This week has witnessed the appointment of one very famous player-manager in the form of former Arsenal, Real Madrid, Chelsea star Nicolas Anelka.
Anelka has been announced as part of the Mumbai City FC squad for the second Indian Super League, where he will take on the dual duties of marquee player and manager.
The Frenchman, now 36 years old, is the latest big name to be lured to India’s top flight to take on a demanding challenge.
Former World Cup winner Marco Materazzi and ex-England international goalkeeper David James also took on dual roles last season with Chennaiyin FC and Kerala Blasters, respectively.
The appointment of player-managers is a rare occurrence. Aside from Chelsea’s habit of putting players in charge during the ’90s, senior players are usually only handed the top job in a period of transition.
With that in mind talkSPORT takes a look at some of the more memorable instances where both suits and boots have been required.
Click the yellow arrow above, right, to see some of the most memorable player-managers and let us know your favourite player-manager of all-time…
10. Paul Gascoigne – Boston United, 2004 – Click the arrow, right, to see more memorable player-managers – Gazza lasted just over two months as player-manager of Boston and made only four appearances for the club in that time. He left the League Two side in October and in the same month also announced he wanted to change his name to 'G8'. It was an inauspicious way for one of England's modern greats to wind down his eventful career.9. Attilio Lombardo – Crystal Palace, 1998 – Click the arrow, right, to see more memorable player-managers – Lombardo joined Crystal Palace in 1997 from Juventus and was made player-manager in 1998 after Steve Coppell took the role of director of football. Palace were relegated at the end of the season, although Lombardo initially stayed on under new manager Terry Venables. He eventually returned to Italy in 1999 with Lazio but found himself back in England in 2010 as Roberto Mancini's assistant at Manchester City.8. Romario – Vasco da Game 2007 – Click the arrow, right, to see more memorable player-managers – Brazilian striker Romario was a surprise appointment when he was named temporary manager of Vasco da Gama in October 2007. But he lasted only a couple of months and stepped down from his management role to return to the playing staff in February 2008. He announced his retirement from playing and coaching shortly after, only to do a U-turn and resume his playing career in 2009.7. Gordan Strachan – Coventry City, 1996-2001 – Click the arrow, right, to see more memorable player-managers – Strachan was the last manager to take charge of Coventry in the Premier League6. John Toshack – Swansea City, 1978-84 – Click the arrow, right, to see more memorable player-managers – After persistent fitness problems brought an end to his career at Liverpool, Toshack dropped down to the Fourth Division to take charge of Swansea and become the youngest manager in the league at 28 years old. Toshack hit the ground running with two successive promotions – the second of which was clinched courtesy of a goal from the boss himself – and then after a season of consolidation took Swansea into the top flight for the first time in their history in 1981. Swansea lasted two seasons before suffering relegation and Toshack departed for a role at Sporting Lisbon.5. Ruud Gullit – Chelsea 1996-98 – Click the arrow, right, to see more memorable player-managers – The great Dutchman was the natural choice to replace Glenn Hoddle as he commanded great respect at Stamford Bridge thanks to his illustrious achievements in the game. He guided Chelsea to FA Cup success in 1997, their first trophy for 26 years, becoming the first foreign coach to win one of England's major trophies. He left in 1998 after a dispute with chairman Ken Bates.4. Gianluca Vialli – Chelsea 1996-1999 – Click the arrow, right, to see more memorable player-managers – When Ruud Gullit left in 1998, the Blues continued their habit of handing senior players the top job by appointing Vialli, the player who had moved to London on a free transfer from Juventus in May 1996. The Italian led Chelsea to success in the 1998 League Cup and Cup Winners' Cup as well as the FA Cup in 2000. However, he was sacked shortly after the start of the 2000/01 season.3. Glenn Hoddle – Swindon, 1991-1993, Chelsea, 1993-1995 – Click the arrow, right, to see more memorable player-managers – Hoddle earned praise for his spell at Chelsea but things could have been even better if he'd landed one more blockbuster signing2. Graeme Souness – Rangers, 1986-91 – Click the arrow, right, to see more memorable player-managers – The Glasgow side brought Souness back to Britain following a two-year spell with Sampdoria and the Scotland international set about revolutionising football north of the border with some high-profile signings such as Terry Butcher and Trevor Steven. He won the Scottish League title three times in 1987, 1989 and 1990 as well as the League Cup in 1987, 1988, 1989 and 1991. He left to succeed Kenny Dalglish at Liverpool in 1991, ending his playing career after taking the job at Anfield.1. Kenny Dalglish – Liverpool, 1985-1987 – King Kenny was already one of the greatest players to don the Liverpool shirt having dazzled after arriving at the club as a replacement for Kevin Keegan in 1977, but in 1985 his hero-status took on a new dimension when he accepted the challenge of managing the club following the disaster at Heysel. In his first full season in charge he won the league and FA Cup double, even underlining his status as a key player by scoring the goal to win the title against Chelsea and Stamford Bridge. He remained in charge after hanging up his boots in 1987 and led Liverpool to league titles in 1988 and 1990 as well as the 1989 FA Cup. He announced his shock resignation in 1991 but returned as manager of Liverpool between 2011 and 2012.
