MARQUEE MANIA: Manager role will have greater, better impact on Anelka the player

THERE'S NOT MUCH THAT NICOLAS ANELKA hasn't done in the prime of his footballing career. He won the Premier League and FA Cup with Arsenal and Chelsea, Serie A with Juventus, UEFA Champions League with Real Madrid, UEFA European Championship, and FIFA Confederations Cup with France. He earned 69 caps for France, and the respect of fans at half a dozen major European football clubs. Volumes have been written about the forward's footballing exploits around the world. They need not be repeated here. 

He came to play for Mumbai City after running into trouble over his use of the quennelle gesture while playing for West Bromwich Albion. After he served his three-match ban, he made 7 appearances for the frachise, and it was clear that he was no longer his former self. The pristine first touch, the precision of finishing was still very much there but the pace, the defence splitting runs, and the restless intent to keep the defenders on their toes even off the ball and seek out the action for himself was gone. 

That's not to say he did not have an impact. Of the four precious wins that Mumbai City managed to bag in the inaugural ISL, two came from matches where Anelka scored the only goal. As fatigue from intense scheduling saw back to back draws take place in the ISL towards the middle of the competition; Anelka's goals were refreshing deadlock-breakers and helped Mumbai City avoid a bottom of the table finish.

But it wasn't anything great. At least nothing that would compel a team's management to rush to sign a player before he got snapped up. 

After his ISL stint, Anelka tried to find a club elsewhere. He was close to agreeing a contract with Algerian club NA Hussein Dey. But the strict rules of Algerian Football Federation regarding who can play domestic football in their country saw that move blocked. Anelka did not play for anyone for the rest of the season.

And now he is back in Mumbai City for a second stint. Not just as the marquee player but with the added responsibility of being a manager. Which does not make sense: shouldn't Mumbai City look to prioritise performance when picking their players, especially after happened last season? 

But Anelka returned, amid much publicity, and settled immediately into the role of the manager, playing a central role at picking and choosing the signings and setting up a well-rounded squad. Now, after months of effort, Mumbai City have a team that on paper looks better than last season's squad. And their pre-season in Mumbai didn't go that bad either. Which means, the effect Anelka is having as a manager somewhat outweighs the positives he brings to the table as a player. 

But maybe it's wrong to separate the player Anelka from the manager Anelka. After all the experiences he will have to share with the youngsters he earned as a player. The skills he can teach them, the perspectives and strategies he can instill into the squad, all stem from the way he learned and experienced football as a player. 

There is no doubt he will play some games. He may even score a few goals that sends the fans into rupture. But it is unlikely that he will be the central point of Mumbai City's offence. And with the likes of Frédéric Piquionne, Sunil Chhetri, and Sony Norde already in the squad, he won't need to. And he arranged for it to be that way. 

Most player-managers in football have been like that: they play a bit part in the team as a player and focus most of their energy on their managerial job. There's nothing wrong if Anelka chooses to do the same. Marco Materazzi, while doing a great job as a player-manager at Chennaiyin FC, tried to do too much of both at the same time and the pressure got to him. This season he is back only as a manager. Maybe at Mumbai City that's the direction Anelka will be taking as well.