Bukayo Saka, Arsenal winger, has recently shared his thoughts on which current football players could potentially transition into successful managers in the future. Among those tipped for this role is a notable Liverpool player who has shown an immense love for the game.
In recent years, we've seen an increasing trend of former players stepping into managerial roles and attempting to define a new era of football. One such example is Pep Guardiola, whose successful transition from player to manager at Barcelona has inspired many others.
Saka himself works under Mikel Arteta at Arsenal - another great example of this trend. Arteta spent several years coaching at Manchester City before taking up his current position as Arsenal's boss. He stands as one of the best-placed individuals to win the Premier League title in their first managerial role.
Given these examples, it's intriguing to speculate which stars currently playing might go on to enjoy similar success as managers in a decade or so.
Saka also tips Harry Kane to be good manager
During an interview on Lions’ Den, when asked about potential future managers within the current England squad, Saka mentioned Trent Alexander-Arnold alongside Harry Kane.
Alexander-Arnold's name coming up isn't surprising considering his career trajectory and experiences so far.
Bukayo Saka, Arsenal winger, said:
“He comes to mind. Do you know who’s on my mind? Trent. I think he could be a gaffer, you know, he loves the game,”
Jurgen Klopp's influence on Arnold
Many successful managers have had stints working under inspirational bosses during their playing days - Pep Guardiola with Johan Cruyff at Barcelona being a prime example. Similarly, Xabi Alonso worked under some top-tier bosses and that perhaps explains why he has done such an exceptional job managing Bayer Leverkusen.
This pattern suggests that Alexander-Arnold may be well-positioned for a future managerial career given his extensive experience working with Jürgen Klopp at Liverpool. Klopp is renowned for inspiring deep loyalty and commitment from his players, with many willing to "run through a brick wall" for him.
Klopp's influence could potentially lead to a number of his players transitioning into managerial roles in the future. Given Alexander-Arnold's time under Klopp and his evident passion for the game, he may well be one of those who make this transition.
While it is always speculative to predict future managers among current players, Saka’s insight provides an interesting perspective on potential successors. Only time will tell if stars like Trent Alexander-Arnold will follow in the footsteps of their mentors and become successful football managers themselves.
