[Baggievicar]

I should be writing a sermon, but just looking at a thread on another site made me think - when was there last a player-manager in the top division? It's probably more recent than I think, but in all honesty it seems unimaginable in the PL as it is today.

Lower leagues I suppose it still happens. Edgar Davids was a big coup for Barnet a couple of years back (and ultimately a flop, sadly).

And any of our players you'd trust for the role now?

[Salopbaggie]

Johnny Giles jumps to mind, Dalglish had a good run at Liverpool and didn't Captain Marvel manage and play at Boro. I can not think of one in the premiership though.

[Bierzo Baggie]

Brian Talbot was probably the last player manager at Albion. He actually did quite well at first but things started going horribly wrong when he hung his boots up and started organizing from the dugout!

[St Charles Owl]

Trevor Francis was player-manager for us in the early 90s.

[Baggievicar]

Trevor Francis was player-manager for us in the early 90s.

What level was that at? I do remember the 90s, but not that well...

[St Charles Owl]

Trevor Francis was player-manager for us in the early 90s.

What level was that at? I do remember the 90s, but not that well...

Last season of the old Division One in 91-92 when we came 3rd, he made 20 apps mainly as sub, and the following season, the first year the Premier League existed in 92-93 he made 5 apps in the season we finished 7th and made both the FA Cup and LC finals, losing both to Arsenal. He then made one appearance off the bench in 1993-94 before retiring, and remained our manager before being fired the following season.

[drewks]

Johnny Giles jumps to mind, Dalglish had a good run at Liverpool and didn't Captain Marvel manage and play at Boro.  I can not think of one in the premiership though.

Not sure whether Kenny was playing when he was manager??

[Ska'dForLife-WBA]

Johnny Giles jumps to mind, Dalglish had a good run at Liverpool and didn't Captain Marvel manage and play at Boro.  I can not think of one in the premiership though.

Not sure whether Kenny was playing when he was manager??

He played for a good five years or so after becoming manager.

A quick glance at Wikipedia suggests that Gianluca Vialli was the last permanent Premier League player-manager, at Chelsea in 1999 (having replaced Ruud Gullitt, who was also a p-m). In the years since, there have been three caretaker player-managers in the Prem: Stuart McCall at Bradford in 2000 until Jim Jefferies was appointed, Garry Monk at Swansea in 2014 until he retired from playing and took the job full-time, and Ryan Giggs at Man Utd in 2014 until Louis Van Gaal was appointed.