A wonderkid in Football Manager is a great thing. There is nothing better than seeing a raw young player with potential blossom into a top-class player. However, time stops for no man, as the quote goes.
Like all of us, wonderkids grow older and eventually have to end their playing careers. But which wonderkids have chosen to go into management after they retire?
Vincent Kompany
The now-Bayern Munich boss was a wonderkid in both FM 2005 and 2006. He fulfilled his potential well in the game. In real life, he became a hero at Manchester City, as he captained the Citizens to glory during his playing career.
When he hung up his boots, Kompany moved into coaching at his former club, Anderlecht, before moving on to Burnley, who he helped to promotion to the Premier League, and then moved to German giants Bayern Munich in the summer of 2024.
The former City captain has guided the Bavarians back to the top of the Bundesliga table and also into the last-16 of the Champions League.
Wayne Rooney
One of the best English players of recent generations, Rooney first appeared in Football Manager 2003 when he broke into the Everton first-team squad in his teens.
Rooney, of course, moved on to the Toffees’ north west rivals Manchester United, where he enjoyed a decade-long trophy-laden career, having won not only the Premier League on multiple occasions but also European football’s biggest prize, the Champions League.
Before he ended his playing career, the forward returned to Everton and had short spells with DC United in MLS and Derby County. In November 2020, he became the latter’s player-manager before returning to DC United as head coach.
✍️ We are delighted to announce the appointment of Wayne Rooney as our new Head Coach.
Welcome to Argyle, Wayne.#pafc
— Plymouth Argyle FC (@Argyle) May 25, 2024
However, Rooney’s last two assignments were in the English Championship, first with Birmingham City and then with Plymouth Argyle. Unfortunately, both clubs sacked him because they struggled for results.
At 39, there is still time for Rooney to make his mark as a head coach, just as he did during his playing days.
Steven Gerrard
A friend and former teammate of Rooney, Gerrard first appeared in Football Manager in the 2006 edition when he broke into his beloved Liverpool team. He had excellent stats that reflected his high potential.
Of course, Gerrard went on to be a stalwart at both club level and in the international game with England. He won numerous trophies with the men from Merseyside, including the FA Cup and the Champions League.
After ending his career with a short spell in MLS with LA Galaxy, Gerrard moved into coaching. His first senior managerial role was at Scottish giants Rangers in June 2018.
He guided the Gers to the Scottish top-flight title in season 2020/21, breaking the title stranglehold of bitter-rivals Celtic in the process.
Gerrard stayed with Rangers until November 2021, when he joined Premier League Aston Villa. After mixed fortunes in the Midlands, Gerrard was dismissed in October 2022.
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His next managerial role was with the Saudi Super League club Al-Ettifaq in July 2023. Once again, his team had mixed results. Gerrard left the club on January 29, 2025.
Nuri Sahin
The German-born Turkish international was regarded as one of the brightest young midfielders in the game at the start of his career with Dortmund. Sahin was considered a wonderkid in FM07.
The midfielder never quite fulfilled his potential in his playing career, although he made over 300 hundred appearances in European football’s top leagues.
During his career, he played not just for BVB but also for Feyenoord, Liverpool and Real Madrid, amongst others. He won the Bundesliga title in season 2010/11 and La Liga in the 2011/12 campaign.
When he hung up his boots, he decided to move into coaching. Sahin’s first managerial role came back in the country of his heritage as he took over as Antalyaspor boss in October 2021. Unfortunately, things didn’t work out at the Turkish club, and he left in December 2023.
However, he was handed an unexpected managerial lifeline in June 2024 when he was appointed head coach at his former club, Dortmund. He wasn’t in the role long, as with BVB struggling in the bottom half of the Bundesliga table, Sahin was sacked in January 2025.
He may return to coaching in the near future, as he showed enough acumen at Antalyaspor to suggest that he could be a good coach. At just 36 years old, time is on his side.
Clarence Seedorf
The former Netherlands international was a wonderkid from the Championship Manager era. He is believed to have first appeared on the game in the 1992 and 1993 editions of the game.
He started his professional playing career with Ajax, went on to play for Real Madrid, Inter Milan, and AC Milan, and ended his career in Brazil with a short stint at Botafogo. Seedorf hung up his boots in 2014.
The midfielder ended his playing career as one of the most decorated players of all time, with the highlight of his career winning the Champions League on four occasions, once with Ajax and Real Madrid, and twice with AC Milan.
Seedorf hung his boots up when he left Botafogo to become Milan boss in January 2014, a role which he occupied until June 2014.
It took him a while to return to management, but in July 2016, Seedorf became the head coach of the Chinese club Shenzhen. Once again, his time in the role was short, as he left the club by December of the same year.
His next stop was Spanish outfit Deportivo La Coruna, who he joined in February 2018. The former Milan star’s tenure with the Spanish club lasted just 16 games, only two of which he won. Seedorf was sacked on 22nd May 2018.
Seedorf’s last managerial role came as the head coach of the Cameroon national team. He was appointed in August 2018 and lasted until 16 July 2019. Unfortunately for the Dutchman, his managerial career has brought anywhere the same success as his career.
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