Ranking the 10 best managers in world football this year (2021)
A manager’s standing in world football can be a fluid situation, due to the constantly evolving and changing landscape. Few managers have influenced the game on a fundamental level. Many have tried and failed to replicate those successes, albeit to varying degrees.
Some managers achieve great success on a shoestring budget, while some have war chests that could match the GDP of a small nation. At the end of the season, what matters most is that these managers win games and trophies. The only tangible measures of success in football is breaking records, high win rates, and burgeoning trophy cabinets.
Football management at the top level is a difficult and thankless job, with many managers getting fired mid-season. They are often forced out before they can reap the fruits of their labour at the club.
However, the managers on this list haven't had such problems thus far. They have been the best in the game this year. They have bested their fellow managers tactically on several occasions while winning silverware for their teams. Without further ado, here's a look at the ten best managers in world football this year:
#10 Mauricio Pochettino | PSG
The popular Argentine once played as a centre-back for PSG, and now he currently manages the French giants.
After leaving his managerial post at Tottenham Hotspur in 2019, Mauricio Pochettino joined the Parisians at the start of this year. Pochettino is highly notable for his work with Spurs, taking them to the first Champions League final in 2019.
This year, the Espanyol legend has managed one of the most potent attacks in world football. The addition of Lionel Messi to a star-studded outfit that included Neymar, Kylian Mbappe, and Angel di Maria has taken the world by storm.
However, Pochettino is yet to harness his attacking options to optimum effect, with Messi struggling to light up Ligue 1. Nevertheless, the Argentine manager led PSG to two trophies this year, including the Coupe de France, but the league title eluded him. That's something he's looking good to win next year, as PSG have a 13-point lead atop the Ligue 1 standings.
#9 Simone Inzaghi | Inter Milan
Since the former Lazio striker returned to the Stadio Olimpico as a manager in 2016, I Biancocelesti have flourished.
Although he is yet to win Serie A as a manager, partly due to Juventus’ dominance, Inzaghi has guided the Romans to three domestic trophies. He notably drove Lazio to the Supercoppa Italiana twice in three years and the Coppa Italia in 2019.
This year, Lazio were back in the Europa League after Inzaghi led them to a sixth-place finish in Serie A. However, his major achievements this season started off when he became Inter Milan manager in July.
Although the Nerrazurri sold off key striker Romelu Lukaku, Inzaghi has had no issues catapulting the team atop the league table. In 19 games this season, Inter have won 14 and drawn four. Inzaghi's men are currently four points ahead of second-placed Milan as they look to successfully defend their league title.
#8 Brendan Rodgers | Leicester City
After long managerial stints in England, including a four-season stint at Liverpool, Brendan Rodgers switched to Celtic.
In a memorable three-year stint with the Celts, the former Reading manager picked up the best win rate of his managerial career. In 169 games, the Northern Irishman lost just 26 games, while drawing 25. Leicester City snapped him up in 2019, and he has rejuvenated the Foxe' fortunes since then.
This year, Rodgers led the underdogs to a fifth-place finish in the Premier League, cementing their spot in the Europa League. He led the Foxes to two trophies. A stunning FA Cup run saw Brendan Rodgers win his first-ever trophy in England. He then won the Community Shield at the start of the ongoing season.
#7 Carlo Ancelotti | Real Madrid
The Italian is one of just three managers who have won the Champions League thrice.
Starting with smaller Italian clubs, Carlo Ancelotti built his managerial resume, and soon found success with European juggernauts. Stints with PSG, Chelsea, Juventus and Bayern Munich have saw Ancelotti win numerous trophies. This year, the world-class manager added another trophy to his cabinet.
Managing Everton in the Premier League, Ancelotti could only carry the Toffees to a tenth-place finish. In the summer, Ancelotti returned to the Santiago Bernabeu, where he won four trophies, including the UEFA Champions League.
Under the Italian, Real Madrid have flourished, as Los Blancos are currently 12 points ahead of second-placed Sevilla atop the La Liga table. Having lost just once in 19 La Liga games, Ancelotti looks sets to become the first manager to win league titles in five different countries.
#6 Julian Nagelsmann | Bayern Munich
The young manager rose through the ranks at Hoffenheim, starting as an assistant for the U17 side, and ending up as the club’s manager for three years.
In that short stint, Julian Nagelsmann took Hoffenheim from relegation strugglers to the Champions League. RB Leipzig snatched Nagelsmann up. He guided them to second place in the Bundesliga, as well as the DFB Pokal final earlier this year.
Bayern Munich snapped up Nagelsmann, paying a world-record €25 million to bring the young manager to Allianz Arena. After starting 2021 brilliantly with Leipzig, Nagelsmann has hit a higher gear with Die Roten.
