Being a good player does not guarantee becoming an equally good manager (Diego Maradona as an example). Still, we’ve also seen some great players transfer their geniuses into their managerial career.
Examples are the likes of Johan Cruyff, Didier Deschamps, Kenny Dalglish, Carlo Ancelloti, Franz Beckenbauer, and Zinedine Zidane.
We also have players that were considered average during their playing career but turned out to be great coaches.
In this last category, we have the likes of Pep Guardiola, Mauricio Pochettino, Jose Mourinho, Jurgen Klopp, Diego Simeone, and Antonio Conté. Some of them have become some of the greatest soccer coaches ever.
The current trend in football is for clubs to appoint former players as coaches as we have the likes of: Frank Lampard, Steven Gerrard, Xabi Alonso, Vincent Kompany, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Mikel Arteta, and Andrea Pirlo.
In this article, we look at 15 footballers who could become great football managers in the future.
1. Thiago Silva
Regarded as one of the best defenders in the world, Silva’s 24-year career has seen him turned out for the likes of Dynamo Moscow, Fluminense, AC Milan, PSG, and now Chelsea.
The 41-year-old boasts of top-level experience and excellent leadership skills. He was one of the best defenders in the Ligue 1 during his time there.
Silva also possesses phenomenal tactical intelligence and knowledge of the game — attributes that will enable him to become a great manager.
2. Jordan Henderson
It is not an easy task to become captain a Liverpool FC, and it is even more difficult to succeed the club’s greatest captain, Steven Gerrard.
And that was exactly the role that Henderson found himself, but amidst criticism, the 36-year-old has performed incredibly well in that role.
His relentlessness and determination has made him a living legend at Anfield. Henderson was arguably one of the best midfielders in the Premier League. Although he joined the bandwagon of players in the Saudi Pro League.
These abilities, coupled with his leadership, would serve him well should he venture into management.
3. Luka Modrić
Luka Modric has the football brain that managers dream of. As a player, he sees passes nobody else spots and always knows where to be on the pitch.
This genius would help him set up teams to break down opponents. Having played for Tottenham, Real Madrid, and Croatia’s national team, he’s learned from the best coaches in the game.
39-year-old Luka Modrić started his career over 20-years ago, and he’s still enjoying himself at the highest level.
The Croatian football legend captained Croatia and Real Madrid team for many years successfully.
His character and charisma commands respect from both teammates and opponents alike and will be useful skills together with his leadership and vocal abilities should he become a coach after hanging his boots.
4. Granit Xhaka
Granit Xhaka is already coaching while playing. Watch Bayer Leverkusen’s matches and you’ll see him constantly pointing, organizing the defense, and talking teammates through games.
His teammates actually call him “the manager on the pitch.
It was rumoured that the Swiss international is in the process of obtaining his UEFA A coaching licence while still playing for Bayer Leverkusen.
5. Manuel Neuer
Manuel Neuer
Widely regarded as one of the greatest goalkeepers in history, Neuer is currently the captain of Bayern Munich and the German national team. He has won a lot of trophies at both club and international level so far.
His composure, high concentration, game reading, and mentality would make him a good manager.
6. Virgil Van Dijk
Arguably one of the best defenders in the world presently, Van Dijk has developed his game rapidly since moving to Liverpool and has been integral in making the club the best in the world.
His game understanding, anticipation, and leadership will make him a great manager in the future.
7. Cristiano Ronaldo
Undoubtedly one of the greatest players to have ever played the round leather game, Ronaldo’s work ethic, dedication, determination, winning mentality, and fighting spirit makes him a natural leader and a potentially successful coach.
It is not easy to forget his stint at the touchline after getting injured at the 2016 Euro final against France
8. Joshua Kimmich
Joshua Kimmich is like a football Swiss Army knife – he’s played right-back, center-back, and defensive midfield at the highest level. This means he understands how every part of a team should work together.
His fierce winning mentality is obvious when you see him argue with refs or demand more from teammates.
Kimmich’s tenacity, no-nonsense style, determination, consistency, and vocal leadership makes him an almost guaranteed candidate to be a great manager after hanging his boots.
The Bayern Munich midfield stalwart has all the makings of a great manager.
9. İlkay Gündoğan
İlkay Gündoğan might not usually get the praises because of the calibre of players he has played with, but he’s a silent leader on and off the pitch.
He is adored by fans at his previous clubs (Borussia Dortmund and Manchester City) for his commitment, determination, and dedication.
Now at Manchester City, İlkay Gündoğan has been known to demand more from his teammates and increase their winning mentality, all the makings of a phenomenal football manager.
His aura and charisma look like that of a potential good manager, especially in terms of man-management.
10. Sergio Busquets
A similarly silent leader like no other, Sergio Busquets is definitely one football player who will become a great manager.
It takes a lot to play in defensive midfield for a club like Barcelona, but Busquets has made it look like a simple task in the last decade.
Never one to attract attention when he is on the field but surely noticeable when he is not there! Busquets has won a lot of trophies for both Barcelona and Spain.
The Spaniard is one of the best defensive midfielders in football history and could go on to imitate his mentor Pep Guardiola.
