Thierry Henry, one of the greatest strikers of all time, has officially begun his managerial career by becoming the assistant coach of Belgium’s national team. AFPSome of the best coaches in world football were once great players themselves, and at Russia 2018, there will be as many as 12 former footballers who moved into the dugouts after hanging up their boots.
Here is the complete list of footballers-turned-managers at this edition of the quadrennial event.
Thierry Henry
Thierry Henry, one of the greatest strikers of all time, has officially begun his managerial career by becoming the assistant coach of Belgium’s national team.
Henry, who holds the French record of 51 goals in 123 appearances, retired from international football after the 2010 FIFA World Cup. The 41-year-old Arsenal legend has won a World Cup and a Euro Cup in national colours to go with the UEFA Champions League and Club World Club titles for Barcelona.
The Red Devils’ head coach Roberto Martinez believes the experience of the Frenchman would help break down some ‘mental barriers’ in his squad ahead of the World Cup.
Miroslav Klose
Miroslav Klose holds the record for the most number of goals in World Cup finals. File photoMiroslav Klose’s somersault goal celebration will forever remain etched in the memories of soccer lovers. By scoring his 16th World Cup goal at Brazil 2014, the mercurial German became the World Cup’s sole record scorer ahead of Ronaldo (15) and compatriot Gerd Muller (14).
The 39-year-old is also the all-time top scorer for the Germany, with 71 goals in 137 matches between 2001 and 2014. Currently, he is an assistant to the national side’s coach Joachim Low. Klose, an ex-Bayern Munich player, started his new career at the FC Bayern Campus, coaching the club’s Under-17 team.
Didier Deschamps
Deschamps captained France to World Cup and European Championship glory in 1998 and 2000 respectively. He also won the European Champions League twice – with Marseille and Juventus. Undoubtedly, he is the perfect man to lead France’s young and talented squad packed with high-profile names such as Paul Pogba and Antoine Griezmann.
The 49-year-old was a key member of the French national team which enjoyed a golden era around the start of the Millennium. Deschamps was quick to rebuild the team and revive the spirit of the players after he stepped into one of football's most prestigious yet testing jobs. He instilled a renewed optimism in the team after their disastrous campaign under Raymond Domenech in the 2010 edition and guided France to quarterfinals at Brazil 2014.
Claudio Taffarel
Regarded as one of the greatest Brazilian goalkeepers of all time, Taffarel donned the national colours 113 times, winning the World Cup in 1994, and finishing second in 1998.
He played a stellar role in Brazil’s successful 1994 World Cup campaign where they defeated Italy 3-2 in the final decided on penalties. Taffarel saved the spot-kick of Daniele Massaro and became a national hero.
He was in great form in the 1998 edition as well. In the semifinals, Taffarel saved the third and fourth spot-kicks from Dutchmen Philip Cocu and Ronald de Boer to take Brazil to the final almost single-handedly. His presence in the dugout will be a huge confidence booster for Alisson, Ederson, Cassio, the shot-stoppers in the Brazilian squad for the upcoming world Cup.
Gareth Southgate
Gareth Southgate has done a fine job as England manager. AFPSouthgate was a versatile player in England colours. He has won 57 England caps and captained English Premier League clubs Crystal Palace, Aston Villa and Middlesbrough. It will be the first World Cup as manager for the 47-year-old Southgate, who used to play in completely different ways as a defender and midfielder in his heyday.
Southgate was called upon to replace Sam Allardyce in September, 2016, after the latter’s brief tenure as England manager ended in embarrassment and recrimination. He had served as manager of Middlesbrough from June, 2006, to October, 2009, and the England U-21 team from 2013 to 2016, before becoming the national senior side’s manager.
Ivica Olic
Named the Croatian Footballer of the Year in 2009 and 2010, Olic represented Croatia in three FIFA World Cups – in 2002, 2006 and 2014 – and scored in the first and last editions. He also played in two UEFA Champions League finals in 2010 and 2012 with Bayern Munich. The 38-year-old, who was known for his penchant for scoring in crucial matches, is currently an assistant manager of Croatia.
Aliou Cisse
At 2018 Russia, Senegal’s Aliou Cisse will join the select band of footballers who coached their country at the World Cup. He was the captain when Senegal caused one of the biggest shocks in World Cup history by beating reigning champions France in the opening match of the 2002 edition. The 42-year-old Cisse took over the reins of his national side after spending several years with the U-23 team. His role will be crucial if Senegal are to replicate their performance 16 years ago when they reached the quarterfinals.
The other former players who could be seen shouting and pumping first on the sidelines in this edition of the quadrennial event will be Russia’s Stanislav Cherchesov. Saudi Arabia’s Juan Antonio Pizzi, Poland’s Adam Nawałka, Costa Rica’s Oscar Ramirez, and Denmark’s assistant coach Jon Dahl Tomasson.
Cherchesov, who played for Russia at the 1994 and 2002 World Cups, and Euro 96, has vast experience under his belt, having coached six of Russia’s top-flight league clubs.
Born in Argentina, Pizzi represented Spain in one World Cup (1998) and one European Championship (1996). He was appointed as the head coach of Saudi Arabia in November, 2017, following the sacking of Dutchman Bert van Marwijk, who guided the team to the finals, and Argentinian Edgardo Bauza, who replaced Marwijk, after just five matches in charge.
Nawałka, who turned up for the national team in 34 matches, was a member of Polish squad at the 1978 World Cup. He was an assistant coach of the national team in 2007 and 2008 before being appointed as the manager of the senior team in 2003, replacing Waldemar Fornalik.
Costa Rica’s current manager Oscar Ramirez earned a total of 75 international caps, scoring six goals. He represented his country in 21 World Cup qualification matches and played at the 1990 World Cup hosted by Italy.
Tomasson, who was honoured with the Danish Player of the Year award in 2002 and 2004, is the joint all-time scorer for Denmark, with 52 goals from 112 matches.
Known for his positional strength and finishing prowess, he played for Denmark in the 2002 World Cup, where he scored four goals in as many games, and the 2010 edition. Thomasson, now 41, retired in 2011 and embarked on a successful coaching career at the club level. He was appointed as an assistant coach of Denmark in March, 2016.
