Which current Premier League manager was the best player?

Ronald Koeman, Pep Guardiola and Mauricio Pochettino enjoyed fine playing careers

Premier League managers work with some of the top players in world football - but were they any good in their day?

From European Cup and league title winners to one manager who only played at university, there's a diverse range of experience among the top-flight bosses.

We've taken a look at the playing achievements and ability of the current Premier League managers and ranked them. Read on to see who ranks where...

1) Ronald Koeman - Everton

A glittering career at both club and international level, Koeman began his career with success in the Eredivisie at Ajax and PSV between 1983-89, winning the European Cup in 1988 with the latter, before going on to achive similar success with Barcelona, winning Europe's premier prize again in 1992.

He's also the only current Premier League manager to have won a major international honour, having been part of the Netherlands side that won the European Championship in 1988.

Koeman twice won the European Cup and helped Netherlands to European Championship glory

Honours:

Eredivisie (4): 1984/85, 1986/87, 1987/88, 1988/89

KNVB Cup (3): 1985/86, 1987/88, 1988/89

La Liga (4): 1990/91, 1991/92, 1992/93, 1993/94

Copa del Rey (1): 1989/90

Supercopa de Espana (3): 1991, 1992, 1994

European Cup (2): 1987/88, 1991/92

UEFA Super Cup (1): 1992

International career:

78 caps (14 goals) for Netherlands

European Championship (1): 1988

2) Pep Guardiola - Manchester City

Before becoming the most sought-after manager in Europe, Guardiola forged a hugely successful and trophy-laden playing career with Barcelona from 1990-01.

The Spaniard won leagues and cups galore, including a European Cup triumph in 1992, before going on to feature for Brescia, Roma and Al-Ahli in the closing stages of his career. At international level he featured at the 1994 World Cup and Euro 2000, and won Olympic Gold in 1992.

Guardiola was a key player for Barcelona, winning six La Liga titles and one European Cup

Honours:

La Liga (6): 1990/91, 1991/92, 1992/93, 1993/94, 1997/98, 1998/99

Copa del Rey (2): 1996/97, 1997/98

Supercopa de Espana (4): 1991, 1992, 1994, 1996

Segunda Division B (1): (1990/91)

European Cup (1): 1992

UEFA Cup Winners' Cup (1): 1996/97

UEFA Super Cup (2): 1992, 1997

International career:

47 caps (5 goals)

Olympic Gold Medal (1): 1992

3) Mark Hughes - Stoke

Hughes had a glittering career in England with Manchester United and Chelsea, winning a host of domestic and European honours, and also played on the continent for Barcelona and Bayern Munich.

At international level, the Stoke boss is in the top 10 for caps and goals for Wales, but never got a chance to play in a major tournament.

Wales ace Mark Hughes twice won the Premier League and lifted the FA Cup four times

Honours:

Premier League (2): 1992/93, 1993/94

FA Cup (4): 1984/85, 1989/90, 1993/94, 1996/97

League Cup (3): 1991/92, 1997/98, 2001/02

Charity Shield (3): 1990 (shared), 1993, 1994

UEFA Cup Winners' Cup (1): 1990/91

UEFA Super Cup (1): 1991

International career:

72 caps (16 goals) for Wales

4) Antonio Conte - Chelsea

A legend at Juventus, Conte made more than 400 appearances as a central midfielder for the club after switching from Lecce in 1991. The Chelsea manager played for 13 years in Turin, winning pretty much every major trophy in the game.

At international level he made 20 appearances for Italy, but could only finish as a runner up twice in the 1994 World Cup and Euro 2000.

Antonio Conte won five league titles and the Champions League with Juventus

Honours:

Serie A (5): 1994/95, 1996/97, 1997/98, 2001/02, 2002/03

Coppa Italia (1): 1994/95

Suppercoppa Italiana (4): 1995, 1997, 2002, 2003

Champions League (1): 1995/96

UEFA Cup (1): 1992/93

UEFA Super Cup (1): 1996

Intertoto Cup (1): 1999

Intercontinental Cup (1): 1996

International career:

20 caps (2 goals) for Italy

5) Aitor Karanka - Middlesbrough

Karanka spent most of his career in Spain, featuring for Athletic Bilbao and their B Team before moving on to Real Madrid in 1997. He spent five years largely as a back-up player at the Bernabeu, but managed to pick up a haul of major trophies while there - including three Champions League winners' medals.

At international level he won a single cap for Spain in a European Championship qualifier against Armenia in 1995.

Three-time Champions League winner Aitor Karanka playing against Leeds in 2001

Honours:

La Liga (1): 2000/01

Supercopa de Espana (2): 1997, 2001

Champions League (3): 1997/98, 1999/00, 2001/02

Intercontinental Cup (1): 1998

International career:

1 cap (0 goals) for Spain

6) Mauricio Pochettino - Tottenham

Pochettino started his career in Argentina with Newell's Old Boys. He moved to Spain with Espanyol before enjoying spells in France with Paris Saint-Germain and Bordeaux before ending his career back in Spain at Espanyol.

At international level he played for Argentina at the 2002 World Cup, featuring in all three games as they exited at the group stage.

Pochettino gave away a penalty when Argentina played England at the 2002 World Cup

Honours:

Argentine Primera Division (1): 1990/91

Clausura (1): 1992

Copa del Rey (2): 1999/00, 2005/06

International career:

20 caps (2 goals) for Argentina

7) Claude Puel - Southampton

Puel's playing career started at Castres FC. He was then spotted by AS Monaco, joining the club in 1977. He spent his entire career at Monaco, playing 601 times for the club.

