Following an end to their football career, a ton of Premier League ex-stars find their way into football management in one way or another – but it’s easy to forget some of these footballers turned managers had a bad start to manager line in the league.
When a player’s football career ends, it’s easy to lose track of their performance in the league, but when they pop back up onto the mainframe, it can provide a nice trip down memory lane.
Here today with premier league odds, we’re taking a look at five forgotten Premier League stars who now manage national football teams.
Roberto Mancini – Leicester City
According to many, Roberto Mancini brought football back to Rome last summer as the Italian manager beat England on penalties at Wembley, but Rome is where the Italian side will be this winter after failing to secure a spot at the World Cup.
The Italian has experienced a handful of success in the dugout, and he was one of the shining stars of Italian football when at its peak in the 1990s. However, it’s often forgotten before making the jump into management. The former Italian player spent 28 days with Leicester City.
In a bizarre spell, Mancini never completed 90 minutes, and he was soon packing his bags to take up the Fiorentina post. But he did once credit Leicester with helping him fall in love with English football.
Rigobert Song – Liverpool & West Ham
“We’ve only got one Song,” were the chants Liverpool fans were chanting towards their new hero, Rigobert Song. The Cameroonian quickly won over the hearts of many Reds fans thanks to his all-cation style of defending.
However, after a bright start to life at Anfield, the Cameroonian’s involvement become less often he juggled the demands of the Premier League with international fixtures for Cameroon. In the end, Song lasted one season – and one game – with the Reds before moving to West Ham.
Song is now at the helm of his nation, having taken the reigns earlier this year.
Djamel Belmadi – Man City & Southampton
Djamel Belmadi’s CV as a player makes for impressive reading: PSG, and a Cup Winners Cup, Marseille, and the blue half of Manchester.
Belmadi rocked up at Eastlands in 2003, and his spell included two starts and six appearances off the bench. Hardly setting the world on fire, the future Algerian boss returned to parent club Marseille with his tail between his legs – and he was soon released.
Belmadi turned back up at Southampton a couple of years later – where he faired slightly better.
