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The men who are held responsible every time a team fails to reach its goal are the football managers. With 2014 FIFA World Cup days away, we take a look at all the football managers who will be taking their squad on a two month footballing adventure in a quest for glory.These professors will be guiding their respective teams through various tactics. Each manager has their own way of playing football. The managers who will extract every possible ounce from his squad will go on to win the tournament.Fun Fact: No foreign manager has ever won a World Cup!
#32 Ange Postecoglou - Australia
Australia at 59th position is the lowest ranked team to have qualified for the 2014 FIFA World Cup. Ange Postecoglou, having taken over from German Holger Osieck in Oct, 2013 has done considerably well so far given that, Socceroos finished runners-up behind Japan and hence qualified directly for the mega event .
This will be the fourth time that Australia will be heading into the World Cup. The performance in 2006 World Cup under then manager Guus Hiddink was easily their best so far, as they reached the round-of-16 where they got eliminated following a dive from Italian Fabio Grosso in the Australian penalty box in the injury time, which Francesco Totti converted with ease.
Ange Postecoglou is Australia's most successful domestic club coach with two Premiership titles, four Championship trophies and one Oceania Club Championship in 1999. He has also managed and monitored the Australia U-20 squad from 2000-2007, which will come in handy in selecting the right players he wants to take to Brazil. He has already omitted the name of 36 year old defender and former Everton player Lucas Neill from his wish list which is a sign of taking things forward.
Mile Jedinak the Crystal Palace player will take over the captaincy role from Neill. Like other mangers, Postecoglou will have a massive task up his sleeves.
#31 Hong Myung-Bo - Korea Republic (South Korea)
Hong Myung-Bo played for Korea Republic from 1990-2002. He was a part of the national team in four World Cups, and is the first Asian player to play four consecutive World Cup tournaments.
Hong has had an illustrious career for Korea republic and is their most capped player with 136 games. He was their captain in the 2002 FIFA World Cup and led them to the semi-finals of the tournament. In doing so Korea Republic became the first Asian team to reach this far. He was also honoured the Bronze Ball, which is given to the third best player of the tournament.
After retiring from national team in 2002, he travelled with Dick Advocaat to Germany for the 2006 FIFA World Cup and then briefly worked with Pim Verbeek during the 2007 Asian Cup.
In 2009, He finally got a full time managerial role with South Korea U-20 squad and the same following year he was appointed the manager of South Korea U-23 team.
He led his side into third place at the 2010 Asian Games and the 2012 Summer Olympic Games.
Later that year he joined his former boss Guus Hiddink as the assistant manager with Anzhi Makhachkala.
Having already the seen many glorified moments with his national team, it will be a tough task to emulate his past with a team that will be surrounded by many heavy weight teams of football. He has also had good experiences in managing both at youth and professional level and it would be interesting to see, if he could make an impact with ‘The Reds’ in Brazil.
#30 Volker Finke - Cameroon
Volker Finke is a vastly experienced coach and was at helm of Bundesliga side SC Freiburg for 16 years (1991-2007).
Volker Finke was famous for using a lot African players on a regular basis at his time with Freiburg and now with Cameroon, his experience of handling African players will come in handy.
Despite his proficiency as a top flight manager for so long, his task to take The Indomitable Lions beyond the group stages seems to be a lurking scenario given his team is drawn with the likes of Brazil, Croatia and Mexico in Group A.
Since being named the coach of Cameroon in May, 2013 he has had mix bag of results; winning four, drawing four and losing two.
With rifts solved between Alex Song and Samuel Eto'o, Cameroon has lined up an uphill task for Volker Finke, having not progressed ahead of the group stage round in the previous four editions of the World Cup.
This would be Cameroon’s 7th World Cup appearance and if Finke has a short term goal, it would be reaching the round-of 16.
#29 Alberto Zaccheroni - Japan
Alberto Zaccheroni due to frequent injuries never played much professional football but at a tender age of 30 started managing football teams. With managerial experience of more than 30 years, Zaccheroni was appointed the manager of Japan in 2010.
His managerial resume includes clubs like AC Milan, Inter Milan and Juventus. He also won the 1998/99 Serie A with AC Milan. Under his charge, Japan went on to win the 2011 AFC Asian Cup for a record 4th time.
