Coaching and playing are two different areas in football. The fact that you were an excellent player will not necessarily turn you into a champion in the dugout. In this article, we look at some coaches who didn’t have it rosy during their playing days but have become a figure in their coaching careers.
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Rafa Benitez
Rafa Benitez didn’t have a great playing career despite having the opportunity to play for Real Madrid Aficionados and Real Madrid Castilla. Still, he couldn’t make it to the first team. However, he has had lots of success as a coach. After a series of managerial experiences in Spain, where he won the La Liga title with Valencia FC, Benítez moved to Liverpool in 2004, becoming the first Spanish man to head a team in the Premier League. He won the FA Cup, FA Community Shield, UEFA Champions League, and UEFA Super Cup in six years. He also won the UEFA Europa League for Chelsea in 2013, the FIFA Club World Cup in December 2010 with Inter Milan, and the Italian Super Cup.
José Mourinho
José Mourinho is one of the most decorated coaches in the world, but the interesting part of his life was that he had to quit football at 24 after having difficult spells in the Portuguese lower league. However, he is successful as a coach, winning the Champions League with Porto and Inter Milan, the Europa League with Manchester United, and the Conference League with Roma. He also won a series of domestic titles in Portugal, Spain, Italy, and England.
Arsène Wenger
Arsène Wenger played as a midfielder during his playing career. He played for Mutzig, Mulhouse and APSV Strasbourg. He started his coaching career in France before joining Arsenal in 1996. He would go on to be the best coach ever to manage the Arsenal football club. He won three league titles, seven FA Cups, and seven Community Shields, and he is the longest-serving manager for Arsenal.
Bet on Football with Bet365Thomas Tuchel
Thomas Tuchel was forced to retire at 25 after suffering a knee cartilage injury. However, since starting at the dugout in 2007 and winning his first silverware with Borussia Dortmund in 2017. He has won the Champions League, the UEFA Super Cup, and the Club World Cup. He has also won domestic titles in France and Germany. Currently, he is in charge of the England national team, hoping to continue his fine form as manager.
André Villas-Boas
Villas-Boas made a name for himself despite being one of the great coaches who never went beyond a youth career in football. In the 2010/11 season, he went unbeaten with FC Porto, winning the Primeira Liga, Taça de Portugal, Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira, and the Europa League in the process. He also became the youngest coach to win the UEFA Europa League. He continued his brilliance with Zenit Saint Petersburg, winning three trophies.
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