Manchester City has undergone an iconic transformation since its takeover by Sheikh Mansour. It has skyrocketed its reputation to uncharted heights, making it one of the most desirable clubs for top-tier footballers. Not only has this newfound prominence secured a distinct status for the club, but it has also bolstered its strength in the English Premier League.
The Premier League champions, Man City, have profited immensely from recruiting top-tier players who have exited the sport of football to take on managerial or coaching roles. Can you name those renowned footballers who have made the switch? Let's see!
Terry Dunfield
Canadian midfielder Terry Dunfield has solidified himself as an exemplar of a professional footballer who successfully transitioned from the pitch to management and media. In 2015, Dunfield officially retired and seamlessly started his coaching gig, earning valuable firsthand knowledge with Toronto FC's under-17s team.
Terence Dunfield grasped hold of several chances within the media, which led him to become a regular at Sky Sports, a soccer analyst for TSN, and a commentator for OneSoccer. His accomplishments illustrate the significance of learning all the potential insights that can be gleaned, particularly in online betting Canada practices. It became his objective to become a highly proficient coach and continue to empower Toronto FC's development and Canadian soccer.
Vincent Kompany
Well-remembered for his articulate on-field leadership, captain Burnley recently left City to return to his hometown club, Anderlecht. Though the stint wasn't as productive as hoped, the summer saw Burnley return to England with a different challenge: a return to the Premier League with newly-demoted Burnley.
Despite setbacks from key players' departures, such as Nick Pope, Ben Mee, and James Tarkowski, Manchester City manager Vincent Kompany has asserted a successful influence at Turf Moor. His team now stands atop the league with a five-point lead; their thrilling and offensively daring game style makes them the top-scoring side, a feat that hadn't been attained during their past Premier League campaign. It is only a matter of time before the gifted strategist confronts his former team.
Joey Barton
Upon retiring in 2017, Joey Barton stepped into management, having cut his teeth on the City academy. He had a lengthy spell at The Cod Army, Fleetwood Town, before accepting the Bristol Rovers offer in the same year. During his 93 games with the League One outfit, they have accrued a comfortable 16th place in the rankings.
Mark Kennedy
Back in the early 2000s, Mark Kennedy enjoyed a successful spell at City, with 74 appearances and 10 goals. In 2016, the former defender returned to the club in a youth coaching capacity, remaining with them for two years until deciding to pursue a career as a senior manager. And thus, Kennedy departed from the CFA and embarked on this new journey.
After a lengthy apprenticeship at Birmingham City, he achieved his goal when he was hired as head coach of Lincoln City in May this year. The Imps are currently mid-table in the League One chart.
Frank Lampard
After concluding his illustrious playing days with Manchester City, Frank Lampard – a Chelsea veteran and EPL icon – ventured into coaching. His journey has had its bumps and crests alike, having led Derby County and the Blues before recently being responsible for rebuilding Everton.
Nigel Clough
Nigel Clough, the offspring of beloved former head coach Brian Clough, joined City in 1996 after his stint at Liverpool. His stay in this club was quite ephemeral though – during the next two years, he had loan stints at Nottingham Forest and Sheffield Wednesday. In 1998, Clough made a nigh-on decisive move, transferring to Burton Albion without any fee. This marked the start of his managerial career – one that he performed altogether as a player-coach role for 11 years prior to calling time on his playing days.
After concluding his playing career, Brian Clough began a successful managerial career. He spent four years at Derby County, two at Sheffield United, and five with Burton Albion. Fast-forwarding to 2020, the renowned tactician joined Mansfield Town, where he currently manages the team. As of now, his squad sits ninth on the League Two table.
Keith Curle
And finally, we have Keith Curle, an avid City supporter to this day, who had initially experienced the club from 1991 to 1996 as a player before retiring. His second career as a manager and coach has spanned two decades of experience in a range of Football League teams, with his current role at Hartlepool. Unfortunately, they have only tasted victory once in their last six games while under his care.