Every football manager comes with his very own philosophy. Some managers like their team to play possession-based football while some adopt the safety-first approach. Some managers encourage their side to go out full-throttle while some don’t mind keeping eight men inside the box.
But, there are very few managers who can change systems successfully according to the demands of the game.
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To become a good manager, you must first become a good tactician. Tactics are not thoroughly limited to the pitch, though. Playing mind-games before the game, and pressurising officials are important aspects of the modern game. While some have mastered the art and have excelled at their respective clubs, others have failed to flourish to the same extent.
In this article, we will take a look at five of the most tactically astute managers in the world right now.
#5 Jorge Sampaoli
Sevilla needed someone inspirational to take charge in the summer when Unai Emery left for Paris Saint-Germain and they got a like for like replacement in Jorge Sampaoli. Sevilla are having an excellent season in the La Liga this time around and are doing quite well in Europe too.
Sampaoli, who led Chile to two back to back Copa America titles, has made his mark on European football in style.
Tactically, the Argentine is excellent, as you would expect from a manager who follows the principles of Marcelo Bielsa. The key to his success with the Chilean national team was the high-pressing and high-intensity system he deployed in a 3-5-2 formation.
In general, 3-5-2 is a formation that is used to bring defensive stability, but Sampaoli’s system is quite different. It is an extremely attacking system which is a treat to watch. Even though Sampaoli likes his team to play 3-5-2, he is not afraid to ring the changes when needed.
With an inferior team when compared to the likes of Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay, he managed to bring Chile the biggest prize in South America, something that speaks volumes of his ability as a manager.
Sampaoli’s success with Chile is one of the biggest fairy tales we have seen on the international stage. The way the side played under him was quite brilliant. They looked solid defensively and could outrun, outmuscle and outpace any team in the world. The team was top-notch in the attacking sense as well.
With very few world-class players in Sanchez, Vidal, and Medel available at Sampaoli’s disposal, the way he succeeded with mostly average players is quite remarkable.
#4 Diego Simeone
After Sampaoli, another manager who will walk into the list is Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone. The 46-year-old is likely to leave the Vicente Calderon at the end of this season and if he does that, he will be leaving as a legend.
Madrid were always on the football map thanks to the white half of the city, but Simeone gave Atletico their own identity in world football. Thanks to the sheer tactical brilliance of Simeone, Atletico are now one of the biggest clubs in European football.
Competing against the likes of Real Madrid and Barcelona, the Argentine won the La Liga title in 2013-14 with Atletico. He also took them to the final of the Champions League twice but lost on both occasions.
When you have all the resources, it is easy to be successful but Simeone has managed to become a world-class manager without much at his disposal. Few might not like his physical approach to the game but believe me, the Argentine is one of the very best in the world tactically.
Simeone mostly uses a 4-4-2 formation but he often tweaks his tactics during the game. He employs a fluid system where every player contributes in every department. Defensively, Simeone’s sides are top-notch without ‘parking the bus’ which makes his approach to the game all the more attractive.
#3 Jose Mourinho
Well, the aura of ‘the Special One’ might have faded to some extent in recent seasons, but he still remains one of the biggest figures in the managerial world. Now the manager of Manchester United, Mourinho will be looking to become a club legend like Sir Alex Ferguson before him.
The Portuguese is not afraid to change his system constantly and even though he has not been too successful recently, his tactical brilliance in the big games is there for everyone to see.
He is often unfairly criticised for being a defensive manager. Well, every manager is either defensive or attacking. It’s their personal preference. Very few, however, can match the achievements of the Portuguese.
His success over the years speaks volumes about his tactical shrewdness. After all, winning the Champions League with Porto was no bread and butter task. While most managers struggle to find a plan B when their team is in trouble, Mourinho always has his plan B, C, and Ds ready.
#2 Antonio Conte
Antonio Conte showed the Premier League what a manager he is by changing the fortunes of a struggling Chelsea side after their 3-0 loss against Arsenal in the opening stages of the season. Since then, the Blues have looked a whole different side and are now comfortably leading the Premier League.
Anyone who has followed Conte over the years will know how sound a manager the Italian is, tactically. He was the undisputed king in Serie A during his time at Juventus and he is now on the verge of winning the Premier League in his first season in England. Moreover, who can forget Italy’s solid run in the Euro 2016 with an average team? The Italians overcame adversity to defeat much stronger teams like Belgium and Spain without much fuss.
Breaking down a team managed by Conte is really hard. Would you have believed me if I told you a year ago that Victor Moses would play a big part in Chelsea’s title win? No, right? That’s where the Italian trumps most managers in the world. He is willing to adapt and evolve.
Conte is an admirer of the three-at-the-back system. His system at Juventus was 3-5-2, whereas, at Chelsea, he has employed the 3-4-3. However, Conte has used a number of tactics in his career including the 4-4-2, 4-2-4, 4-4-2 diamond, 4-3-3 et al. His biggest strength is that he knows his team’s capability and he also has the shrewdness to read the opposition perfectly.
He plays each and every player in positions they are comfortable in and is not afraid to drop big names. Another aspect that separates him from the rest is that he refuses to tinker with a winning formula. At Chelsea, he has fielded the same eleven players in almost all the games since they began their winning run.
#1 Marcelo Bielsa
Bielsa is a manager who redefined football tactics and breathed fresh air into modern football. The iconic Argentine has very little to show for his genius philosophy but his legacy will remain in the form of his disciples – Pochettino, Sampaoli, and Guardiola.
His 3-3-3-1 formation was a revelation in modern football. Now unemployed, after leaving Lazio just two days after taking charge of the club, he will be remembered as a controversial but inspirational individual.
There are many managers in the world who have achieved great success over the years but very few of them have truly brought in a new style of management, a new system. Johan Cruyff will be forever remembered for what he did to football not just on the pitch but also off the pitch. He ushered in a new era of tactics and gameplay.
Bielsa’s contribution to football is also similar. He had the guts to try something new and achieved immense success with it. While he did not succeed to a great extent in terms of silverware, his legacy will be carried forward by his mentees Guardiola, Pochettino, and Sampaoli.