Japan are currently ranked 47th in the world and are drafted alongside Ivory Coast, Greece and Colombia in the 2014 World Cup. The football federation of Asia’s number one side would atleast want Zaccheroni to ensure group stage qualification and then focus on the knockout games.
Japan finished ahead of Australia in World Cup qualifications and now getting drafted in a comparatively easier group than others, Zaccheroni knows he has a golden chance of taking the Samurai Blue’s to a better position than previous campaigns.
#28 Stephen Keshi - Nigeria
Stephen Keshi is a former Nigerian national football team defender. The 52 year old is the only person other than Egyptian Mahmoud El-Gohary to have won the Africa Cup of Nations both as a player and a football manager.
He began his pursuit as a football manager as head coach of Junior Eagles in 2001. 2004 marked the beginning of him managing a senior team, when he got the opportunity to manage the football national team of Togo. His first project was a good start for him as he helped Togo to qualify for their first World Cup appearance in 2006.
Since then, he didn’t enjoy much joy as a manager until the job to manage Nigeria national football team came calling in 2011. Under him, the Super Eagles won their 3rd Africa Cup of Nations in 2013.
Nigeria has been drawn alongside Argentina, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Iran in the Group F of 2014 World Cup. Having already tasted the feel of playing in 1994 World Cup and managing Togo in 2006 World Cup, Keshi will be heading in no alien environment. Algeria has never gone beyond the round-of-16 stages and he would be hoping this outing changes that score.
#27 James Kwesi Appiah - Ghana
James Kwesi Appiah more popularly known as Akwasi Appiah began his managerial venture in 2007 when he was appointed the assistant coach of Ghana. The former Ghana national football team left-back played his entire life for Ghana’s most successful club Asante Kotoko from 1983 to 1993.
The 53 year old has also managed the under-23 Ghana national football team before being appointed as the head coach of the Black Stars in 2012.
With players like Sulley Muntari, Kwadwo Asamoah, Michael Essien, Kevin-Prince Boateng and Asamoah Gyan available for selection for the World Cup in Brazil, Appiah definitely is not short with talented bunch of players.
What really concerns his team’s long run in the tournament is the fact that they are grouped along with U.S.A, Germany and Portugal. We all know what this team is capable off. They almost made it to the semi-finals of the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa, had Asamoah Gyan converted the penalty awarded after Luis Suarez interfered with his hand to keep Uruguay alive in the tournament.
This would be Ghana’s third World Cup appearance. In 2006 they reached the round-of-16 and quarters in 2010. Ask Akwasi Appiah and he would say, his team has got nothing to lose specially after being drawn in such a tough group for the World Cup in Brazil.
#26 Carlos Queiroz - Iran
Before Iran, Carlos Queiroz had the experience of managing three national football teams; Portugal (twice), United Arab Emirates and South Africa. The 61 year old Portuguese has also managed Real Madrid and was the assistant of Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United.
His past as a football manager includes one World Cup campaign with Portugal in 2010, where his team lost to eventual tournament winners Spain 0-1, in the round-of-16.
Iran has been drawn alongside Argentina, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Nigeria in the Group F of 2014 FIFA World Cup and with his resume one would feel, he has a strong chance of taking Iran beyond the group stages. Iran has never before in their previous World Cup campaigns have reached the knockout stages.
Whilst finishing ahead of Korea Republic and topping their 2014 World Cup qualifications group, Queiroz with his footballing tactics ensured, Iran booked a berth to go to Brazil. Iran may not be a top bet, but Queiroz may well find a way to take The Iranian Lions to the round-of-16 stage.
#25 Jorge Luis Pinto - Costa Rica
Jorge Luis Pinto began managing a football team in 1984 when he was appointed the head coach of Colombian club Millonarios which plays in the country’s top division, Categoría Primera A.
Drafted against Italy, England, and Uruguay in Group D, hi side Costa Rica will unfortunately face the heat of competing in 2014 FIFA World Cup’s group of death.
Finishing runners-up behind U.S.A on 18 points in their CONCACAF group, the La Sele impressed one and one with their impressive attacking brand of football.
