2015/16 Premier League Managers XI - Who would make the team?

ByArun S Kaimal, SportsCafe Editor

02/27/2016

The 2015/16 Premier League is heading towards an exciting finish with just two points separating the top three after 26 games in the season. But more than the players, the newsmakers of the season have been the managers, who prowl the technical areas from the start to the finish shouting instructions at the players and sometimes even the referees.

So, instead of a players XI, we decided to take a look at the managers of the 20 premier league clubs in an attempt to make a managers XI. While some had prolific careers in the game, some were literal unknowns before they wore the gaffer’s coat. From Mr. Calmness Personified, Arsene Wenger to the Normal One, Jürgen Klopp, all current managers of the twenty premier league clubs had a footballing career.

Thus from the 20 candidates, we have compiled what we think is the best current premier league managers XI. From strikers to defenders, we found almost one for each position apart from the all important one of the goalkeeper. With no current premier league manager having a record as a goalkeeper, we have opted to leave the position empty in an attempt to put together an XI.

So, let’s take a look at the managers, who have made it to the XI.

1. Goalkeeper

With no former professional goalkeeper in the manager role in the English Premier League currently, we have decided to leave the spot vacant. Very few keeper managers have ruled the roost at the top of the managerial world and we have to wind back the clock a few years to find one in the English Premier League. Nigel Adkins, who managed Southampton and Reading back in 2012/13, remains the last manager in the Premier League to have plied his trade as a goalkeeper in professional football.

2. Centre Back - Slaven Bilić (West Ham United)

The Croatian defender began his footballing career at hometown club Hajduk Split before playing for West Ham United and Everton in the English Premier League. Bilic made almost 300 appearances for his club sides during his career while also representing his country 44 times.

After an illustrious career in the top flight of football, Bilic opted to move into coaching after his retirement. Like his playing career, Bilic also started his managerial career at Hajduk Split before managing the Croatian national team and West Ham United. After arriving as the replacement for Sam Allardyce at the start of the season, Bilic has taken West Ham from strength to strength beating more than a handful of premier league giants in their own backyard, with the Hammers occupying 7th position in the league currently.

3. Centre back - Ronald Koeman (Southampton)

As a calm and composed player at the back, Koeman was often employed as a sweeper due to his ability on the ball. An illustrious club career, which included stints at Groningen, Ajax, PSV, Barcelona and Feyenoord, made Koeman one of the most sought-after players in world football because of his ability to score goals despite playing in defence. In a top flight career of more than 600 matches, Koeman scored a total of 239 goals to put make him the first name on the teamsheet here.

Koeman represented his country 78 times scoring 14 goals and was one of the stars of the Euro ‘88 winning Dutch team alongside Marco van Basten, Ruud Gullit and Frank Rijkaard. He was also part of the 1990 and 1994 World Cup squads, captaining the Oranje in the 94 edition where they lost to eventual champions Brazil in the quarter-final.

After a celebrated career, Koeman moved to coaching after his retirement and gradually moved up the ranks at Ajax before managing PSV, Feyenoord and Valencia to eventually occupy the Southampton hot seat.

4. Centre back - Mauricio Pochettino (Tottenham Hotspur)

Mauricio Roberto Pochettino Trossero or Mauricio Pochettino has become one of the most sought-after managers in the premier league after his successful stint first at Southampton and now at Tottenham Hotspur. But what many may not know is that this Argentine was a seasoned defender, who played for Espanyol and Paris Saint-Germain. A calm and composed figure at the back is a necessity for every team, and for this all managers team that man is Mauricio Pochettino.

Pochettino started his career in Argentina with Newell's Old Boys before moving to Espanyol and Paris Saint-Germain. The calm centre back made 509 appearances during his club career and with the team employing a back three – Bilic, Koeman and Pochettino – the defence looks pretty solid. Pochettino represented Argentina 20 times and was part of the 2002 World Cup team, where they exited the tournament at the group stage. After finishing his playing career at Espanyol, Pochettino started his managerial career at the same club and then moved to the English Premier League to produce tremendous results at Southampton and Tottenham.

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5. Right wing back - Quique Sánchez Flores (Watford)

Having made more than 300 appearances in La Liga for Valencia, Real Madrid and Real Zaragoza, Watford manager Quique Sánchez Flores is difficult to leave out of the line-up and will occupy the right-wing back position in a 3-5-2 formation.

Flores made 15 international appearances for Spain before moving into a coaching role with the Real Madrid youth teams. A winner of the La Liga in 1994/95 with Real Madrid and the UEFA U-21 championship with Spain, Flores has managed his Watford side prudently, who have been a revelation this season in the league with some massive results under their belt.

