Ranking all 32 World Cup managers as players: The Top-10
Dreams will become realities over the next month in Qatar, when players take the field and represent their respective home countries at the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
These realised aspirations will also apply to the 32 managers descending on the Middle East. For some, it’ll be their first time on the World Cup stage, but many have already experienced the once-every-four years trials and tribulations.
I set out with the impossible task of ranking all 32 World Cup managers based on their achievements as players. Part I was released Wednesday and takes us from No. 32 to No. 11.
This is Part II, focusing on the top-10, which is highlighted by a two-time champion.
(Countries in parentheses signify the home nation, if different from the country the manager will lead at the 2022 World Cup.
Massive Imprints for Club or Country
10. Aliou Cissé, Senegal, Defender and Midfielder: The biggest highlight of Cissé’s career came in 2002 when he captained his home nation to the quarterfinals of the World Cup. He never quite found a home in club football, but Cissé did play in the top flights of England and Paris.
9. Louis Van Gaal, Netherlands, Midfielder: Van Gaal spent the bulk of his career in Belgium and home in the Netherlands. He helped Royal Antwerp finish second in Belgium’s top flight in 1974 and 1975. Upon returning home, Van Gaal scored 26 goals in 248 appearances for Sparta Rotterdam.
8. Murat Yakin, Switzerland, Defender: Yakin was the star of FC Basel’s defence that won the Swiss Super League five times and the Swiss Super Cup on three occasions. He made 49 caps for his country and was a central defender who had a knack for finding the back of the net, scoring 52 career goals for club and country.
7. Rob Page, Wales, Defender: Page broke through with Watford and eventually was the Hornets captain as they secured promotion to the Premier League in 2000. With the rare feat of scoring a goal and serving as captain in each of the top four flights of English football, Page made 475 club appearances. He was also a regular for Wales with 41 caps.
Undeniable Talent
6. Rigobert Song, Cameroon, Defender: No manager on this list played in more World Cups than Song, who appeared four times for Cameroon and made his debut for the Indomitable Lions when he was just 17-years old. A physical defender who never shied away from a tackle, Song made 414 appearances and played for clubs like Liverpool and West Ham. He also won two Africa Cup of Nations titles with Cameroon.
5. Hansi Flick, Germany, Midfielder: Injuries forced Flick to retire at just 28-years old, but the German manager left his mark at Bayern Munich. Flick played in 104 matches over a six-year stretch that included four Bundesliga titles and an appearance in the 1987 European Cup Final. Somehow, the defensive midfielder never registered a cap for the German national team.
4. Gareth Southgate, England, Defender and Midfielder: Southgate made a whopping 426 appearances in England’s top flight, playing a variety of positions with Crystal Palace, Aston Villa and Middlesbrough. A rock-solid defender, Southgate lifted the league cup on two occasions and made 57 caps for England. His infamous penalty miss against Germany at the 1996 Euro might be his most memorable moment as a player, but let’s not forget he represented The Three Lions at three major tournaments.
World Cup and Club Stars
3. Dragan Stojkovic, Serbia (Yugoslavia), Midfielder: Named the Yugoslavian Footballer of the Year in 1988 and 1989, Stojkovic had an exceptional club career across his home country, France and Japan. An injury curtailed his experience with Marseille, but Stojkovic still scored 125 goals in 422 appearances and played for Yugoslavia in two World Cups. Perhaps his greatest game on the world’s biggest stage came in the 1990 quarterfinals when he scored both goals as Yugoslavia defeated Spain 2-1.
2. Luis Enrique, Spain, Winger: The former Barcelona manager is also a former Barcelona player, but he actually spent six seasons with Real Madrid before making the jump to La Blaugrana. Enrique scored 107 La Liga goals and played in three World Cups for Spain and won La Liga three times. In 2004, Pelé selected Enrique as one of the 125 greatest players of all time.
1. Didier Deschamps, France, Midfielder: The only manager on this list to win a World Cup, Deschamps reached the mountaintop as France’s captain in 1998 before guiding Les Bleus to glory as their coach in 2018. His success wasn’t exclusive to international football. Deschamps won two French league titles with Bordeaux, three Serie A titles with Juventus and a Champions league crown with each team. The midfield fulcrum balanced tenacious defence with delightful skill, and he will try to earn his third World Cup winner’s medal over the next month.
