Wayne Rooney and the romantic British way into coaching

In the step from the pitch to the bench, there are cases of players that, when you see how they play, you're certain they will become a coach. In other cases, there are players you would never suspect will become managers. Not for a lack of knowledge, but for attitude. They're players that prefer to go about their business: train, game and home. And they're not often thinkin about the why behind training sessions. In short, there are players that do and others that do and think.

They're all united by the dream of becoming footballers from a young age. But not everyone dreams of becoming a coach. There are people that don't beyond their playing career. From there, sometimes it's difficult to understand the background to a decision that is a risky one. Sometimes it happens through pure inertia, for the hole you encounter in your life and the craving for that daily dressing room routine. It's a decision you begin to think about when you reach 30, or even before, and you think about your options: scout, agent, sporting director, coach... or something away from football.

There are several ways to try your luck as a coach. You could become an assistant or join a coaching set up where you work on your trade. There are others that go into academy coaching after getting their badges. And then there's the British way, unusual in Spain: combining the role of player and coach before taking a definitive step. It's an old tradition and I like it for its romantic side. It happened with Gullit and Vialli in Chelsea and Roberto Martinez had the chance to do it with Swansea, although he ended up hanging up his boots to focus on the role of coach.

Wayne Rooney has kept up the English tradition of being a player-coach but this week has accepted the chance to take on the manager's position full-time at Derby County. It's a natural transition. A moment arrives in your career when you feel more of an educator for the new generations coming through in the changing room because you see the team and tactical aspects with more maturity due to your experience.

The fact that other former England teammates like Steven Gerrard (Rangers) and Frank Lampard (first Derby, now Chelsea), have taken the step with relative success has helped convince other clubs to take a chance on rookie big-name bosses. It's a decision that carries risk, especially for the coach, whose whole future as a coach could be conditioned by a bad decision. Errors are natural, therefore it's important to choose your staff well and surround yourself with people who can contribute things that you can't.

Being a legend of the game helps earn the respect of the dressing room, but it will always be hard to make painful decisions that affect your former teammates. What is clear is that Rooney has had an enviable career and has not chosen the easiest path into coaching at a club like Derby, in the process of a takeover and in danger of relegation. Without a doubt, it's a very brave decision.