5 footballers who will make great pundits
Football punditry, contrary to popular belief, is in no way an easy job. Not only does it demand a great deal of tactical proficiency, it also takes a great deal of courage and valour to stand up for what you believe in when a multitude of cameras are pointed at you.
There are always two sides to any coin and the opinion of these pundits are so often met with vehement criticism. They are the constant victims of taunts and their voices are frequently interpreted by the football faithful in their own words.
They dissect key moments to analyse the right and wrong, and offer their insights to incidents that define games. By doing so, they are not only making their voices heard to the public but also help the viewer understand more about the affair.
It has always been a trend for players in the twilight of their career, who after retirement tend to move on to football punditry. We have seen the likes of Gary Neville, Jamie Carragher, Thierry Henry and Rio Ferdinand establish themselves in the field in recent years.
So, we look at 5 active players who have the tactical command to become great pundits in the future:
#5 Michael Carrick (Manchester United)
Michael Carrick is without question one the best English midfielders of our generation and it is such a crime that he has so often been neglected and overshadowed by the more glamorous stars.
The midfielder has more than 700 caps for club and country and has won every single trophy available at club level. A deep-lying playmaker, he is known for his incredible understanding and reading of the game as well as his ability to play inch-perfect passes.
He has announced his retirement the end of the season and has accepted an invitation from Jose Mourinho to become a member of his coaching staff next season.
This proves the tactical prowess he possesses and he has every attribute to become a great pundit in the future should he choose to go down that path.