Having qualified the level one, Pinto now faces the real deal of taking a side on planet Earth’s biggest sporting event. To be honest, if Pinto’s side even manages a single point against Italy, England or Uruguay it would add on to a World Cup “upsets”.
Pinto as a manager has previously won Colombian, Costa Rican, Peruvian and Venezuelan first division titles, which is quite an impressive statistic, but sadly 2014 in Brazil looks more of a mere experience for him of having a taste of World Cup stage.
#24 Luis Fernando Surez - Honduras
After taking the Ecuador national football team to 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany, Luis Fernando Suárez will now be taking Honduras to Brazil in 2014.
Having more than 10 years of coaching experience in South America, the former Colombian defender has won Copa Libertadores with Atlético Nacional as a player and Colombian premier division title Categoría Primera A with Atlético Nacional as a manager.
Honduras will be making their third World Cup appearance. Having never won a single World cup game, Los Catrachos would be hoping that Suárez would lead them to their maiden win. Preferring the commonly used formation of 4-4-2, he likes to keep his team’s gameplay simple and direct.
Honduras has been drawn in Group E of the 2014 FIFA World Cup, alongside Switzerland, Ecuador and France. Suárez has many quality players in Hull defender Maynor Figueroa, Stoke midfielder Wilson Palacios, Wigan’s Roger Espinoza and Juan Carlos Garcia, Celtic's Emilio Izaguirre and Rangers' Arnold Peralta, so they might well advance to the round-of-16 stage, if not far.
#23 Reinaldo Rueda - Ecuador
Reinaldo Rueda began managing football teams in 1994 after being appointed the boss of Colombian football team, Cortuluá. The Colombian manager then was involved with managerial responsibilities of the Colombian under-17, under-20, under-21, under-23, and senior teams.
He has had a fair amount of success with junior Colombian teams, as he led the under-20 side to a 3rd position in the 2003 FIFA World Youth Championship. He even led the under-17 Colombian team to a 4th place finish in the 2003 under-17 World Cup.
Despite not able to help Colombia qualify for the 2006 FIFA World Cup, he came back strong with another nation in the 2010 World Cup, ensuring Honduras a berth only for the second time.
His team Ecuador is drawn alongside Switzerland, Honduras and France in Group E of the 2014 FIFA World Cup. If he is able to successfully use his knowledge base to tackle Honduras, the La Tri then have a good chance of making it to round-of-16 stage.
Rueda’s talisman in Brazil would undoubtedly be Manchester United’s winger Antonio Valencia. Following the demise of Christian Benitez, Rueda has a lot of expectations from Valencia who is also now the skipper of Ecuador’s team.
Well backing on just Valencia to win all the games would not be a clever choice. However a lot of times, it has been seen that man management in football comes in handy. Every team has one star player, whom you always want to pass the ball and if that is Valencia from Ecuador, Rueda’s men will play a lot more on the right flank of the pitch.
#22 Vahid Halilhodi - Algeria
Vahid Halilhodi has managed some very famous clubs in the world including Moroccan club Raja Casablanca and French club Paris Saint Germain.
His biggest challenge as a manager came up in May 2008, when he was assigned the job to lead Côte d'Ivoire national team to the 2010 FIFA World Cup. However a series of bad result and a quarters exit in the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations led to his dismissal and getting replaced by former England boss Sven Goran Eriksson prior to the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.
After managing Dinamo Zagreb for a season in 2010, he was called up the Fédération Algérienne de Football to manage their senior squad. The loss to Algeria in 2010 Africa Cup of Nations led to his sacking from Ivory Coast, but now it was time for redemption and he got it by making Algeria qualify for the 2014 FIFA World Cup for the 4th time. The Fennec Foxes have never gone beyond the group stages and this time his team is drawn alongside Belgium, Russia and South Korea.
Halilhodi represented Yugoslavia in the 1982 World Cup and certainly knows the importance of this event. Algeria are currently ranked 25th in FIFA standings and If he has been praying for an easier group, this may well turn out to be.
#21 Safet Sui - Bosnia and Herzegovina
Another inclusion to the list of player turned manager for their country is Bosnia and Herzegovina legend and current manager Safet Suši.
In 2010, he was voted the best foreign player of Ligue 1 of all time and Paris Saint-Germain's best player of all time by French sport magazine, France Football. These are just a token of accolades and praises which he achieved during his playing days.
