Roberto Martinez has claimed that one Manchester City player will become a manager after he hangs up his boots.
For a manager to have made this claim is indicative of the footballing IQ that a player has. For instance, in May last year, Pep Guardiola predicted Ilkay Gundogan to become a manager one day.
Similarly, in 2019, Jose Mourinho told Top Eleven-Be A Football Manager’s YouTube channel that Xabi Alonso would become a top coach one day.
Roberto Martinez says one Man City player is a future manager
The Fenerbahce boss’ prediction rang true, with Alonso becoming one of the most highly-rated managers in the world.
Portugal manager Roberto Martinez initially spoke about managing Bernardo Silva on FIVE’s official YouTube channel.
Martinez said: “I think it’s the intelligence of Bernardo [Silva], Bernardo is a player that when you see his time in the French league with Monaco, he was a proper, proper, right-winger, always working in that structure.”
Roberto Martinez went on to explain why Manchester City attacker Bernardo Silva seems destined to become a manager.
“And then he became more of an inside player, arrived to Man City and he’s almost played everywhere, even as a left-back and it’s because of the intelligence, the way that he sees the game, without a doubt, he’s going to be a manager when he retires, without a doubt.”
Martinez concluded: “He’s got this capacity of understanding of the game and when a player plays a game, normally, he understands his role. He understands what the others are doing, how can he help with his positioning, the player next to him.”
Bernardo Silva has the intelligence to delve into management
In our view, where one can agree with Roberto Martinez is that Bernardo Silva has the intelligence to be fit to become a manager.
Having worked under Pep Guardiola for seven years, the £43 million man has perhaps gained an understanding of tactics like he had not in the past.
However, the midfield maestro has also showcased that he has the footballing acumen to be able to execute Guardiola’s demand.
Whether that is by playing in a variety of positions or settling into different tactical setups.
Bernardo Silva could pass his knowledge on to future generations of players with how he views the game and his experience of working with managers like Roberto Martinez, Pep Guardiola and Leonardo Jardim.
Whether Bernardo wishes to become a manager, become a pundit or walk away from football after his retirement will be interesting to see.