My mind was sent back two years ago after reading the comments on our Suffolk cousins board and the sacking of Glen Rodent. As we all know Norwich took the 'safe' option (from the boards point of view) and appointed club legend Bryan Gunn. What followed we don't need to go over again but my mind then started to wonder off in a different direction and I have the following question.. Can you name a goal keeper (other than Gunny) that has tried his hand (pardon the pun) in football management? Off the top of my head I cannot think of anyone. Once you have struggled to come up with a name or two the second question is. Why is it that goal keepers generally do not go in to football management and those that have, why have they not been successful?
Must be honest I don't know much about his managerial record. Going back to Mike Walker...Would you class him as Successful? Had a good run with us for a while before he went to Everton where he did nothing. Eventually came back to Norwich, didn't reach anywhere near the same dizzy heights and then moved on to....?? Although he took us to our best league position and led us in to Europe (finally) many class him as one of our most successful managers (including me) but in the greater scheme of football - was he a success?
He inherited a good team from Dave Stringer and kept the momentum going! I heard an unsubstantiated rumour about why he wasn't a success the second time around, which I definitely will not repeat on here! I believe when he left here he moved to manage a Danish team, I can't remember which one, and I've heard nothing since!
I think Shilton might have had a dabble, but again, without too much success. Did Zoff win the world cup with Italy?
Mike walker went off to manage a Cypriot or Greek side, as I recall.(APOEL Nicosia, just cheated and checked on wiki ) Maybe they are more in demand as goalkeeping coaches and so very few branch out into trying their hand at management?
Can't think of any more that have been decent, I wonder if it might be something to do with the basic skill set players have. 'Keepers don't have the same skills/playing ability that outfield players have, perhaps that gap in understanding transfers into management ability.
It's also about the laws of probability , there are a few more outfield players than keepers! Also, I guess keepers often have a longer playing career don't do the coaching badges as soon etc an
I think the suggestion of becoming a goal keeping coach is highly likely and quite possibly the most logical step for a keeper Not sure about the skills sets though.
raymond goethals, won the champions league with marseilles in 1993. Did a lot for belgium international football too, and also had great success at Anderlecht and Standard Liege.
That probably goes right to the heart of it. It's going to be a combination of factors, but as there's only one GK for every ten outfield (could be an even worse percentage in a squad), it stands to reason there'd be fewer of them. Still not sure why there are quite so few though.