Playing as an attacking midfielder, he scored 21 times in 54 games for Yugoslavia. He retired from football shortly after Bosnia and Herzegovina's independence from Yugoslavia. He played a couple of matches for Bosnia and Herzegovina before retiring.
He turned to coaching but failed to maintain stability with success. He managed Cannes, stanbulspor, Al-Hilal, Konyaspor, Ankaragücü, Çaykur Rizespor, Çaykur Rizespor and Ankaraspor but to no great achievement.
Finally in 2009, he was named head coach of Bosnia and Herzegovina national team but only managed 2 wins from his first six in charge and had come under fans and critics scrutiny.
They were drawn against Greece and Slovakia in Group G of World Cup Qualification and his side went on a nine game unbeaten streak. They managed to collect 25 points from a possible 30 but more importantly, this led to Bosnia and Herzegovina first outing to the World Cup.
While not many are considering Suši’s team to be of any great importance in the tournament, they could still be party-spoilers for others. They have nothing to lose, and all to win this summer in Brazil.
#20 Sabri Lamouchi - Cte d\'Ivoire (Ivory Coast)
Sabri Lamouchi aged 42, is one of the youngest managers to lead a team in the 20th edition of the FIFA World Cup. He was appointed to manage the Côte d'Ivoire national team in 2012. His appointment as the manager hit the fans as a big shock since it was only five days before Ivory Coast's first 2014 World Cup qualifier match. “I don’t think anyone expected it, me included,” Lamouchi later admitted.
Once a player himself, Lamochi has represented France at the highest level 12 times, and has a goal to his name. He made his debut in 1996 and was one of the players to have appeared in the European Championship the same year. Club-career wise, he started his professional career in France and went on to play for Auxerre and Monaco following a move to Parma and Inter in Italy. He also had stints as a player with Ligue 1 side Olympique de Marseille and then Qatari sides Al-Rayyan, Umm-Salal and Al-Kharitiyath.
Ranked 21, Ivory Coast are drawn alongside Colombia, Japan and Greece - a draw they would probably be satisfied with after being drafted into the Group of Death twice in a row in the 2006 and 2010 World Cup. With players such as Yaya Toure, Didier Drogba, Cheick Tioté, Salomon Kalou, Gervinho, Wilfried Bony and Seydou Doumbia, the African team pose a real threat to the big guns as they are one of the favourites to progress through the group stages.
#19 Niko Kova - Croatia
With just two match experience of managing a senior first team side, Niko Kova is the least experienced manager that plausibly will ever be on his way to a World Cup.
Niko Kova is a former Croatian footballer who played as a central defender and played a good part of his career in Germany for clubs Bayern Munich, Bayer Leverkusen and Hertha BSC. He also played for his national side 83 times and was appointed their captain in 2004. He led his men to the 2006 FIFA World Cup and 2008 UEFA European Championship.
After retiring as a football player in 2009 from Red Bull Salzburg, he became the coach of their second team. Not for long; he was then promoted as the assistant coach of the senior team. In January 2013, he and his younger brother were called upon to manage Croatia U-21 with an aim to qualify for 2015 UEFA European under-21 Championships.
His team’s performance impressed everyone and was given the role of interim manager when Igor Štimac was sacked in October 2013 owing to bad results during World Cup Qualifications. Croatia came second to Belgium in Group A and had a play-off with Iceland to qualify for football’s biggest tournament in Brazil.
Kova managed Croatia for the two legged play-offs against Iceland which Croatia won 2-0 on aggregate and at last, literally, qualified for the World Cup.
What future has in store for this inexperienced 42-year old Niko Kova. A thrilling debut to manage squad in a play-off matches to qualify for the World Cup stage and he did well in ensuring them a qualification. I say he nailed it. Well the tournament is an experience he is never going to forget this lifetime.
#18 Miguel Herrera - Mexico
Miguel Herrera played most part of his club football for Mexican club Atlante. During his four stints at the club as a player he made a little over 200 appearances. He played as a defender at Atlante, a club which he managed later on twice on separate spells.
However he never was a first team name for the national team, he could only fetch 14 caps for his Mexican national side with the noteworthy mention of 1993 Copa America where Mexico finished second.