The German won his first-ever trophy, picking up the DFL-Supercup. Bayern are currently atop the Bundesliga table, 11 points ahead of second-placed Borussia Dortmund.
He has also led them on an unbeaten run in the Champions League, with the Bavarian giants winning all six group games. Nagelsmann is already set to win his first Bundesliga title and possibly European silverware as well.
#5 Diego Simeone | Atletico Madrid
After playing for Atletico Madrid during his career, Diego Simeone returned to the club as manager a decade ago.
The Argentine legend joined Los Colchoneros in 2011, and has won seven trophies with the club so far. That includes two league titles (2014 and 2021). Simeone has managed 551 games at Atleti, and has registered a decent win rate of 59.17%. He won two continental trophies in 2018.
It has been a good year for Simeone in 2021, as he guided Atletico Madrid to their second La Liga title under his tutelage. In a hard-fought title race, Atletico finished ahead of holders Real Madrid by two points.
This season has been a sub-par one for Atletico and Simeone, who came second in their Champions League group, and sit fifth in La Liga. Simeone’s men are a whopping 17 points behind leaders Real Madrid. They will meet Manchester United for a place in the Champions League quarter-finals.
#4 Jurgen Klopp | Liverpool
The German manager left Borussia Dortmund in 2015 after a successful stint. He arrived at Liverpool, and has built what one of the finest Premier League teams in league history.
At Dortmund, Jurgen Klopp reached the final of the Champions League, and won the club’s first-ever domestic double. Klopp eventually won the Champions League with Liverpool in 2019. He has also guided them to a UEFA Super Cup and a FIFA Club World Cup.
This year, Klopp took Liverpool to a third-place finish in the Premier League with 69 points. That was a significant drop from the 99 they garnered during their league-winning campaign last year.
The German manager has picked up the pace once more. Liverpool are nine points behind leaders Manchester City, albeit with a game in hand. The Reds have also had a fabulous time in the Champions League this season, where they won all six group games.
Klopp has a decent chance of European success this season, and they are also in the fray for domestic silverware too.
#3 Antonio Conte | Tottenham Hotspur
Currently managing Tottenham Hotspur, Antonio Conte is looking to transform their flagging fortunes.
Last season, Spurs finished seventh in the Premier League to miss out on the Champions League and the Europa League. The club has gone through a few managers since Mauricio Pochettino’s exit. Jose Mourinho, Ryan Mason and Nuno Espirito Santo came in, but were unable to revive Spurs's dwindling fortunes.
Conte has made a good start at Spurs, though, losing only once in ten games. They are sixth in the league standings as they seek a return to the Champions League.
Before his Tottenham stint, Conte managed Inter Milan to their first Serie A title in 11 years this summer, ending Juventus’ near decade-long stranglehold. Under the Italian manager, the Nerazzurri lost just three league games, finishing with an impressive tally of 91 points.
#2 Pep Guardiola | Manchester City
There’s hardly a better manager in the Premier League than the Barcelona legend. Joining Manchester City in 2016, Pep Guardiola embarked on an unparalleled dominance in English football. He has won four League Cups, three Premier League titles, two Community Shields and one FA Cup. His win rate percentage at City is an impressive 73.07, with Guardiola losing only 48 of 323 games managed across competitions.
In 2021, Guardiola has had another great year. He notably drove Manchester City to their third Premier League title in four years, finishing 12 points ahead of second-placed Manchester United. He also won the League Cup this year, and took City to their first Champions League final, where they lost to Chelsea.
This season, City are comfortably atop the Premier League table, eight points above second-placed Chelsea. They are looking good for another league table. Guardiola’s men haven’t been as efficient in the Champions League, though. Although they topped their group ahead of PSG, they did lose against Leipzig and the Ligue 1 giants.
Nevertheless, they remain strong contenders in the Champions League, as Guardiola seeks his first continental trophy in more than a decade.
#1 Thomas Tuchel | Chelsea
The world-class German tactician has arguably been the best manager this year. Joining Chelsea at the beginning of the year, he took the then struggling side to an unexpected Champions League title.
He also took Chelsea to a fourth-place finish in the Premier League, after taking over from the sacked Frank Lampard. Tuchel won the UEFA Super Cup and came runner-up in the FA Cup, as he won two trophies in barely half a year.
Chelsea had a blistering start to their 2021-22 Premier League campaign, leading the table for many weeks. A few poor results have seen Chelsea knocked off the perch. However, Tuchel's Chelsea are set to give the Cityzens a strong fight for the title.
While City go into the New Year as Premier League table-toppers, Chelsea could return to the summit if they rediscover their mojo. Meanwhile, they have impressed in spurts in the Champions League. Finishing second to Italian giants Juventus in their group, the holders will face Lille for a place in the quarter-finals.
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