With TS Galaxy boss Sead Ramovic now linked with Kaizer Chiefs, we take a look at German's goalkeeping career as well as other recognisable coaches who were goalkeepers during their playing career.
Sead Ramovic - TS Galaxy
The controversial boss has been making headlines for his strained relationship with Mamelodi Sundowns manager Rulani Mokwena, with the two coaches having had another go at each other on Tuesday during their DStv Premiership clash.
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Perhaps what is lesser known to some, is that fact that the German was goalkeeper, with his professional career spanning from 2001 to 2014. The now 45-year-old played in various countries across Europe, namely Germany, Norway, Turkey, Denmark, Sweden, and Serbia. Transfermarkt shows that he made 235 career appearances, including 15 in the Bundesliga for Wolfsburg. Some of the more recignisable clubs he represented including Borussia Monchengladbach, Lillestrøm, and Sivasspor in Turkey.
Roger de Sa - Qatar (assistant coach)
De Sa is easily one of the most recognisable coaches in South Africa, having managed the likes of Orlando Pirates, Maritzburg United, Bidvest Wits, Santos, and Ajax Cape Town, who are called Cape Town Spurs. During his heyday, however, the Mozambique-born tactician was a goalkeeper in the South African top-flight, standing between the sticks for the teams such as Moroka Swallows, Sundowns, and Wits. It is noted that his father, Octavio de Sa, was also a shot-stopper and played for Portuguese giants Sporting CP.
Nuno Espirito Santo - Nottingham Forest
Another goalkeeper turned manager with Portuguese DNA is Nuno Espirito Santo, who is now currently in charge of Nottingham Forest. The 50-year-old began his playing professional career in the early 1990s in Portugal and he would go on to play in Spain and Russia before returning to FC Porto for the final three years of his career. The former Wolverhampton Wanderers tactician won 13 trophies as a goalkeeper, including the UEFA Champions League in 2004 in a team managed by Jose Mourinho that also had Bafana Bafana legend Benni McCarthy.
Julen Lopetegui - West Ham United
The incumbent West Ham boss was goalie in his home country of Spain between 1983 and 2002. He played for Real Madrid, FC Barcelona, Las Palmas, Rayo Vallecano, and the now defunct club CD Logrones. His more famous to the global stage for his coaching career though, as he was in charge of the Spain national team, Los Blancos, Sevilla, and FC Porto. Some of his top honours including winning the 2019/20 UEFA Europa League with Sevilla, as well guiding the Spain U21s to the 2012/13 UEFA European Championship.
During that competition, he boasted a squad filled talented players like Alvaro Morata, Koke, Isco, and Thiago Alcantara - just to name a few!
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