Managers have one of the most crucial roles to play in football and they naturally come under the spotlight for more reasons than one. Nowadays, managers are judged by not only how they organise their teams, but also by every move they make on the sidelines, whether it be arguing with the referee or poking a rival manager in the eye (read Jose Mourinho). It also includes how they dress up on matchdays where the lens is focused closely on them.
It is said that there are two types of managers in the world- the ones who wear tracksuits and the others who wear suits. A certain Tony Pulis with his baseball cap on the touchline or an Arsene Wenger wearing the giant coat surely belong to the category who are rarely revered for their choice of suits.
Accepted, that dressing style is not something which managers should be criticised upon but we cannot help but appreciate the sense of style some managers possess.
Here we celebrate the men in suits and take a look at ten best-dressed football managers in the world who rarely fail to disappoint with their sense of style:
#10 Jose Mourinho
Jose Mourinho burst into the football scene in England by proclaiming himself as the ‘Special One.’ And special he was- not only when it came to his football tactics but with the style statement he had brought with him. He set the style bar very high by making the ‘long coat’ his trademark attire to suit to the cold English weather. Soon, he was confidently skidding on the grass, and more importantly winning trophies on a regular basis.
Jose Mourinho, who is presently at Manchester United and at 51 years of age, he doesn’t try that hard to look good on the touchline, but the Portuguese still one of the best-dressed managers there is.
#9 Diego Simeone
Simeone’s reputation as a top manager has risen in the past few years because of his eye for detail and the hard work his side puts in matches. He leaves no stone unturned for achieving perfection when it comes to dressing up as well, donning the almost perfect ‘black on black’ style.
Simeone, who was a tough tackling midfield enforcer in his playing days, often wears his close fitted suits which are almost always black with, again, a skinny black tie, oozing confidence as he marches up and down the sidelines.
Simeone possesses the typical Spanish look with the stubble and almost perfect cheekbones, which when coupled with the suits he wears, makes him one of the best-dressed managers in the world.
#8 Quique Sanchez Flores
Quique Sanchez Flores is hugely underrated compared to the fashionistas in the footballing world. In his introduction to the English press after becoming the Watford manager in 2015, Sanchez Flores donned a slim suit with buttoned down shirt and canvas trainers.
The current Espanyol manager looks equally good in cardigans, blazers and tracksuits, often going for an all-black combination which has class written all over it.
Quique Sanchez Flores does know how to dress up in a football pitch and could be an example for all young managers to follow.
#7 Luis Enrique
Luis Enrique rarely gets it wrong with his minimal yet versatile style. He often wears a seemingly awkward combination of suits with trainers but manages to look classy every time.
Enrique, who himself was a player at Camp Nou, never really seems to put in extra effort to look good. It comes to him naturally. The secret of the perfecting suits with trainers? Keeping the tailoring slim and the design of the shoes minimal.
The Barcelona manager also mixes it up with the classic suits paired with a slim tie and leather shoes.
#6 Zinedine Zidane
One of the new boys in football management, Zinedine Zidane already made his name as an impeccably dressed player in his time. The midfield genius has previously modelled for Louis Vuitton, Adidas Y-3 and Mango.
Zidane did on the pitch which very few in his time could and is one of the very few managers now who can pull off sportswear without looking like a pillow cover. So much so, Zidane looks as if he can immediately jump onto the pitch to play for the team he’s managing.
When it comes to formals, his understated style with the use of less bold colours makes him one of the best dressed young managers in the world.
#5 Pep Guardiola
The answer to who among Jose Mourinho and Pep Guardiola is the better manager might just have to wait a little bit longer because they bring in the rivalry not only on the pitch but through the wardrobe they wear. Pep Guardiola, who can pull off a close fitting suit coupled with a narrow tie as effortlessly as the tiki-taka style of play at a club, he surely makes it to our list of the best managerial dressers.
It is not only in the formal that he thrives on, though. Pep can play the odd long ball by sporting turtlenecks or a very catchy pink polo. Whatever he does wear, his attire for the game clearly complements the football his team plays, which could be summed up in one word-classy.
#4 Roberto Mancini
Roberto Mancini oozes class and charisma when it comes to his dressing style. Apart from winning the Premier League title with Manchester City, Mancini will be remembered for his effortless ability to pull off the retro blue and white striped scarf, neatly tucked inside his coat. The scarf, which was given as a free gift to season ticket holders at the Etihad, soon became a sensation and the club had to make it available for general purchase.
Mancini is the epitome of the Italian fashion heritage with his finely tailored suits and flowing hair. He is a self-confessed fan of Giorgio Armani. Though adapting the classic look most of the times, he doesn’t fail to mix it up with jumpers inside blazers coupled with the trendsetting scarf of his.
#3 Paul Tisdale
You might wonder who the hell is this guy and why is he so high up on the list? Well, the guy’s name is Paul Tisdale and he is the manager of League Two club Exeter City. And he is so high up on the list simply because he possesses a sense of style which is second to none as far as football managers are concerned.
In a league where most managers wear the tracksuit, Tisdale brings a breath of fresh air to the competition. Some say that Exeter City is noticed in the lower leagues because of Paul Tisdale who masterfully teams his well-cut suits with flat caps and cravats.
Paul Tisdale surely belongs to the football fashion elite even though his team does not.
#2 Joachim Low
Scratching and sniffing incidents aside, Joachim Low’s style cannot be put to question. Germany’s manager is often considered one of the sexiest managers in the world, not only because of his shiny locks but also for his impeccable sense of dressing.
He often pairs his slim white shirt with a jumper around the neck making him look like a star from Hollywood shooting for a football movie. At other times he couples the fitted shirt with a scarf with ease.
Bearing a calm and composed look, Low makes it look that he could become the next Bond after his life as a football manager.
#1 Cesare Prandelli
The quintessential Italian look is most closely perfected by none other than Cesare Prandelli and that is why he comes first in our list of the best-dressed football managers.
You will rarely see him put a foot wrong when it comes to wearing perfectly tailored suits. The former Italy manager, in his time at Fiorentina, would often be audacious and pair his suit with something purple which was the colour of the club.
At other times he would wear a shirt which would always be white with a perfect black suit which would make one think that the suit was invented for him and him alone.
Prandelli’s look is classic and there is nobody who can come close to the perfection of style which Prandelli portrays on the sidelines.
