We all know Zinedine Zidane was a Top 10 of all-time footballer. But will he turn out to be a great manager?
That is in the lap of the football Gods ... and the whims of Real Madrid's demanding president Florentino Perez.
But all Zidane needs to look at as the examples to follow are the likes of Johann Cruyff and Pep Guardiola to see how an excellent player can make the transition to management.
Diego Maradona on the other hand might not be someone to emulate based on his passionate but ultimately doomed spell in charge of Argentina for the 2010 World Cup.
This week on Team 33, we dribbled our way (figuratively and not literally) through the great players who have gone on to become great managers.
You can listen in on the podcast player below:
But while we know how extraordinary Cruyff, Liverpool legend Kenny Dalglish or West Germany's World Cup winning captain and manager Franz Beckenbauer were as footballers prior to becoming successful managers for a time, others are first remembered for their coaching exploits before their playing careers are then brought to light.
l-r Jack Charlton (Leeds), George Graham (Arsenal), Paul Madeley (Leeds) Picture by: Peter Robinson / EMPICS Sport
But let's shed light on those oft-forgotten playing careers.
Carlo Ancelotti
Part of Roma's great mid-1980s side and then a key cog in the AC Milan team that dominated Europe in the late '80s and early '90s, Ancelotti was an international standard footballer, who also lined out for his country on home soil in the 1990 World Cup.
A highly respected midfielder, the future Milan, Real Madrid and Chelsea boss, was capable of moments like this brilliant long-range goal against Real in the 1989 European Cup semi-final:
Of course, the one with the arching eyebrow is more well-known for being a three-time Champions League-winning manager, but here's another goal that deserves to highlight an impressive playing career.
Giovanni Trapattoni
It shouldn't come as a surprise that Trap appreciated Glenn Whelan and Keith Andrews when he was Ireland boss.
As a defensive midfielder of great renown with Milan's great side of the 1960s, the 76-year-old also won 17 caps with Italy.
Due to his playing position, the European Cup-winning manager with Juventus in 1985 did not score many goals.
In total, he netted just three with Milan in a 12 year spell and also once internationally.
The footage is grainy, but the finish against the Santos of Pele is sublime:
Jack Charlton
Big Jack will forever be first remembered as the boss of Ireland's most successful generation. But he had a decent playing career in his own right.
More than decent you could say - even if he never reached the level of brother Bobby - given that he also started the 1966 World Cup final for England.
A one-club man during Leeds United's greatest eras, the tall centre-back, also won 35 international caps.
Fabio Capello
Another great Italian manager (even if England fans may doubt that), the ex-Roma, Real Madrid, Juventus and Milan boss won seven league titles and a Champions League trophy as a coach.
But his playing career was pretty special during the 1960s and '70s with Roma, Juventus, Milan and the Italian national side.
The winner of 32 caps and scorer of eight international goals, he played as a midfielder competent in all components of the game:
George Graham
There was a bit of disagreement on air on this segment as our resident Gooner Joe Coffey pushed the case of Arsenal's legendary manager George Graham in the face of mild opposition from our other esteemed guests.
The former league and FA Cup-winning Arsenal manager may not have been a Cruyff-like figure on the pitch, but he did enjoy a strong playing career for Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester United.
The Scotland international scored 17 top flight goals in consecutive seasons for Chelsea in 1965 and 1966, before going on to win the league and cup double with Arsenal in 1971.
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