Honours:

Ligue 1 (2): 1981/82, 1987/88

Coupe de France (3): 1980, 1985, 1991

Trophee des champions (1): 1985

Coppa delle Alpi (3): 1979, 1983, 1984

8) Slaven Bilic - West Ham

Bilic spent time in England with West Ham and Everton but most of his playing career was with Hajduk Split, where he won several trophies. He was capped 44 times by Croatia and was part of the team that finished third at the 1998 World Cup in France.

Former West Ham player Slaven Bilic helped Croatia finish third at the 1998 World Cup

Honours:

Yugoslav Cup (1): 1990/91

Croatian First League (1): 1992

Croatian Cup (2): 1992/93, 1999/00

International career:

44 caps (3 goals) for Croatia

9) Mike Phelan - Hull City

A regular in the lower leagues with Burnley and Norwich, Phelan helped the latter to promotion before switching to Manchester United in 1989.

He then spent five years at Old Trafford where he won domestic and European honours, and also won a sole England cap in 1989.

Mike Phelan won domestic and European honours with Manchester United

Honours:

Premier League (1): 1992/93

FA Cup (1): 1989/90

League Cup (1): 1991/92

Charity Shield (1): 1990 (shared)

Football League Division Two (1): 1985/86

Football League Division Three (1): 1981/82)

European Cup Winners' Cup (1): 1990/91

International career:

1 cap (0 goals)

10) Alan Pardew - Crystal Palace

Having started out in non-league football, Pardew joined Crystal Palace in 1987 and helped them win promotion to the First Division two years later. His career highlight came in 1990 when he scored the winner as Palace beat Liverpool 4-3 in extra-time in the FA Cup semi-final. After leaving Palace he had spells with Charlton and Barnet and also a short stint on loan with Tottenham.

Alan Pardew famously scored Crystal Palace's winner in their FA Cup semi-final clash with Liverpool

Honours:

Full Members Cup (1): 1991

11) Claudio Ranieri - Leicester

Although he first signed with Roma, Ranieri only made six appearances with the capital club and spent most of his playing career with Catanzaro, Catania and Palermo. During his playing career he enjoyed promotion on four occasions.

Honours: None

12) David Moyes - Sunderland

Before joining Celtic in 1980, Moyes' youth career started out with Icelandic club IBV Vestmannaeyjar. He would go on to spend three seasons with Celtic before spells with Cambridge United, Bristol City, Shrewsbury Town, Dunfermline, Hamilton Academical and Preston North End.

David Moyes won the Scottish title in 1982 with Celtic

Honours:

Scottish League Premier Division (1): 1981/82

Associate Members' Cup (1): 1985/86

Football League Division Three (1): 1995/96

13) Walter Mazzarri - Watford

Mazzarri was a product of Fiorentina's youth system. He made his professional debut in 1981 for Pescara in Serie B, and he had a short stint in Serie A at Cagliari. He spent five years at Empoli, who won promotion to Serie A for the first time during his time at the club.

Honours: None

14) Sean Dyche - Burnley

Dyche played for Nottingham Forest, Chesterfield, Bristol City, Luton Town, Millwall, Watford and Northampton Town during an 18-year professional career. He reached an FA Cup semi-final with Chesterfield and won the Second Division title with Millwall.

Former Nottingham Forest and Watford defender Sean Dyche won Division Two with Millwall in 2001

Honours:

Football League Division Two (1): 2000/01

15) Arsene Wenger - Arsenal

Wenger was in the RC Strasbourg squad that won Ligue 1 in 1978/79. He made 11 appearances for Strasbourg during a three-year spell at the club. Wenger also represented Mutzig, FC Mulhouse and ASPV Strasbourg in the lower leagues in France.

Honours:

Ligue 1 (1): 1978/79

16) Jurgen Klopp - Liverpool

Klopp spent most of his professional career at Mainz 05. He was at the club from 1990 to 2001. He started out as a striker but eventually moved back into defence. He scored 52 league goals for Mainz.

Jurgen Klopp spent 11 years playing for Mainz

Honours: None

17) Eddie Howe - Bournemouth

Howe's playing career was cut short by injury and he retired from football in 2007 at the age of 29. He made more than 200 appearances playing for Bournemouth and also had a short spell with Portsmouth and made two appearances for England U21s.

Former England U21 international, Eddie Howe was forced to retire at 29 due to injury

Honours: None

18) Tony Pulis - West Brom

The West Brom boss had a modest playing career that included a stint in Hong Kong with Happy Valley. He also played for Bristol Rovers, Newport County and Bournemouth, where he won the Third Division in 1986-87.

Honours:

Football League Division Three (1): 1986/87

19) Jose Mourinho - Manchester United

Jose Mourinho's father, Felix, was a professional footballer, playing for Os Belenenses and Vitoria de Setubal and earning one cap for Portugal. Mourinho was keen to follow in father's footsteps and joined the Belenenses youth team. At senior level he played at Rio Ave, Belenenses, and Sesimbra. His playing career failed to take off though and he decided to focus on becoming a football coach.

Watch Jose Mourinho show off his shooting ability ahead of Manchester United's Europa League match against Fenerbahce Watch Jose Mourinho show off his shooting ability ahead of Manchester United's Europa League match against Fenerbahce

Honours: None

20) Bob Bradley - Swansea

Bradley's only playing experience was at Princeton University where he featured for the Princeton Tigers. He would go on to manage the team before graduating to MLS.

Honours: None

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