Premier League gaffers ranked by their playing days: 20–11

Some managers arrive with medals clinking; others turn up with a notebook and a mission. When you strip away the tactics boards and press-conference patter, what did these Premier League bosses actually do as players? Here’s my ranking of the current crop from 20 to 11, judged on level reached, longevity and individual impact. Expect a few curveballs.

Ranking criteria

Three pillars: 1) the level they reached, 2) how long they stayed there, and 3) the quality of their individual contributions. It’s not about managerial glory here – this is strictly boots-on, shinpad-on business.

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20) Thomas Frank (Tottenham Hotspur)

A brilliant coach forged from the grassroots, but as a player Frank barely got out of first gear. A midfielder by trade, he stayed at amateur level with Frederiksvaerk BK and pivoted quickly into coaching – youth development for the best part of two decades before stepping up to national age groups. As playing careers go, it’s threadbare; as a springboard into elite management, it’s been textbook.

19) Fabian Hürzeler (Brighton & Hove Albion)

One of the league’s youngest bosses traded the pitch for the dugout before most pros hit their peak. Time in Bayern’s set-up stamped a possession-first mindset on him, but his minutes came largely for second teams and in the German lower tiers, later adding a player-coach spell at FC Pipinsried. Intelligent, industrious, but a modest playing CV.

18) Daniel Farke (Leeds United)

A striker who grafted in Germany’s lower leagues, Farke’s best days were with SV Lippstadt 08, sprinkled with stints at Paderborn, Wilhelmshaven, Bonner SC and Meppen. No Bundesliga breakthrough, injuries hastened his exit, and the silverware cabinet stayed shut. The upside? That grassroots schooling helped mould a meticulous touchline operator.

17) Unai Emery (Aston Villa)

One of Europe’s sharpest tacticians was a tidy left-sided midfielder whose playing peak never matched his managerial ceiling. A Real Sociedad academy product with only a handful of La Real first-team outings, he made his name in Spain’s second tier with Toledo, Racing Ferrol and Leganés, finishing up at Lorca Deportiva after a financially scuppered move to Burgos. Solid pro, limited spotlight.

16) Oliver Glasner (Crystal Palace)

A one-club stalwart at the back for SV Ried with a brief loan to LASK, Glasner’s career ended cruelly after a brain haemorrhage. Two Austrian Cups are nothing to sniff at, but he lived largely outside the elite limelight. His managerial renaissance – including European success and later delivering Palace’s first-ever trophy in 2025 – far eclipses his honest, old-school playing days. As a player: dependable; as a manager: transformational.

15) Marco Silva (Fulham)

A more-than-capable right-back who wore a lot of different shirts, Silva spent his career drifting through Portugal’s tiers before finally settling at Estoril for a prolonged stay in the second division. Retired at 34, straight into the technical area, and the rest is coaching history. As a player he was reliable rather than remarkable.

14) Régis Le Bris (Sunderland)

The Frenchman started at Rennes and moved on to Stade Lavallois, operating as a no-frills right-back. He clocked top-flight appearances and even more in Ligue 2 – respectable, professional, steady – but without headline moments. What stands out is how that foundation has translated into a sharp, modern coaching brain.

13) David Moyes (Everton)

A centre-half from the school of hard knocks. From Celtic’s youth ranks to Cambridge, Bristol City, Shrewsbury and back north with Dunfermline and Hamilton, Moyes finally found a home at Preston before swapping the armband for the blazer. He was rugged, vocal and relentless – a proper pro – but short of the very top level.

12) Eddie Howe (Newcastle United)

A “what might have been” tale. A Bournemouth boy who earned a move to Portsmouth, only for brutal knee injuries to derail his progress – including a reoccurrence nine minutes into his comeback on opening day. A brief spell at Swindon and a return to Bournemouth couldn’t change the trajectory. The silver lining? Those setbacks accelerated a stellar coaching journey.

11) Sean Dyche (Nottingham Forest)

Before the gravelly team talks, there was a no-nonsense centre-half who led from the trenches. Started at Forest, captained Chesterfield and even netted in an FA Cup semi-final, then put in shifts at Bristol City, Luton, Millwall, Watford and Northampton. The leadership was obvious even then, which is why he was the man trusted to steady Forest after Ange Postecoglou’s brief 39-day spell.

That’s the bottom half sorted. Next up: the business end, 10 down to 1 – where medals, international caps and proper top-tier pedigree start making the real difference.