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Constructing A Best XI Of Players-Turned-Managers

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Best XI: Players-Turned-Managers

Fillipo Inzaghi
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Throughout the ages, there have been a whole host of big-name players to have tried their luck at management at one point or another. Sometimes it works out and other times it doesn't. But whatever the outcome of their predecessors, it's always fascinating to chart just how their individual treks will go. So, here's a best XI of players-turned-managers from down through the years. Missing anyone special? Let me know in the comments section.

Goalkeeper: Dino Zoff

Dino Zoff
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Goalkeeper: Dino Zoff

Dino Zoff
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One of the greatest goalkeepers to ever play the game and winner of six Serie A titles, he's also the oldest player to ever win the World Cup. And when he turned his glove to management, there was little surprise he had a lot of success there, too. In Euro 2000 he guided Italy to the final where they lost cruelly to France in extra-time. Dino Zoff is a true legend of the game both on and off the field.

Right Center-Back: Roberto Carlos

Roberto Carlos
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Right Center-Back: Roberto Carlos

Roberto Carlos
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Currently head coach at Turkish outfit Sivasspor, Brazil legend Carlos is making good strides in the managerial sphere. Aside from their poor start to this season, the former right-back has shown promise since coming on board in 2013. Granted, he still has a long way to go, but the remainder of this season will certainly reveal a lot more about him.

Center-Back: Bobby Moore

Bobby Moore
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Center-Back: Bobby Moore

Bobby Moore
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A legend in England and perhaps their biggest sporting idol of all time, 1966 World Cup winner Moore had a rather inauspicious life as a coach and won't be at all remembered for his touchline etiquette or masterful tactics. In fact, none of his managerial endeavors really went according to plan at Southend United, Oxford City or indeed Eastern AA. Nonetheless, his reputation will remain untarnished.

Left Center-Back: Franco Baresi

Franco Baresi
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Left Center-Back: Franco Baresi

Franco Baresi
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A sweeper or a center-half, Baresi had an unerring ability to commandingly stride out from defense with the ball at his feet, which makes him perfect for this side. A short stint with Fulham FC as a coach provided a glimpse of his tactical thoughts as well as coaching at Milan following the end of his playing days, but we've never truly seen the full extent of what he could do. Just imagine how difficult his team would be to break down.

Right-Wing: Luis Enrique

Luis Enrique
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Right-Wing: Luis Enrique

Lus Enrique
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Versatile and adaptable to a variety of positions ranging from winger to central midfielder to trequartista, current Barcelona boss Luis Enrique makes the cut with ease. Making fantastic developments to their defense since coming on board, the former player has transformed them from a side that leaked goals too often to one that is now fully aware of its weaknesses. So far, so good for this head honcho.

Central-Midfield: Roy Keane

Roy Keane, Paul Lambert
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Central-Midfield: Roy Keane

Roy Keane, Paul Lambert
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Having only recently shaved off his glorious beard that made him even more rugged-looking than was ever thought possible, Keane's presence on the sideline has been sort of difficult to miss. The former Manchester United skipper enjoyed success at Sunderland as boss as well as at Ipswich Town, and he's now juggling two jobs at the Republic Of Ireland and Aston Villa. He's a true leader, as captain or manager.

Central-Midfield: Diego Simeone

Diego Simeone
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Central-Midfield: Diego Simeone

Diego Simeone
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Part of the new wave of stylish coaches who have brought a sense of fashionista class to the dugouts, he's also not bad when it comes to doodling effective scenarios on a tactical whiteboard. Atletico Madrid are a rejuvenated team since he's come in and he's currently navigating them through their temporary transitional period. Winner of La Liga and Serie A titles, among others, he more than proven himself during his playing days as well.

Left-Wing: Ryan Giggs

Ryan Giggs
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Left-Wing: Ryan Giggs

Ryan Giggs
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Another former Red Devil, Ryan Giggs is only just starting out on his journey into management. Alongside Louis van Gaal, he's learning from the best, but so far dazzling off the touchline hasn't proven as easy as it was for him to excite on it. There's a long way to go, but he has the hunger and the help to go far in time.

Attacking Midfielder: Johan Cruyff

Johan Cruyff
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Attacking Midfielder: Johan Cruyff

Johan Cruyff
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A member of the intelligentsia of footballing culture, Johan Cruyff will forever be remembered as one of the great thinkers of the game -- and he could play a bit, too. Moments of magic are synonymous with his name, and he's continued to be a trend-setter as a manager. For four years he managed the Catalonia national team and had much success there; their 4-2 win over Argentina is a notable highlight.

Center-Forward: Kenny Dalglish

Kenny Dalglish
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Center-Forward: Kenny Dalglish

Kenny Dalglish
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Rather a controversial figure in footballing circles, he's probably earned more enemies since he took up management than he did as a striker for Liverpool in his heyday where he netted 118 league goals. Reds fans, distraught by their total lack of Premier League titles, might never forgive him for guiding Blackburn Rovers to their 1994-95 triumph, but outsiders can see his worth without a problem.

Center-Forward: Fillipo Inzaghi

Fillipo Inzaghi
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Center-Forward: Fillipo Inzaghi

Fillipo Inzaghi
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Alex Ferguson once famously quipped that Inzaghi was “born in an offside position”, something that seemed to almost devalue his fantastic talents as a goal-poacher. And perhaps that's something that has driven him on to search for glory as a coach, too. Now the main man at AC Milan, he's doing his best to help restore some of the gloss The Rossoneri have lost in recent years. And it's not going terribly badly for them either.

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