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Life of a football manager is never easy. Managing the egos of superstar players is becoming increasingly difficult and the list of off-field responsibilities is ever-increasing. They get minimal credit when the team performs well and when teams perform poorly, they’re usually the first to go.
That said, we are still blessed with some phenomenal managers in our game today. There are several elite managers who have proved their success across Europe’s top leagues for multiple seasons.
This list will take an in-depth look at who I believe to be the 5 best managers in world football at this point in time. I’ve looked at criteria such as domestic league success, Champions League success, versatility across Europe’s top leagues and longevity at the top. Without further ado, let’s get into it.
1. Pep Guardiola
After a fantastic playing career for Barcelona, Guardiola has excelled in a managerial role. He has managed 3 of the top sides in world football, enjoying success at Barcelona, Bayern Munich, and Man City.
His managerial record at all 3 clubs is fantastic, winning over 71% of matches in each of his destinations. He has managed to comfortably win La Liga, the Bundesliga, and Premier League, winning multiple Champions League titles in the process.
Whilst his efforts at Barcelona and Bayern Munich were spectacular, what he is doing with this City side is arguably the most impressive. In this era of extremely competitive football, his side managed to achieve an unprecedented 100 points and could be in line for the quadruple this season. He definitely has some talented rivals, but Pep Guardiola is comfortably the best manager in world football.
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2. Massimiliano Allegri
Having had a strong playing career for the better part of two decades, Allegri found that he was also very well suited to management. He has had the majority of his success in Serie A, enjoying very strong runs at Sassuolo and Milan before building a dynasty at Juventus.
Whilst admittedly he doesn’t have the highest competition, Allegri boasts a 72% winning record in 259 matches in charge with the Italian giants. He looks very likely to win his 5th consecutive Scudetto as Juve manager this season, having won 4 Coppa Italia’s in the process.
Importantly, he has also had some great success in the Champions League. He has taken Juve to 2 finals in 4 seasons and has a definite shot at winning it this season with Cristiano Ronaldo in town. With speculation about him going elsewhere this summer, his departure would be a big blow for Juve.
3. Zinedine Zidane
Whilst he hasn’t had the same longevity as some of his peers, Zidane has nonetheless done a fantastic job as a club manager. Things didn’t start out too great, as he could only manage a 45% win percentage as Real Madrid Castilla manager.
That said, the board definitely saw something in him and gave him a shot to manage the big club. He hasn’t disappointed either, winning 70% of his matches in a 150-game sample size.
His most impressive accomplishment is undoubtedly his success in the Champions League, registering titles in each of his first 3 seasons in charge. Madrid have also been more competitive in the league under Zidane, winning La Liga in 2016-17. Back in the fold for a second time at Madrid, Zidane is likely the man to turn this side around.
4. Diego Simeone
Whilst his football isn’t necessarily the most appealing, you can’t argue with the success Diego Simeone has had at Athletico Madrid. Now one of the world’s highest paid managers, he’s had great success with Athleti since 2011.
He’s won over 61% of his matches in a 420-game sample, instilling his elite defensive philosophy. Simeone has turned Athletico into a legitimate La Liga contender, claiming the title outright in 2013-14.
Athletico have also become a real force in the Champions League, finishing as Runners Up in 2013-14 and 2015-16. Combine this with 2 Europa League wins and a Copa del Rey and his list of accomplishments really are extensive. Especially given the difficult task at hand, Simeone has done a wonderful job of making Athleti a world football power once again.
5. Jurgen Klopp
Having had some very solid success in both the Bundesliga and Premier League, Klopp deservedly rounds out this list. He did a particularly impressive job at Dortmund, effectively ending the Bayern Munich dynasty en route to 2 Bundesliga titles.
Whilst they’re neck and neck with Man City, he also has Liverpool in position to potentially claim their maiden Premier League this season.
Klopp is also very effective at getting the most out of his players in Europe. He has had some very long runs in European competitions, getting both Dortmund and Liverpool to the Champions League Final.
Having made both the Europa League and English League Cup finals, Klopp definitely has a deep cup run in him. That said, he often fails to get over the final hurdle in these competitions. If he can start turning these runners up finishes into trophies, he could definitely move up this list.
