Player-manager

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Player-manager is a sports term used to described a manager of a team who is still registered to play for the team.

In association football (soccer), this situation usually arises when a manager leaves a team suddenly, and the chairman has to make a quick decision to appoint someone new as a caretaker manager. The chairman will usually either ask a coach to take temporary charge or turn to the club's most senior player.

If this particular player gains good results for the team during his time in charge, he may be appointed full-time manager, which leaves him a player-manager.

However, there are instances when a free agent is signed by a new team as a manager and offers his playing abilities.

In the United States, player-managers and player-coaches were once common, especially in baseball. The last player-manager in Major League Baseball was Pete Rose, who began managing the Cincinnati Reds in 1985, the second-last season of his playing career. Tris Speaker, Frank Robinson and Lou Boudreau all spent time as player-managers. In this capacity, Robinson became the first African-American manager in Major League Baseball.

[edit] Notable football (soccer) player-managers

• Steve Claridge - Portsmouth (2000 - 2001), Millwall (Summer 2005)
• Alan Curbishley - Charlton Athletic (1991 - 1996, continued as manager until 2006)
• Kenny Dalglish - Liverpool (1985 - 1991)
• Trevor Francis - Queens Park Rangers (1988 - 1989), Sheffield Wednesday (1991 - 1995)
• Sammy McIlroy
• Gordon Strachan - Coventry City (1996 - 1997, continued as manager until 2001)
• Marc Wilmots - Schalke 04 (2003, though eligible, did not play during his spell as manager)
• Dennis Wise - Millwall (2003 - 2005), Swindon Town (August - October 2006), Leeds (October 2006 - Present)
• Gareth Southgate - Middlesbrough (2006 - present)
• Paul Lambert - Livingston (2005-2006)
• Craig Brewster - Inverness Caladonian Thistle/Dundee United (2004 - 2006/2006)
• Ruud Gullit - Chelsea F.C. (1996 - 1998)
• Gianluca Vialli - Chelsea F.C. (1998 - 2000)

[edit] History of Baseball Player Managers

Courtesy of BaseballLibrary.com

Though player-managers were a common occurrence during the early part of the century, they became an endangered species after the early 1950s and have been extinct since 1986. Pete Rose was the last to do it, managing the Reds for the last three years of his career. He played terribly at first base during all three years, but maneuvered a last place team into second place in ‘85 and ’86. He stayed at the Reds’ helm after his retirement, until he was forever banned from baseball in 1989. Joe Torre is most famous for leading the Yankees to four championships in five years, but he got his managerial start while playing 26 games for the Mets in 1977. His 49-68 record that year was a portent of things to come; he never finished higher than fifth place in his five years with the Mets.

Hall of Famer Frank Robinson gave himself only limited playing time as skipper of the Cleveland Indians. In 1975-76, he played in less than 100 games total while leading the team to a near-.500 record both seasons.

Hank Bauer also played in a limited capacity while beginning his equally limited time as manager of the Kansas City Athletics. He won only 35 of 102 games in 1961, and was not much better the next year. He was subsequently booted.

Solly Hemus's managerial career closely resembled his playing career – short and fairly mediocre. As a shortstop, Hemus was a good on-base guy with little power, as a manager with the Cardinals he finished 190-192. 1959 was his only year as both.