Football Blog: Life after playing

Bryan Robson- England's finest midfielder for a generation- No? To many he will be remembered as a terrible manager who got an expensive Middlesborough side relegated and did the same with West Brom, as well as a terrible spell at Bradford.

Simply, some players just love the game and cannot let it go. The ones who truly love it, will risk everything in pursuit of the ultimate success, but those who do not will sit comfortably making assertions from a television studio.

Alan Shearer walked away from Newcastle without much of a fight- he obviously prefers sharing a sofa with Alan Hansen to a dugout on a cold Winters day.

May be his eight game spell proved he just wasn't any good as a manager and he secretly knew it. Either way the takeover was a good excuse to get out the limelight.

Perhaps he didn't fancy taking on Keano in the Championship? Which is a pity because Keane will probably have been sacked or walked off by time Newcastle play Ipswich if the way his season so far is going is anything to go by!

There have been some laughable failures as ex-pro's try to achieve as managers- Gazza- John Barnes at Celtic- Steve Claridge, sacked after less than 40 days at Millwall. Can you recall anybody worse?

But for the many failures, the image of Pep Guardiola winning the Champions League at Barcelona in his first managerial season proves that anything is possible.

Sure it helps if you are managing players like Eto'o, Xavi, Iniesta, and Messi as opposed to the Tranmere first team.

But this will inspire any ex player wishing to become a manager...and if not, may be Sven will offer them a 100 year playing contract at Notts County!