Rio Ferdinand is the latest candidate, adding his name to a
high-profile list of potential Premier League managers.
Ferdinand has told pals he fancies a crack at the big-time when
he's finished playing, returning to Upton Park to take charge of
his first club.
The Manchester United defender, who missed yesterday's friendly
with Brazil in Doha through injury, has joined a growing list of
players with managerial aspirations.
Now he is one of a number of young managers who could only be a
few years away from pitting his wits against the vastly experienced
Arsene Wenger, Harry Redknapp and the master, Sir Alex
Ferguson.
Despite Rio's fabulous wealth he's got the bug, dreaming of the
big time and determined to become a successful manager. Five of the
six star names are or were England internationals and one - Ryan
Giggs - is a retired regular with Wales. John Terry, Frank Lampard,
Jamie Carragher, Gary Neville and Giggs are all convinced they can
make it as managers.
But to do it, they will have to completely change their
lifestyles. Today they are pampered superstars, their lives looked
after from dawn till dusk.
As managers they will have to be the first to the training
ground and the last to leave. They will be responsible for all
areas of the club, from player recruitment to player power,
dressing-room disharmony to dissent.
Their phones will ring non-stop, with pesky agents pushing
players and boardroom suits demanding trophies. And these
aspirational coaches will also have to buck an increasing trend,
with many top players failing to make the grade as managers.
Tony Adams was a multi-trophy winning captain of Arsenal and
England, but he had disastrous spells as manager of Wycombe
Wanderers and Portsmouth.
Gareth Southgate, a great club player and also a regular with
England, also wants to get back on to the managerial treadmill.
He is out of work after being sacked by Middlesbrough, paying a
heavy price after they were relegated from the Premier League last
season.
When today's playing stars finally make the transition they will
be competing against top managers who were once only average
players.
Ferguson, Arsene Wenger, Rafa Benitez and Jose Mourinho all fall
into that category. As Mourinho once said: "It took me 20 years of
dedication to become an overnight success."
Here Sport of the World analyses the chances of today's big
names making it to the top by rating their chances in five
categories - commitment, qualifications, leadership, PR skills and
ambition.
