By Fredrick Nadulli aka Razor,
Keen observers will have noticed that no less than eight teams at the ongoing World cup have former players in their ranks.These are familiar faces that have been there,done that.They are players who not so long ago strutted their stuff on the big stage and thrilled crowds.
These are celebrated and decorated stars who seem to have made the effortless transition from the pitch to the dug-out.
CASE STUDY
Its refreshing to see these retired Generals play their part in helping their countries,carving a niche for themselves and breathing
new life into the sport.As career sportsmen,they know what the life of a footballer entails,during playing and in retirement.
For Nigeria,their entire technical bench is made up of former players of the Super Eagles.Stephen Keshi was their libero and captain at the world cup in USA.His assistant Daniel Amokachi was a leading striker for them and won gold at the Olympics in Atlanta.
Goalkeeper coach Ike shorunmu starred for Nigeria at Afcon in Ghana. Current France coach Didier Deschamps was captain of Le Bleus when they won the world cup on home soil in 1998.The team then had the likes of Laurent Blanc and Zinedine Zidane who are now both coaches as well at club level.
For Belgium,Marc Wilmots was their lead striker for years,including at France 98.He is now at the helm of a star studded team that has experienced war horses like Vincent Kompany and youngsters like Axel Witsel and Divock Origi.
Who can forget the quartet of Dennis Bergkamp,Marc Overmars,Ronald de Boer and Partick Kluivert. Kluivert is currently assistant to Louis van Gaal for the Oranje.
Jurgen Klinsmann was a household name for Germany alongside the likes of Lothar Matthaus and Oliver Bierhoff.He is in Brazil as coach of the USA.
Ivory Coast coach Sabri Lamouchi is a former international for Algeria,Paulo Bento played for Portugal whom he now handles while Kwesi Appiah played as a defender for the Black Stars of Ghana.
The list goes on and on.
MANY MORE ROLES
Away from the pitch,other former players are taking on different roles,all within the realms of football.It goes to underline just how
diverse the sport is. While the likes of Austin Okocha,Samuel Osei Kuffour,John Barnes,Neil Tovey et al are working as analysts,former Bafana striker Shaun Bartlett is at ease working as a telestrator.Thierry Henry is doing commentary for the BBC.
Away from the world cup,Mathias Sammer is sports director at Bayern Munchen,Patrick Vieira does youth administrative affairs at Manchester City.
Countless other tacticians like Josep Guardiola,Frank de Boer,Ronald Koeman,Luis Enrique,Clarence Seedorf and now Ryan Giggs are plying their trade at club level.
NEW WORLD ORDER
When aspiring youngsters and professional wannabes have such options open for them,there can only be one direction the sport can head;Northwards.Football craves for people who have been part of it to run it.Just ask Michel Platini at UEFA,or Kalusha Bwalya at FAZ.
This does not necessarily mean slamming the door on others entirely,but a large percentage need be people who know exactly where the shoe pinches. With this new world order,it now makes perfect sense to ask a young footballer to combine sport with some academics.
When eventually the legs are gone and opportunities beckon,the transition will be as
smooth as silk. Reminiscent of a flowing river,unstoppable.
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