The top ex-players in management are either visionaries or have a real hunger for coachingTHERE was a piece online in the aftermath of Roy Keane’s departure as assistant manager of the Irish football team debating the possible reasons for failure in management of a hefty bunch that played under Alex Ferguson. He has a way of playing football that he wants to impart onto his players. The top ex-players who make a real difference in the coaching world, by the way, tend to either be visionaries with clear philosophies, Pep Guardiola or Pochettino or Jim McGuinness even, or guys who’ve shown real hunger to seek knowledge towards the end or immediately after their playing career. Managers come and go and the process leaves a kind of random mix of half-ideas and systems without any real continuity. Clubs have tended to look at recently retired senior players for inspiration rather than take the time to think differently.

Source: Evening echo November 30, 2018 18:56 UTC