Football managers play a key role behind the scenes, often facing criticism when things go wrong. Recently, however, the best football managers have gained more recognition, with fans supporting coaches over star players. Known for their leadership, strategies, and team management, the top managers deliver consistent results. Below, we’ve ranked the 10 best football managers in the world today.
List of 10 World’s Best Football Managers
| S.No | Manager | Current Job | Achievements |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pep Guardiola | Manchester City | – Won the sextuple with FC Barcelona (2008-09) – Helped Manchester City win their first UEFA Champions League – Historic treble in 2022-23 |
| 2 | Carlo Ancelotti | Real Madrid | – Most UEFA Champions League titles (5) – Only manager to win league titles in all top five European leagues – Managed Bayern Munich, Chelsea, AC Milan, PSG |
| 3 | Simone Inzaghi | Inter Milan | – Led Inter to the 2022-23 UEFA Champions League final – 5 Italian Super Cups, 3 Italian Cups, 1 Serie A title – Known for working with tight budgets |
| 4 | Didier Deschamps | France Men’s National Team | – Won FIFA World Cup 2018 as manager – Euro 2016 runner-up – UEFA Nations League 2021 title |
| 5 | Diego Simeone | Atletico Madrid | – 2 La Liga titles, 1 Copa del Rey, 2 UEFA Europa League trophies, 2 UEFA Super Cups – Notable for strong defense and quick counter-attacks |
| 6 | Unai Emery | Aston Villa | – 4 UEFA Europa League titles – Helped Aston Villa return to UEFA Champions League – Ligue 1 title and French Cup with PSG |
| 7 | Lionel Scaloni | Argentina Men’s National Team | – 2021 Copa America winner – 2022 FIFA World Cup winner – 2022 Finalissima and 2024 Copa America victories |
| 8 | Hansi Flick | FC Barcelona | – Led Bayern Munich to a sextuple in 2020 – Currently leading Barcelona to the La Liga title with a team of youngsters |
| 9 | Mikel Arteta | Arsenal | – FA Cup winner in first season – Revolutionized Arsenal with a younger team – Made Arsenal competitive again in the Premier League and Champions League |
| 10 | Xabi Alonso | Bayer Leverkusen | – Turned Bayer Leverkusen’s fortunes around – Led team to a sixth-place finish in Bundesliga – Ended Bayern Munich’s dominance, won the DFB Pokal, and Bundesliga |
10. Xabi Alonso
Xabi Alonso became the head coach of Bayer Leverkusen in October 2022 when the club was struggling near the bottom of the Bundesliga table. Alonso’s influence was immediate. By the end of that season, he led Leverkusen to qualify for the UEFA Europa League by finishing 6th. During the 2023-24 season, he ended the club’s title drought, leading them to win the Bundesliga and the DFB Pokal. Despite narrowly losing to Atalanta in the Europa League final, Alonso’s achievements have made him a potential future replacement for Pep Guardiola at Manchester City or Carlo Ancelotti at Real Madrid.
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9. Mikel Arteta
Mikel Arteta, known for his high football intelligence, joined Manchester City as Pep Guardiola’s assistant in 2016 after retiring from professional football. In December 2019, he became Arsenal’s head coach. Arteta guided Arsenal to an FA Cup win in his first season and has since rebuilt the team, focusing on youth and strong defense. Players like Bukayo Saka, Martin Ødegaard, and William Saliba have flourished under his guidance. While Arteta has only won one major trophy so far, he has made Arsenal a competitive force once again, and fans hope this success will lead to more titles.
8. Hansi Flick
Hansi Flick, once questioned after his Germany stint, has exceeded expectations at Barcelona, leading them to the top of La Liga with young talents. Despite a limited budget, he’s revitalized the team, especially Robert Lewandowski. Known for guiding Bayern Munich to a historic sextuple in 2020, Flick ranks among the best football managers of all time.
7. Lionel Scaloni
Lionel Scaloni took over as Argentina’s national team head coach in 2018 when the team was struggling and lacking titles. Scaloni introduced a new generation of players while managing the older stars smoothly. Under his leadership, Argentina won the 2021 Copa América, their first major international trophy in almost three decades. They followed that up with victory in the 2022 FIFA World Cup, 2022 Finalissima, and the 2024 Copa América. Scaloni has transformed the team and helped Lionel Messi secure his first international titles.
6. Unai Emery
Unai Emery may not have thrived at Arsenal, but he’s regarded as one of the best football managers with four UEFA Europa League titles, Ligue 1, and the French Cup.
Since joining Aston Villa in 2022, Emery has revitalized the team, leading them back to the UEFA Champions League after a strong top-four finish in the 2023-24 season, further proving his credentials as one of the best football managers.
5. Diego Simeone
Diego Simeone has been Atletico Madrid’s manager for over a decade, earning recognition as one of the best football managers in the world. His tactical emphasis on defense and quick counter-attacks has shaped the club into a formidable force in European football. Simeone’s impressive track record includes two La Liga titles, a Copa del Rey, two UEFA Europa League trophies, and two UEFA Super Cups. Despite these successes, the UEFA Champions League remains the only major title absent from his collection, solidifying his status as one of the best football managers in recent times.
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4. Didier Deschamps
Didier Deschamps is widely regarded as one of the best football managers, having made an indelible mark on the sport. As both a player and manager, he is one of the few individuals to have won the FIFA World Cup in both roles. As the head coach of France, Deschamps led the team to victory in the 2018 FIFA World Cup and the UEFA Nations League. His leadership also took France to the finals of the 2016 UEFA Euro. Despite facing some recent challenges, France continues to be a force in world football, with Deschamps determined to bring further success to the team as one of the best football managers.
3. Simone Inzaghi
Simone Inzaghi is one of the best football managers, known for his successful career with Lazio and Inter Milan. His biggest achievement came in the 2022-23 season, leading Inter Milan to the UEFA Champions League final.
Inzaghi has excelled in managing tight budgets while keeping teams competitive, winning multiple Italian Super Cups and Cups. His strategic cup runs and adaptability solidify his reputation as one of the best football managers in Europe.
2. Carlo Ancelotti
Carlo Ancelotti is the best football managers, holding the record for most UEFA Champions League titles with five, including a win in 2023-24. He has managed top clubs like AC Milan, Chelsea, Bayern Munich, and PSG. Ancelotti is the only manager to have won league titles in all of Europe’s top five leagues, cementing his legacy as one of the greatest.
1. Pep Guardiola
Pep Guardiola is considered the best football managers of all time. Known for his innovative tactics, he achieved success at FC Barcelona, Bayern Munich, and Manchester City. At Barcelona, he led the team to a historic sextuple in 2009, and at City, he won their first UEFA Champions League title and a treble in 2023, solidifying his legacy as one of the best football minds ever.
Guardiola’s influence as one of the best football managers is undeniable, shaping the modern game with his tactical brilliance and inspiring future generations of coaches.
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