6. Left wing back - Claudio Ranieri (Leicester City)

Known to be a rugged full-back during his playing days, Claudio Ranieri will occupy the left wing back position in the team with the team lacking wingers. Ranieri played for AS Roma, Catanzaro, Catania and Palermo, making more than 300 appearances during his career.

The Italian moved to coaching after finishing his playing career and managed 16 clubs till date, including European giants like Chelsea, Juventus, Inter Milan and Atletico Madrid. Although the Italian was a big name in the managerial world, most predicted his Leicester City side to be relegated before the season kicked off. Smashing away all those predictions and apprehensions, Ranieri and Leicester sit on the top of the Premier League with 12 games to go.

7. Midfielder – Remi Garde (Aston Villa)

Although Aston Villa seems to be slowly slipping into the Football League Championship, their manager Rémi Garde is not a name to be taken lightly. Having played for French giants Lyon, Strasbourg and even Arsenal in the English league, Garde, who often played mostly as a defensive midfielder, is a value addition to the team. Garde also represented France six times but remained a back-up rather than a first team regular.

Garde arrived in the Midlands in November after the club parted company with Tim Sherwood. However, Garde is yet to showcase his magical touch at Villa, after three good seasons at Lyon.

8. Midfielder – Roberto Martinez (Everton)

Unlike his midfield colleague Remi Garde, Everton manager Roberto Martinez had a not so illustrious playing career with stints in Spain and England. The Spaniard started his career at Real Zaragoza before moving to Wigan Athletic and Swansea City. After finishing his career at Chester City, Martinez turned to coaching and took charge of Swansea City in 2007 before making his way all up to the Premier League with Wigan Athletic and Everton.

Guus Hiddink’s managerial career is filled with high-profile clubs and trophies. But his playing career was a relatively silent one, playing for sides like De Graafschap, NEC Nijmegen and PSV Eindhoven and that makes him a surprise inclusion for the attacking midfield role. However, with the team lacking a quintessential attacking flavour, Hiddink was the only candidate for the attacking midfielder role behind the duo of Klopp and Hughes.

Having managed the Netherlands national team, Real Madrid and a whole host of other clubs and national teams across the globe, Guss Hiddink currently occupies the interim manager’s position at Chelsea after the departure of Jose Mourinho.

10. Striker - Jürgen Klopp (Liverpool)

The self-admitted “average footballer”, only played six years of his career as a striker, but makes it to the team, just because of the passion and emotion that he brings to the pitch. Klopp made 337 appearances for Mainz 05 in Bundesliga 2 from 1990 to 2001, but the “normal one” mostly played as a defender from 1995 to end of his career.

With a height of six feet and four inches, Klopp is certain to win headers and will remain a goal threat from set pieces. The current manager of Liverpool is already a superstar in the managerial world having guided Borussia Dortmund to two Bundesliga titles and a Champions League final, something he would hope to repeat with present club Liverpool.

(Read about the problems Klopp is facing at Liverpool - Thank you, Brendan Rodgers, for this mediocrity – A Liverpool fan’s lament)

11. Striker – Mark Hughes (Stoke City)

799 appearances, 224 goals, two premier league titles, 4 FA Cups and with several other honours, Mark Hughes arrives in the team as the goal machine. Hughes’ playing career includes stints at Manchester United, Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Chelsea, Southampton, Everton and Blackburn Rovers in what was a superstar career. Hughes’ also represented Wales 72 times in his career scoring 16 goals and will take over the goal scoring duties in the managers team.

After hanging up his boots, the striker turned to coaching and managed the Wales national team, Blackburn Rovers, Manchester City, Fulham, Queens Park Rangers and now is in charge of Stoke City. From a defensive long ball team, Hughes has transformed the Stoke side to a free flowing ‘Barcelona-esque’ passing side after his arrival to stamp his authority in the Premier League.

Manager – Louis van Gaal

Every team needs a manager, as does the managers team. Although he is going through a tremulous campaign at Manchester United, the Dutch maestro is known for his philosophy and will be the right man to manage the team, which will employ his favourite 3-5-2 formation.

After having managed Ajax, Barcelona and Bayern Munich, van Gaal took a not-so fancied Netherlands team to the semi-final of the 2014 World Cup playing the 3-5-2 formation. With his experience of having managed the top stars in International football, van Gaal looks the most able man to handle a team of managers.

So, who do you think would have made it to the XI instead of our picks? Share your thoughts

(Read about how Thomas Tuchel transformed Borussia Dortmund)