Gerard Houllier Never played professional football. Initially, before moving into football management, he was a teacher.
Roy Hodgson Only played at low levels - Gravesend appears to be his highest club (although was a trainee with Palace)
No but it's got to help if you can ride a horse. Not sure if that makes a footballer a better manager than one who never played though.
Why I wonder has the footballing world avoided non-footballers - There are some excellent leaders/motivators in other sports like Dave Brailsford, Warren Gatland. Combine one of them together with a 'football brain' and you'd have a winning combination.
thank you mate, joined in the hope of an uplift in the season, survival and better football times ahead. You did need another optimist aboard didnt you?