7 best player-managers ever as Guardiola teases he and Klopp will have to play cup tie

7 best player-managers ever as Guardiola teases he and Klopp will have to play cup tie,Some footballers have refused to hang up their boots when starting their managerial careers, and some have shown they were right to do so - so imagine if the Man City and Liverpool bosses faced off!

7 best player-managers ever as Guardiola teases he and Klopp will have to play cup tie

Pep Guardiola jokingly teased the prospect of playing against Jurgen Klopp in Manchester City and Liverpool's Carabao Cup tie after the World Cup.

City face the Reds in the fourth round of the competition after defeating Chelsea 2-0, while the Kop giants scraped past Derby County in a fierce penalty shoot-out. But the game couldn't come at a worst time for the Prem rivals as it's slated to take place three to four days after the World Cup ends.

Both sides will have skeleton squads for the game as their representatives at the tournament that aren't injured, will need a rest. And the slim pickings available to either team led Guardiola to joke that he and Klopp are planning to lace up their boots to make up the numbers.

ALSO READ: Man City receive 28-day loan offer for Erling Haaland to keep him playing during World Cup

The Spaniard quipped: "Yes I am going to play holding midfield and Jurgen is going to play left back – this is the strategy." But the vision of the managerial duo on the pitch isn't far-fetched, as many before them have both played both roles, and here Daily Star Sport examine who thrived the best as boss and player simultaneously.

Kenny Dalglish – Liverpool

Daglish won the double in his first season at Liverpool (Image: PICTURE STUART ROBINSON.)

Dalglish took the helm at Liverpool in 1985 in the aftermath of the Heysel Stadium disaster after a glittering career as a player at the club. And he was just as successful as a manager while still featuring on the pitch.

Dalglish clinched the domestic double in his first season in both roles, capping off the campaign with the winning goal against Chelsea to lift the league trophy. He then won the title again in 1988, and 1990, along with the FA Cup trophy in 1989.

Dalglish featured less as a player in the final years in charge at Anfield. And he called it a day in 1991 after scooping three Manager of the Year in his reign.

Who do you think would fare better on the pitch out of Klopp and Pep? Let us know in the comments section

Ruud Gullit – Chelsea

Ruud Gullit won many trophies in his career (Image: Photo by Popperfoto via Getty Images/Getty Images)

Dutchman Ruud Gullit was given the role as Chelsea's player manager in 1996 at the tender age of 33. But his inexperience didn't matter after he won the FA Cup in his first season in charge, breaking the club's 26-year spell without a trophy.

But his spell in charge was brought to an abrupt end just 21 months later when he had a fallout with then Blues chairman Ken Bates over finances. Gullit's dismissal came at the worst time for Chelsea as they were two points behind the league leaders when he was given the boot.

Bryan Robson – Middlesbrough

Ex-Middlesbrough manager Bryan Robson was top class in his day (Image: (Photo by Professional Sport/Popperfoto via Getty Images/Getty Images))

England legend Bryan Robson spent three years in charge at Middlesbrough from 1994 – 1997 whilst still playing on the pitch. He won the heart of Boro's fans instantaneously after clinching the Division One title in their last season playing at Ayresome Park, leading them into a golden era at the Riverside Stadium.

Boro slumped back into the first division in their first season in the Prem, but Robson catapulted them back into the top flight swiftly and guided the club into two cup finals. He was also responsible for bringing flamboyant football to Boro before retiring in 1997, to make his feat even more special, Robson spent two years as England's assistant manager at the same time.

John Toshack – Swansea

John Toshack managed and played for Swansea in the early 80s (Image: (Photo by Steve Powell/Allsport UK/Getty Images))

Liverpool legend John Toshack became Swansea boss in 1978 after persistent injury problems forced him into retirement. He was the games youngest manager at the time aged just 28.

However he wasted no time showing he meant business and led Swansea to two consecutive promotions. Toshack scored the goal that won the Welsh side promotion on the second occasion, and he also led them to their first promotion in history in 1981.

But Toshack left to join Sporting Lisbon in 1984. His decision to leave came after Swansea were relegated in that year.

Vincent Kompany – Anderlecht

Vincent Kompany has settled into management well (Image: (Photo by Jeroen Meuwsen/Orange Pictures/BSR Agency/Getty Images))

Former Manchester City rock Vincent Kompany is one of the modern day success stories as a player manager. The ex-Belgium international took charge at Anderlecht in 2020, but he decided to play on at the same time.

But the former centre-back needed little time to get accustomed to his new role as boss and led Anderlecht to a third placed finish in the Belgian league last season. And although he didn't win any silverware at the club, he still managed to earn a role as Burnley's new manager.

Kompany's been a revelation at Burnley this season in the Championship, where they sit top of the table. And at this rate, it's only a matter of time before he's back in the Prem facing the likes of former club Man City.

Glenn Hoddle – Swindon/Chelsea

Glenn Hoddle was a player-manager for a number of years

Glenn Hoddle enjoyed being a player manager so much that he done it twice. First he occupied both roles for Swindon Town before doing the same at Chelsea, preceding Gullit.

Swindon were facing relegation from the second-tier when Hoddle came along in 1991. But the England legend turned things around and led the club to shock promotion through the play-offs in the next season following an epic win over Leicester City.

He then headed to Stamford Bridge in 1993, where he led the Blues to the FA Cup final. But England pounced on Hoddle and named him the nation's boss in 1996.

Graeme Souness – Rangers

Graeme Souness was hugely successful as a player and then a manager too (Image: Mandatory Credit: Mike Finn-Kelcey /Allsport)

Younger fans may know Graeme Souness as one of the harshest pundits in the game today. But before earning a reputation as a fierce critic, Souness was one of the football's best players, and managers.

After a glorious playing career with Liverpool, Souness was named Rangers manager in 1986, but he didn't hang up his boots for the role.

Souness continued to boss the midfield department while leading the Scottish side to three league titles during his five year spell at the Ibrox. The fiery Scotsman was also able to use his stardom to lure in players like Terry Butcher to the club who had limited financial resources, before he left to manage the Reds in 1991.