Doesn't mean he can coach though. Being able to do it yourself is one thing; being able to convey it to others is quite another.
Yep. Of this modern era of former top pros getting decentish managerial gigs...
Harry Kewell - Champions League winner (amongst others) and integral to a Liverpool MF that won it. Evidently struggling to make it as a successful manager.
Steven Gerard - As above and some. Hasn't really been tested in a piece of piss gig at Rangers. The hard work will come either next season retaining the title or more so, at an English Club where competition is more difficult. Flatters him at present and he prob will be one who comes good in time but the job at present is only really a L1 challenge.
Frank Lampard - Despite some "success" at Derby, where literally everything was thrown at it and FL had as much support as any manager would love to get, as well as a very good backroom team, he ultimately didn't promote them and jumped ship as soon as Chelski came calling. Was always going to be too early a move and I think the Chelski job would always have been available to him. Maybe should have stuck it out with Derby and actually got some silverware/title with them. I like Lampard and I think he'll also come good but right now, it shows how jumping for the big jobs maybe require a little more patience and calculation (talking pure career success and not financially).
Wayne Rooney - Ok, he's kind of fallen into the role at Derby as a form of interim/temp manager and fair play for him taking the reigns as Derby yet again fail to impress and this season disastrously so. Eventually even the multi millionaires like King start to get fed up and want to sell up. WR probably won't keep the job but if he keeps them up with his very limited experience it might be something to note in copy book. I don't rate him but Derby escaping relegation is a must. Many big clubs know how difficult it is to get out of L1 no matter your history (Leeds, Leicester, Wolves, Southampton, Sheff Wed (again) I'm looking at you), so I'll doff my cap slightly if he "saves" them. On a personal note, I want them to totally fuck it up on the final day.
That's just four decent former pros all with slightly different avenues into management. One might say that maybe it shows a successful former player should start their management career lower down the pyramid. At L1 or L2. Regardless of who they are. If they fancy a cushy number as an under 16s coach or as a TV pundit then fine but I doubt their personal hunger for success will be satisfied, nor will their ego. I don't think money comes into it too much at this stage (it talks but it isn't key for them), they want another trophy, title. They in the words of The Stone Roses - Wanna be adored.
Maybe Gerrard has done a clever move at Rangers? He gets similar levels of adoration and press as the likes of Rooney and Lampard but is technically managing an "easier club" than both (clearly Kewell just is a bit shit at it) of them. Yes, there is pressure and we all know the rivalry between Scotland's tow largest clubs but that is stark when the rest of the competition, bar a few is about the same level as L2 or even Conference. Should at a minimum be getting league RU and a Cup win or two, every season. For me it will be interesting if he takes a Championship gig after Rangers. A team like Stoke and get them back into the EPL. It will seem like a step back but as mentioned above, his challenge will be much greater and prove himself more. I'm sure he could fill it with a few of his old mates to achieve it. Milner eventually dropping down a division. Probably have Sami Hyypia on his backroom team and so on. Then when the time is right, give him a crack at the Liverpool job if he's continued his progress.
But bringing it back to the relevance of Town and the STFC job. Maybe there is an outlet for a former successful pro to come here and give it a go. If it fails, it's no biggy for them, especially if it's their first job and as the likes of Roy Keane, Paul Scholes, even PdC have found out, those cushy safety nets of punditry are always knocking around of it does go tits up - or if they just happen to be a bit shit of being a manager.