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The Spanish top-flight, popularly known as La Liga, is one of the most revered leagues in world football. The league boasts a rich history, with clubs steeped in the collage of cultures that surround European football.
The league once beheld old legends of the game like Alfredo Di Stefan, Johan Cruyff, Diego Maradona, Rivaldo and Zinedine Zidane. All these players dazzled and mesmerized the crowds in Spain before or during the peak years of their careers.
La Liga can also lay claim to helping in the development of many influential managers who changed the game. Vincente Del Bosque managed Real Madrid before setting up the all-conquering Spanish national team.
Johan Cruyff set up the modern Barcelona footballing identity which was later furthered by Pep Guardiola at the same club. Rafa Benitez shot to prominence as a young manager at Valencia over two decades ago.
The ability of the Spanish nation to consistently produce top quality players and managers is one of the reasons why La Liga is so highly regarded. A couple of La Liga managers have shone brightly this year as well, and ranked here are five of the best in the Spanish top flight:
#5 Manuel Pellegrini | Real Betis
The 68-year-old Chilean manager has managed top-flight clubs in Europe for nearly two decades. Having managed Villareal, Real Madrid and Malaga in previous years, Manual Pellegrini isn't new to La Liga.
After stints with Manchester City, Hebei China Fortune and West Ham, Pellegrini signed a contract with Real Betis in 2020.
Last season saw Pellegrini guide Los Verdiblancos to a sixth-place Europa League finish, losing just 11 games in La Liga. This season, Real Betis have continued in fine form, winning 10 La Liga games in their last 18 outings. Pellegrini's men currently sit in third place, an unexpected feat for the side.
While they may not win La Liga this season, Real Betis have clearly reached greater heights and Pellegrini is the man who led them through the process.
#4 Julen Lopetegui | Sevilla
The world-class manager is one of the few stars who notably signed and played for both Barcelona and Real Madrid during his career. Having spent the entirety of his career playing in Spain, it's little surprise that Julen Lopetegui has spent the bulk of his managerial career in the same vein.
Aside from managing Porto during a two-year stint in Portugal, the Spaniard has managed Rayo Vallecano, Spain's national team, and Real Madrid. After a rather short stint with Real Madrid, the 55-year-old joined Sevilla where he has found major success.
In his first year at Sevilla, Lopetegui guided Los Rojiblancos to a fourth place finish in La Liga, taking them into the Champions League. This year, he picked up another fourth place finish, just two points behind third-placed Barcelona.
This season, however, has been spectacular for Lopetegui. Sitting just behind Real Madrid in second place, Sevilla has become a title contender in the Spanish top-flight. With an eight-point gap between Los Rojiblancos and an in-form Los Galacticos, there's little chance that Sevilla will win La Liga this season. However, finishing in second will be an unprecedented feat for Lopetegui's men.
#3 Carlo Ancelotti | Real Madrid
The Italian manager has grown reputation as a successful manager of the modern game, having managed top-flight clubs spanning across England, Italy, France, Germany, and Spain. Notably, his time in La Liga has been rather short, with Carlo Ancelotti spending two seasons at Real Madrid during the last decade.
Los Blancos are the only team the Roma legend has managed in La Liga, and he has returned to the Santiago Bernabeu for a second stint.
Resigning from his post at Everton, Carlo Ancelotti joined Real Madrid in the summer of 2021. His previous stint at the Spanish capital saw Ancelotti win a remarkable four trophies in just two seasons. Now he has returned, the Italian manager has led Real Madrid impressively, losing just once in 19 games so far this season.
With eight points ahead of second-place Sevilla, Ancelotti's men look set to win La Liga within the next few months.
#2 Diego Simeone | Atletico Madrid
The 51-year-old manager left the shores of South America for Spain during the earlier years of his playing career. Stints with Sevilla and Atletico Madrid saw him spend nearly a decade playing in La Liga, and it was little surprise that he returned during his managerial career.
After spending five years honing his tactical qualities in Argentina, Diego Simeone joined Atletico Madrid in 2011 and has been their manager for over a decade.
While he has brought continental success to the Wanda Metropolitano - four European trophies - Diego Simeone has struggled to win La Liga titles. Due to the strong dominance that Real Madrid and Barcelona have held on the Spanish league for decades, it hasn't been an easy feat for Simeone.
However, a dramatic run last season saw the Argentine manager win the title unexpectedly. Simeone's men fought till the very end, beating Real Madrid by just two points to carry the title.
#1 Zinedine Zidane | formerly Real Madrid
The Frenchman is widely regarded as one of the best players in footballing history, having won the Ballon d'Or and FIFA World Player of the Year in his prime. Zinedine Zidane might have found great success as a player, but his managerial career has seen the most astonishing triumphs.
Zidane became the first-ever coach to win the Champions League three consecutive times with Real Madrid, an unprecedented feat for any club or manager in Europe.
After Los Blancos struggled with poor results after Zidane left the Santiago Bernabeu, the club convinced the Frenchman to return in 2019. Before he left Madrid for the second time in May, Real Madrid broke several records, including conceding just 25 goals in 38 La Liga games in 2019-20.
From January 1 till Zidane left on May 27 this year, Real Madrid lost just one La Liga game, eventually coming in second place at the end of the season.
