk of his playing career was with Hull City, who he joined in 1979 at the age of 18 after leaving school, He went on to play 178 games scoring 16 goals before leaving in 1985.
Steve McClaren during his time at Derby County
15. Claudio Ranieri (Leicester City/Italy/defender): As a player, Ranieri played most of his career as a defender for lower league clubs. He also had a few appearances for AS Roma.
Claudio Ranieri poster during hisplaying days at AS Roma
16. Jürgen Klopp (Liverpool/Germany/midfielder): Klopp played his entire senior professional career for Mainz 05, from 1990 to 2001, making him a one-club man. Originally a striker, Klopp began to play as a defender in 1995. He scored 52 league goals.
Klopp was an eccentric character during his playing days
17. Sam Allardyce (Sunderland/England/defender): Big Sam played in the lower leagues for the likes of Coventry City and Preston North End.
Sam Allardyce during his Bolton days
18. Rémi Garde (France/France/defender/defensive midfielder): Was one of the member of the Arsenal double-winning side of 1997–98. Represented France, Lyon and Arsenal during an impressive career.
Remi Garde served as back up to Emmanuel Petit and Patrick Viera during his Arsenal days
19. Guus Hiddink (Chelsea/Netherlands/midfielder): Was a quality defender who played for heavyweights PSV in the Eredivise.
Hiddink during his time at PSV
20. Francesco Guidolin (Swansea City/Italy/midfielder): Played as a midfielder for Verona in Serie A. A good midfielder who forged a solid career.
Swansea City manager Francesco Guidolin during his Verona playing days
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