Top five great Premier League players who became poor managers

The Premier League is often considered a testing ground for the peak footballers, who are not breaking a sweat in the other leagues while they still break records there. In any random post, video, or statistics, there will be a comment that mentions that have they played in the Premier League.

While it is partially true, for one sure reason, this league has yet to produce a single player, who can dominate their managerial life in England. Barring a few players turned managers, some of the best players are yet to win the domestic trophies, let alone the Premier League or the European competition. 

In this article, we shall look at the top five great Premier League players who were poor managers. As the title suggests, these players terrified the opposition but when they took up the managerial duty, they failed to justify the position and trust the teams and management had kept in them: 

1. Wayne Rooney 

Starting his career at Everton, Wayne Rooney became a household name in the English top flight after his exploits with Manchester United. From a teenage sensation to becoming a veteran, he was the life of Old Trafford across a decade. He had 253 goals to his name and his versatility and passion made him one of the greatest players of the Premier League. However, his managerial stints have been disappointing.

Despite early promise and fight against the point deductions, he could not help Derby County survive the drop from the Championship. The real disaster happened in the 2023/24 season with Birmingham City, where he could not last beyond 83 days and 15 games with only two wins to his name. Even in the ongoing season with Plymouth Argyle, the former Red Devil left the job after seven months with the club struggling and four points away from safety. There have been discussions that the former Manchester United great should leave the coaching.

2) Gary Neville

As a player, Gary Neville was one of the best-known soldiers of Sir Alex Ferguson and he epitomized Manchester United’s dominance during that era. The eight-time Premier League winner changed the way people looked at the right-back position where he combined defensive solidity with attacking prowess.

Gary Neville’s understanding of the game made him one of the best analysts post-retirement. Considering this, Valencia hired him as a manager in 2015. A bold move into management was short-lived. In the 120 days he was a manager in Spain, he had only three wins in 16 La Liga fixtures. This was Valencia’s worst run in three decades. He also suffered a humiliating defeat against Barcelona, exposing the limitations he had. Ever since then, he has become a pundit and never looked at management. 

3) Frank Lampard

Frank Lampard, the Chelsea great had the numbers defying a midfielder’s role in Premier League history. He had incredible goal-scoring prowess, allowing 211 games and exceptional passing range. His ability to read the game helped the side in both attack and defense, thereby winning three Premier League titles.

However, his managerial career did not take a flying start. He showed promise at Derby County, leading him to be hired at Chelsea but tactical naivety showed up in his second season. The Everton stint of Lampard caused more damage to his credentials than anything after the club scraped the relegation before getting sacked. He came back for a second spell at Chelsea as an interim but lost eight out of 11 games. This has led him to take a break and casts doubt over his further availability in the management.

4. Steven Gerrard

The Anfield poster boy, Steven Gerrard was a midfield general, who mastered the art of scoring pile drivers and crunching tackles. His longevity and ability to influence the games made him one of the best midfielders in the English Premier League.

Though he did not win the Premier League, he was a European Champion. His managerial career got off to a flying start with him winning the Scottish Premiership with Rangers. However, with Aston Villa in the Premier League, his side struggled to create chances and looked vulnerable in defense. He had only 13 wins out of 10 games and was sacked in 2022. He still manages a club in Saudi Arabia but has failed to showcase any difference. 

5. Alan Shearer

One of the all-time Premier League greats and the top scorer in the English top flight, Alan Shearer played a crucial role during his tenure at Blackburn Rovers and Newcastle United. He had 260 goals to his name and won the title with Blackburn Rovers in the 1994/95 season. He had multiple accolades to his name, including three Premier League Golden Boots. However, his managerial tenure was not something to be remembered.

He took charge of his beloved old club Newcastle United in April 2009 with the club battling relegation and eight games to survive the drop. Despite his passion, he could muster only one win, and the side endured relegation on the final day of the season. Following the experience and limited tactical capability, he never returned to management and built a career in punditry.