“In football, the worst things are excuses. Excuses mean you cannot grow or move forward. The fans can accept a poor performance, but they won't take it when you choose not to put in the effort.” - Pep Guardiola
What does it mean to be a soccer coach?
Sports coaching is both a fulfilling and challenging profession that requires a combination of skills, knowledge, and personal qualities. Whether coaching individuals, teams, or organizations, you need to be able to establish rapport, communicate effectively, facilitate learning, and support growth.
We have already explored the clubs most loved by fans and the most stylish players, and now it's time to discuss the iconic coaches in the world of soccer. Coaches oversee the overall training of the team and ensure the implementation of effective strategies.
Behind every great team, there is a great coach with a strong vision, team spirit, leadership, reputation, and experience. Football managers have a crucial role both on and off the field, and it's time to determine who is the best of the best in men's soccer.
10 lead coaches in men's world football
Managing a football team requires diverse talents and extensive knowledge of the game. The coach´s instructions must be communicated clearly and effectively, so the team can anticipate the opponent's movements. The times change, and so do the strategies coaches use to lead their team to victory, which is how they built their reputation and earned the respect of fans.
Marcello Lippi was the first football manager to win the Best Club Coach of the Year award in 1996. These coaches come from all over the world. Although Johan Cruyff is not on this list, he is regarded as one of the most influential figures in football history, known for his revolutionary style of play known as “Total Football”, which has inspired football players, coaches, and BYMS.
Currently in charge of: Portugal
Roberto Martinez is a Spanish professional football manager and former professional player who is currently the head coach of the Portugal national team. He started his managerial career in 2007 at Swansea City and led the club to Championship promotion as League One champions.
He proved to be a very talented coach and well-trained manager when he managed the Belgium national team and achieved significant success, guiding them to a third-place finish at the 2018 World Cup, their best ever performance in the competition. He also kept them at the top of the FIFA World ranking. Currently, Martinez is the head coach of Portugal national team, with a contract extending to 2026, tasked with leading Portugal through Euro 2024 and the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The coach is known for his possession-based style of play and his ability to motivate and inspire his players. He is a respected figure among fans and the coaching world, and will be looking to continue his success with Portugal.
Currently in charge of: Atlético Mineiro
Anyone who considers themselves a football fan knows Luiz Scolari, the manager with the most trophies who brought incredible success to his teams. He started managing in 1982 for Caxias, and later led the Brazil National Team to a FIFA World Cup win in 2002. He was manager of the Portugal national team from July 2003 to June 2008, leading Portugal to the final of UEFA Euro 2004 and a fourth-place finish in the 2006 World Cup, but in UEFA Euro 2008 he resigned.
Joachim is a former football player who started his career in 1978 and is ranked among the best coaches in international football. He was the manager of the German national team from 2006 until 2021. He's regarded as one of the best fittest male athletes, having won the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil and the 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup in Russia.
Although Löw is not managing currently, he affirms that he's not retired and wishes to be in charge of some national team and compete in the 2026 World Cup.
Giovanni Trapattoni is an Italian football manager and former player, considered the most successful club coach of Italian football. He is one of the five most celebrated managers in football history, alongside Carlo Ancelotti, Ernst Happel, Tomislav Ivić and José Mourinho, to have won league titles in four different European countries.
He won 10 league titles in Italy, Germany, Portugal and Austria, making him one of the three coaches to have won all three major European club competitions: the European Cup, UEFA Cup, and UEFA Cup Winners´Cup. His last team in charge was the Republic of Ireland in 2013, but he resigned after failing to qualify the team for the 2014 World Cup.
Jürgen Norbert Klopp is a German professional football manager and former player who was most recently the manager of Premier League club Liverpool.
He's regarded as one of the best football managers in the world. He started his managing career in 2001 at Mainz 05, then moved to Borussia Dortmund, which he guided to the Bundesliga title in 2010-11, and finally Liverpool. Klopp joined Liverpool in 2015, guiding the club to UEFA Champions League finals in 2018 and 2022, also winning the trophy in 2019 to secure his first, and Liverpool´s sixth title in the competition.
Klopp is a notable proponent of Gegenpressing, whereby the team, after losing possession, immediately attempts to win back possession rather than falling back to regroup. The former player has cited his main influences as Italian coach Arrigo Sacchi and former Mainz coach Wolfgang Frank.
Rinus was a Dutch football player and coach, he played his entire career for Ajax, which he later managed, and also managed the Netherlands national team for four spells. He is regarded as one of the greatest managers of all time and became most notable for his coaching achievements, winning the European Cup with Ajax and the Spanish league with Barcelona.
He is credited with the invention of major football playing style and set of tactics known as “Total Football” in the 1970s. He was named Coach of the Century by FIFA in 1999, the greatest post-war football coach by The Times in 2007, and the greatest coach in the history of football by France Football in 2019.
Currently in charge of: Real Madrid
The pragmatic Italian just knows how to win and never lets emotion cloud his judgment on the sidelines. Regarded as one of the greatest football managers of all time, he is the most successful manager in UEFA Champions League history, having won the trophy a record five times, plus two more when he was a player. He is also the first and only manager to have led teams in six Champions League finals.
The coach revealed to La Repubblica that wishes to end his career in the charge of Real Madrid and hopes to win one more Champions League, but he will stay until the team wants him.
Alex Ferguson is definitely one of the greatest football managers in the world. He is most known for managing Manchester United from 1986 to 2013, where he led Manchester United to unprecedented glory, winning 38 trophies, including 13 Premier League titles, five FA Cups and two UEFA Champions League titles.
His philosophy was based on discipline, hard work, and organization, which was highly effective in the soccer world. He was knighted in the 1999 Queen's Birthday Honours list for his service to the game.
Currently in charge of: Fenerbahçe Spor Kulübü
José Mourinho is known for his well-organized defenses and the physical strength of his teams. In 2012, he was named Best Club Coach of the Year, and he is a record four-time winner of the award. The Portuguese manager had a successful career, especially during the early 2000s when he led Chelsea to a string of Premier League titles and cup trophies. He has an incredible trophy haul, winning eight league titles and four domestic cups with F.C. Porto, Chelsea, Inter, and Real Madrid.
Currently in charge of: Manchester City
Guardiola is a Catalan professional football manager and former player from Spain, who's currently the manager of Premier League club Manchester City.
There is no coach still in the game who is more successful than Pep Guardiola, one of the greatest football managers of all time. He is the only manager to win the continental treble twice, the youngest manager to win the UEFA Champions League, and he holds the record for the most consecutive league games won in La Liga, the Bundesliga, and the Premier League.
He was considered The Best FIFA Men's Coach in 2023, while in charge of Man City. Guardiola made 42 caps for the Spanish national team from 1992 to 2001, scoring five goals.
The world of football has been shaped and transformed by these exceptional managers, who play a major role in their team's victory. From the tactical genius of Pep Guardiola to the unparalleled success of Alex Ferguson, these coaches have redefined the true meaning of leading a team. These top 10 managers have not only achieved success on the pitch but also influenced countless players and fans through their unique philosophies and tactics.
Did we forget any legendary football manager? Share your thoughts and tell us which team you are cheering for?