Rookie coaches in top team: a choice between charm and illusion

In today’s football, trends change fast, and one of the most popular lately is putting an ex-player, a club legend, on the bench. Someone who carries the team’s history, who can bring back identity and enthusiasm after difficult seasons. From Seedorf to Pirlo, from Thiago Motta to Tudor at Juventus, many clubs have tried this path, convinced that charisma alone could rebuild a winning cycle.

At first, it almost always works. The team reacts, the atmosphere lights up, the dressing room finds new energy, and the new coach is welcomed like a savior. The “new manager effect” is real: the ideas are simple, the communication is direct, and the group feels united. Results arrive, optimism grows, and it looks like the beginning of a new era. But football is cruel, and the magic often fades quickly.

After a few months, difficulties start to appear—and that’s when the difference shows between those who are ready and those who aren’t. Coaching is not just about tactics or ideas; it’s about managing tension, handling crises, dealing with egos, and understanding moments. It takes experience—something that first-timers rarely have. Many former stars discover that the respect earned as players isn’t enough to hold a dressing room together when results stop coming.

Sometimes, there’s also a lack of structure or a clear method. Many try to imitate the big names—Guardiola, Klopp—but without the time, patience, or organizational support to really do it. Enthusiasm turns into confusion, performances drop, and the club that once wanted to start fresh ends up back where it began.

Yet there are examples that show it can work. Arteta with Arsenal, Xabi Alonso with Leverkusen, Guardiola in his early Barcelona days—all stories of coaches who succeeded because there was a serious project behind them. Strong management, a capable staff, and above all, patience and belief in the coach’s vision.

Hiring an ex-player can be a romantic and inspiring move, but it can’t be a shortcut. Success still demands method, balance, and the strength to endure tough moments. Charisma and locker-room knowledge are only the starting point—without a clear vision and daily work, they fade quickly.

Modern football moves fast and demands instant results, but real revolutions are built on time and ideas, not nostalgia. Choosing a young coach can be the right path, but only if the club truly believes in the future—not just in the name printed on the shirt.