10 Football Players Whose Careers Were Wrecked by Their Managers

Many great footballers have suddenly gone from being top performers to being sidelined due to clashes with new managers who bring different strategies that may not suit their playing style. 

Such mismatches have often resulted in a decline in these players’ careers. According to GOAL 90 on YouTube, here’s how this happened.

Yaya Toure and Pep Guardiola

Toure had a prosperous stint with Manchester City, earning Africa Player of the Year four times and securing two Premier League titles. However, under Pep Guardiola’s management at both Barcelona and City, his playing time dramatically decreased, leading to his eventual retirement in China.

Joe Hart and Pep Guardiola 

As England’s top goalkeeper, Hart’s career thrived until Guardiola’s arrival at Manchester City. Immediately benched and eventually transferred, Hart’s career dipped after being sent to Burnley and then to Celtic.

Mesut Özil and Mikel Arteta 

Under Arsène Wenger, Özil shone as a creative force at Arsenal. Yet, Arteta’s leadership saw Özil excluded from squad lists and relegated to the U23s, pushing him towards an early retirement after a brief stint in Turkey.

Diego Costa and Antonio Conte 

Once a key player for Chelsea under José Mourinho, Costa’s Chelsea career abruptly ended via a text from Conte stating he wasn’t in Chelsea’s plans, leading to a less impactful phase at Atlético Madrid.

Donny van de Beek and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer

After a standout season with Ajax, Van de Beek moved to Manchester United hoping to replicate his success. Unfortunately, under Solskjaer, he rarely started and was eventually loaned out, struggling to regain his form.

Radamel Falcao and Louis van Gaal

Despite being one of the top forwards before joining Manchester United, Falcao found little favour under van Gaal, receiving minimal game time and no support, which led to a decline in his once-stellar career.

James Rodríguez and Zinédine Zidane

James thrived under Ancelotti at Real Madrid but was sidelined once Zidane took over. His subsequent moves were attempts to rediscover his form, which he never truly did.

Isco and Carlo Ancelotti 

Initially brought to Real Madrid by Ancelotti, Isco’s return under the same coach saw reduced playing time and eventual departure from the club, struggling to find his early career form at subsequent clubs.

Gareth Bale and Zinédine Zidane

Bale’s time at Real Madrid under Zidane was fraught with challenges, seeing him mostly out of the squad in Zidane’s second tenure, which led to his retirement shortly after moving to MLS.

Dele Alli and José Mourinho 

Alli’s promising career at Tottenham under Mauricio Pochettino faltered when Mourinho took over. His lack of playing time under Mourinho saw him moving through unsuccessful loan spells, and he has struggled to regain his form since.