10 Top Managers Who Were Former Goalkeepers [Ranked]

There are many former players in football management, and this is understandable. Who is better suited to lead a team than someone who has been a player in one or more teams? While there are cases of managers without a playing career, like Andre Villas-Boas and the more well-known Arrigo Sacchi, these are not typical.

Goalkeepers, for reasons unknown, seldom enter management roles. Maybe that can be explained by the nature of their position. For instance, since midfielders can take part in both offensive and defensive plays, they are expected to have a more comprehensive grasp of the game that serves them well in management roles, as demonstrated by figures such as Pep Guardiola and Carlo Ancelotti.

Due to their position and the isolation it often entails, goalkeepers seldom transition into successful managerial roles after retirement. However, that does not mean there are no such examples. Considering that, here are 10 ex-goalkeepers who have become some of the best football managers.

10 Top Managers Who Played as Goalkeepers

Rang

Bezeichnung

Professional Career in Sports

Management Career

Clubs of Note Managed

1.

Nuno Espirito Santo

1992 bis 2010

from 2012 until now

Porto, Wolves, Spurs, Nottingham Forest

2.

Dino Zoff

1961-1983

1988-2001, 2005

Italy, Lazio, Juventus

3

Raymond Goethals

1940 bis 1957

1957 bis 1995

Marseille, Standard Liège, Anderlecht (Belgien)

4.

Julen Lopetegui

1985 bis 2002

2003, 2008–now

Real Madrid, Sevilla, Wolves, West Ham (Spain)

5.

Michel Preud’homme

1977-1999

2000 bis 2020

Standard de Liège, Gent, Club Brugge

6.

Nigel Adkins

1983 bis 1996

1993-1996, 2006-present

Southampton, Hull City, Scunthorpe

7.

Jorge D’Alessandro

von 1968 bis 1984

1989 bis 2013

Betis, Atletico, Merida, Elche, Rayo Vallecano

8.

Walter Zenga

1978 bis 1999

since 1998

Valencia, Palermo, Wolves

9.

Bruce Arena

1969-1976

1976-present

LA Galaxy, New England Revolution, United States, DC United

10.

Michael Walker

1963 bis 1983

1986-2001

APOEL, Everton, Norwich City, Colchester