His abilities and skills are that of a potential top-level manager. He has also spoken of his coaching ambitions.
11. Cesar Azpilicueta
Another silent leader on this list, but Azpilicueta is much more vocal than both Herrera and Busquets due to the fact that he was Chelsea’s official captain.
His leadership, determination, dedication, hard work, and motivational skills will make him a great manager after his playing days.
12. Sergio Ramos
Arguably the most hated player in football for his notorious, aggressive, and no-nonsense attitude and playing style.
But take it or leave it, Ramos is a wonderful asset to have in your team… ask Real Madrid fans!
His vocal and motivation skills, willingness, dedication, determination, and never-say-die mentality are attributes needed to succeed consistently at the highest level in football.
These attributes will make him a successful and controversial manager like Jose Mourinho.
13. Bruno Fernandes
Like it or not Bruno Fernandes is one of the best midfielders in the world. He has completely transformed Manchester United when he came in with his dynamism, and leadership.
The Portuguese midfielder would make a great coach someday. In many if United’s matches, he is seen giving guidance and instructions to his teammates.
He was appointed the captain by Erik Ten Hag and has done a decent job in exercising his leadership.
14. Jorginho
The Italian midfielder is one of the most technically gifted players in Europe.
His passing ability, penalty-taking, and match awareness makes his one of the best players in his position.
He is likely to become a remarkable coach someday. Jorginho possess a call demeanour and could be a great coach like Carlo Ancelotti someday.
15. Christian Eriksen
Christian Eriksen’s exceptional vision and tactical intelligence make him an ideal future manager.
Having mastered multiple positions throughout his career, he understands the game from various perspectives and can read matches in ways few others can.
His experience across Europe’s top leagues has given him a comprehensive football education. Playing for Ajax, Tottenham, Inter Milan, and Manchester United has exposed him to diverse tactical systems under elite managers, providing valuable knowledge he could implement as a coach.
Most importantly, Eriksen’s comeback from a cardiac arrest demonstrates extraordinary mental strength.
This resilience, combined with his leadership as Denmark’s most-capped player, gives him the perfect temperament for handling the pressures of management while inspiring players with his own remarkable journey.
16. Raphael Varane
Raphael Varane retired from professional football in September 2024 at just 31 years old.
He played only 23 minutes for Como before a serious knee injury ended his career, but he did not walk away from the game.
Instead, he joined the Como board in a role focused on youth development, education, and innovation, immediately putting his football intelligence to work off the pitch.
He won four Champions League titles with Real Madrid and a World Cup with France in 2018.
Didier Deschamps described him as “a leader on the pitch but also off it, where his opinion was always listened to and respected.”
That kind of authority is exactly what the best managers possess, and at just 32 years old, Varane has decades ahead of him to prove it on the touchline.
17. Rodri
Rodri is already managing games from the midfield.
He won the Ballon d’Or in 2024 and the 2026 World Cup Golden Ball, completing 655 passes at the tournament, the most ever recorded by any player in a single World Cup.
Pep Guardiola, the greatest coach of the modern era, has said of him: “Rodri understands football better than almost any player I have ever worked with.”
He controls tempo, leads from the centre, and has been mentored by Guardiola, Simeone, and Luis de la Fuente across his career.
When the day comes that he does it from the touchline, football should pay close attention.
18. Marquinhos
Marquinhos has been captain of Paris Saint-Germain since 2020.
He has led the dressing room through the Neymar era, the Mbappe era, and PSG’s first ever Champions League title, maintaining standards through one of the most turbulent periods in the club’s history.
Managing elite egos across multiple cultures while performing consistently at the highest level is the closest preparation any player can get for management.
He has been mentored by Carlo Ancelotti, Thomas Tuchel, and Luis Enrique, three of the finest tactical minds in the modern game.
His understanding of defensive organisation, game management, and dressing room dynamics is extraordinary, and at 32 he is still playing at the highest level with everything still ahead of him.
19. David Silva
David Silva retired in 2022 after spells at Manchester City, Real Sociedad, and the Spanish national team.
Pep Guardiola described him as the most complete footballer he has ever worked with, a remarkable statement from a man who has coached Messi, Xavi, Iniesta, and Toni Kroos.
Silva understood positional play at a level most footballers never reach.
He won four Premier League titles, two FA Cups, five League Cups, a World Cup, and two European Championships, all built on intelligence rather than athleticism.
That kind of football mind translates most naturally into great coaching, and Silva is understood to be pursuing his UEFA coaching badges with the football world watching with considerable interest.
20. Manuel Locatelli
Manuel Locatelli makes everyone around him better, and that is one of the most valuable qualities a manager can possess.
The Juventus and Italy midfielder organises attacks from deep, protects the defence, and sets the tempo of his team’s entire game without ever seeking the spotlight.
He won Euro 2020 with Italy and has learned from Massimiliano Allegri and Roberto Mancini across his career, two of the most tactically demanding managers in world football.
His composure, leadership, and deep understanding of the defensive midfielder role make him a natural future coach.
The way he already talks about football in interviews sounds less like a player and more like a manager preparing his team for the next game.
