What Is A Player-Manager In Soccer?

One of the most notable roles that has existed in the football world is the “player-manager” role.

Several soccer stars, upon retirement or nearing retirement, have managed to take up this role in soccer, with notable names including Vincent Kompany at Anderlecht, Wayne Rooney at Derby County, Kenny Dalglish at Liverpool, Romário at Vasco da Gama, and many other notable figures.

However, what does this role mean and what does it involve? What rights does a player-manager have, and how do football governing bodies, such as FIFA, UEFA, and others, view this concept in the round leather game?

READ: What Does Full Time (FT) Mean In Soccer?

This and more will be discussed as we answer the question: What is a player-manager in soccer?

What Is A Player Manager In Soccer?

A player-manager is anyone (manager) who has the freedom to play. In summary, the player-manager, also known as the player-coach, is anyone who plays for the team on the pitch and at the same time manages or coaches the team.

We can say that a player-manager is a player in the team who has been promoted to take charge of the team and also participate on the pitch. This role usually comes into place after an abrupt departure or sack of the team’s full-time manager, with no immediate replacement available.

The players who take on the role of player-managers are usually the most experienced and leadership-oriented on the team.

Some Players That The Player-Manager Position Would Have Suited

Let’s go away from the definition a little and see some soccer players that the role would have suited perfectly.

Some major examples of players who could have taken this role but never had the opportunity are Chelsea’s John Terry, Frank Lampard, Manchester United’s Paul Scholes, Michael Carrick, Villarreal’s Marcos Senna, and Spurs’ Ledley King.

Others include Real Madrid’s Raul, Barcelona’s Xavi, Roma’s Francesco Totti, and Puyol, amongst other players that the role would have suited if the opportunity presented itself in their active playing days.

READ: What Does GF Mean In Soccer? – Complete Guide

Are Player-Managers Allowed In Soccer?

Yes, player managers are allowed in Soccer. The fact is that several notable soccer stars have become player managers at some point in their careers. This includes the likes of Ben Mee, who had to take the role of a player-manager when the Burnley head coach, Sean Dyche, was sacked close to the end of a bad season.

Manchester United legend Wayne Rooney was appointed as player-manager by Derby County, where he had to manage the club and also play for the team if the need arose at the time.

One of his notable matches was in the 2019/2020 season FA Cup fifth round against his former club Manchester United, although the Red Devils won 3 0 with Wayne Rooney playing for Derby County.

Notable Player Managers In Soccer History

Apart from Wayne Rooney, there are a few other player-managers in the history of soccer, and we will be highlighting some of the notable ones that stood out in the role.

1. Wayne Rooney

Wayne Rooney moved back to England in January 2020 to join Derby County as a player-coach after leaving D.C. United.

He was made team captain right away and impressed on his debut, setting up a goal in a 2–1 win over Barnsley.

That season, he scored six goals in 24 games, helping Derby finish mid-table.

READ: What is the meaning of FC and SC in Soccer?

In the following campaign, Rooney scored a late free-kick winner against Norwich City, giving Derby their first victory of the season.

Despite this, the team continued to struggle, leading to the departure of manager Phillip Cocu.

Rooney then stepped up as part of an interim group before taking full charge as manager.

On 15 January 2021, Rooney confirmed his retirement from playing to focus fully on management, officially becoming Derby’s boss.

This was the beginning of his career as a manager, after years of success as one of England’s best players.

2. Vincent Kompany

Vincent Kompany, the current Bayern Munich head coach, became a player-manager at Anderlecht, his first professional club, after leaving Manchester City in May 2019.

Expectations were high, but the start was very tough. Anderlecht went four games without a win, suffering two defeats and two goalless draws.

The team managed to score only three goals while letting in six, which was their worst league start since the late 1990s.

By August, Kompany chose to step back from his role as the main decision-maker during matches.

Instead, he focused more on playing and leading the team on the field as captain.

The responsibility for tactics, substitutions, and game management was handed over to head coach Simon Davies.

This allowed Kompany to guide his teammates as a leader while still learning the ropes of management off the pitch.

3. Kenny Dalglish

Kenny Dalglish became Liverpool’s player-manager in 1985 after Joe Fagan retired, stepping in during a difficult time following the Heysel tragedy.

In his first season in charge, he balanced playing with managing and picked himself for just over 20 league matches.

That year turned out to be historic, as Liverpool won both the league and the FA Cup, with Dalglish scoring the decisive goal against Chelsea to secure the league title.

By the following seasons, he started giving younger players more chances, reducing his own playing time.

After Ian Rush left for Juventus, Dalglish built a new strike force with John Aldridge and Peter Beardsley, while appearing only a couple of times in the 1987–88 league campaign, which ended with another title.

His last goal was in 1987, and his final league outing was in May 1990 at age 39.

5. Ruud Gullit

In 1996, Ruud Gullit took over as Chelsea’s player-manager after Glenn Hoddle went to manage England.

This made him the first Dutchman to manage in the Premier League. With Chelsea, he won the 1997 FA Cup, their first big trophy in over two decades.

The victory was historic, as Gullit was the first black manager and the first from outside the British Isles to win a major trophy in English football.

That same season, the team also finished sixth in the league.

The following year, Chelsea were riding high in second place and still competing strongly in cup tournaments when Gullit was suddenly dismissed.

Reports suggested it was due to a clash with the club’s board, though Gullit denied this.

He was replaced by Gianluca Vialli, who led the club to further success.

READ: What Does -1 Mean On A Soccer Bet?

6. Graeme Souness

Rangers appointed Graeme Souness as their first player-manager in 1986, following his transfer from Sampdoria.

At 33, he was still a top midfielder and brought fresh ambition to a club that had not won the league since 1978.

Backed by chairman David Holmes and owner Lawrence Marlborough, Souness launched what became known as the “Souness Revolution.”

He signed big-name players from England, including Terry Butcher, Chris Woods, Trevor Steven, and Ray Wilkins, taking advantage of English clubs being banned from Europe.

Success came, with Rangers winning the league and cup double in his first season, with more titles and trophies followed, restoring the club’s dominance.

His decision to sign Mo Johnston in 1989, a former Celtic striker and Catholic, broke long-standing barriers and sparked huge controversy.

Does A Player-Manager Guarantee Trophies?

The answer to this question is an outright No. Winning a trophy in soccer only becomes a reality with top-notch tactics, quality personnel, hard work, dedication, and sometimes luck, and is not down to having a player-manager or a full-time manager.

Therefore, having a player-manager does not in any way guarantee that a team will have trophies. Neither does it guarantee that a team with just a head coach will have trophies either.

Can A Player Manager Get Sacked?

Yes, a player-manager can get sacked. Former Chelsea player-manager, Ruud Gullit, was sacked by the then-Chelsea owner, Ken Bates, after a clash between them.

READ: What Does A Defender Do In Soccer?

Does FIFA Have Rules For Player Managers?

Not really, while FIFA does not have any exclusive roles for player managers, their roles are very simple, and that is to act as a manager, and at the same time, act as a coach.

Final Words

As pointed out in this article, a player-manager can be referred to as a player in a soccer team who can take on the role of manager of the side and also be involved in action on the pitch when necessary, and this is normally the case when a club’s full-time manager is sacked without a replacement in view.