Club Manager in football is a position of passion, strategy, and leadership. These individuals carried their deep understanding of the game into management, crafting strategies, mentoring players, and shaping the future of football.

Johan Cruyff

• Clubs Played For: Ajax, Barcelona, Feyenoord, LA Aztecs, Levante
• Career G/A: 401 goals, 176 assists
• Appearances: 716 matches
• Clubs Managed: Ajax, Barcelona
• Overview: A pioneer of “Total Football,” Cruyff’s vision revolutionized modern football. As a player to manager, he left an indelible mark on Ajax and Barcelona, shaping their playing styles and philosophies.

Pep Guardiola

• Clubs Played For: Barcelona, Brescia, Roma, Al-Ahli, Dorados
• Career G/A: 21 goals, 29 assists
• Appearances: 384 matches
• Clubs Managed: Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Manchester City
• Overview: Known for his tactical brilliance, Guardiola transitioned from a dependable midfielder to one of the most successful managers, leading his teams to numerous domestic and European titles.

Zinedine Zidane

• Clubs Played For: Cannes, Bordeaux, Juventus, Real Madrid
• Career G/A: 125 goals, 139 assists
• Appearances: 695 matches
• Clubs Managed: Real Madrid (Senior & Castilla)
• Overview: Renowned for his elegance on the ball, Zidane carried his success into management, winning three consecutive UEFA Champions League titles with Real Madrid.

Frank Lampard

• Clubs Played For: West Ham, Chelsea, Manchester City, New York City FC
• Career G/A: 302 goals, 174 assists
• Appearances: 1,019 matches
• Clubs Managed: Derby County, Chelsea, Everton
• Overview: Chelsea’s all-time top scorer used his tactical knowledge as a midfielder to take on managerial challenges in England.

Diego Simeone

• Clubs Played For: Vélez Sarsfield, Pisa, Sevilla, Atlético Madrid, Lazio, Inter Milan, Racing Club
• Career G/A: 84 goals, 56 assists
• Appearances: 741 matches
• Clubs Managed: Racing Club, Estudiantes, River Plate, San Lorenzo, Catania, Atlético Madrid
• Overview: A gritty defensive midfielder, Simeone turned his passion and discipline to becoming a great manager at Atlético Madrid.

Carlo Ancelotti

• Clubs Played For: Parma, Roma, AC Milan
• Career G/A: 41 goals, 34 assists
• Appearances: 514 matches
• Clubs Managed: Parma, Juventus, AC Milan, Chelsea, PSG, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, Napoli, Everton
• Overview: Another midfielder turned manager, Ancelotti is the only coach to win league titles in all of Europe’s top five leagues.

Antonio Conte

• Clubs Played For: Lecce, Juventus
• Career G/A: 44 goals, 28 assists
• Appearances: 419 matches
• Clubs Managed: Arezzo, Bari, Atalanta, Siena, Juventus, Chelsea, Inter Milan, Tottenham Hotspur
• Overview: Conte transformed from a tireless midfielder to a meticulous manager.

Xavi

• Clubs Played For: Barcelona, Al-Sadd
• Career G/A: 101 goals, 236 assists
• Appearances: 1,020 matches
• Clubs Managed: Al-Sadd, Barcelona
• Overview: A maestro on the pitch, Xavi’s intelligence and understanding of the game have made him a natural fit as Barcelona’s manager.

Xabi Alonso

• Clubs Played For: Real Sociedad, Liverpool, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich
• Career G/A: 38 goals, 60 assists
• Appearances: 815 matches
• Clubs Managed: Real Sociedad B, Bayer Leverkusen
• Overview: A midfield general known for his vision and passing, the midfielder turned manager, has shown promise. With his tactical approach earning praise at Bayer Leverkusen.

Ryan Giggs

• Clubs Played For: Manchester United
• Career G/A: 168 goals, 248 assists
• Appearances: 963 matches
• Clubs Managed: Manchester United (Interim), Wales
• Overview: A Manchester United icon, Giggs holds numerous records as a player and brought his experience to the Wales national team.