A stint at Club America gave him his first managerial major honour, winning Liga MX which is the top flight in Mexican football league system. Later he was called upon to be the interim manager for Mexico national side for the two leg intercontinental playoff against New Zealand.
He replaced Víctor Manuel Vucetich and became the fourth managerial appointment within one month for Mexico. Under Herrera, Mexico managed to beat New Zealand 9-3 on aggregate and qualified for the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil.
The sacking of José Manuel de la Torre was quickly followed up by Luis Fernando Tena which was then chased by Víctor Manuel Vucetich who was sacked within five days of his appointment. Whilst events to appoint a new manager matching a musical chair game, the Mexican national team has been uncertain about the right man to be leading their team to Brazil for glory. At last Mexico had their man and it is already announced that Herrera would remain the national team coach up until the World Cup draws end.
After a controversial loss in the round-of-16 encounter against Argentina in the last edition of this tournament, Herrera would be hoping his luck stays put as it won’t be an easy task facing Brazil, Cameroon and Croatia in Group A.
#17 Fabio Capello - Russia
Fabio Capello, the former Italian midfielder is one of the most successful managers going in the 2014 FIFA World up in Brazil.
As a player Capello played for some famous clubs in Italy like Roma, Juventus and AC Milan. His performances earned him a call up to the Italian squad for the 1974 FIFA World Cup.
After retiring as a professional football player in 1980, he began coaching the youth teams of AC Milan. In 1986/87 Serie A season, he was appointed the interim manager of Milan following the sacking of Nils Liedholm. Finally in 1991, he got a full time contract to manage Milan and he started his managerial career with a bang, guiding Milan to four Scudetto’s in five years.
His managerial invasion to win titles didn’t end there. He has also won La Liga twice with Real Madrid and another Serie Abut with Roma in 2000/01.
Don Fabio’s first experience as a manager of a national team came up in 2007, when he was formally appointed the gaffer of England. After series of disappointment under previous mangers, England appointed someone who could make them win the prestigious World Cup once again after 1966.
Capello took England to the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, but could not change The Three Lion’s fortune, as England was defeated 4-1 at the hands of Germany in the round-of-16 stage. Note to forget, this match witnessed a Frank Lampard denied goal which would have neutralised the score at 2-2, had the referee’s not made big blunder.
He was sacked by England in 2012 and was then appointed the manger of Russia. Under him, one have to say, Russia have silenced all its critics pointing fingers at its inconsistent performances over the past. Russia topped their World Cup qualifiers group, even managing to score more points than Portugal.
Drafted alongside South Korea, Belgium and Algeria, Capello and his team has a strong case of advancing to the round-of-16 stage.
#16 Didier Deschamps - France
Didier Deschamps played his club football for teams like Marseille and Juventus, both of whom he managed later in his career. Both his roles, player and manager, were least to say successful.
As a player he won French League twice and one UEFA Champions League with Marseille and three Serie A titles and another Champions League trophy with Juventus. While his managerial achievements at club level football include French Ligue 1 title with Marseille, and he led Juventus’ return to Serie A after the Calciopoli scandal among many.
In 2012, Deschamps was formally announced the head coach of the French national team replacing Laurent Blanc immediately after Euro 2012. France came second to Spain in 2014 World Cup qualifying group where they played 8, won 5, drew 2 and lost 1.
France the progressed to the play-offs and lost 2-0 to Ukraine in first away leg, while turning around the two goal deficit and winning 3-2 on aggregate to qualify for Brazil. Deschamps have sound knowledge of French football which has definitely helped him managing the national side. His contract has been extended till 2016 Euro and with players like Franck Ribéry and many more in the prime of their career this is the right time for his team to shine in the summer.
Deschamps has already tasted the glory of winning a World Cup when he captained Les Bleus in 1998. He would try to emulate the same achievement but this time as the manager of France.
#15 Louis van Gaal - Netherlands
The Dutch manager, as a player spent most of his career as a midfielder for Netherlands club Sparta Rotterdam. He retired from playing duties in 1987 and soon started his managerial career as an assistant at AZ and later Ajax.
His fulltime appointment as the head coach of a team came up in 1991, when he was appointed the manager of Ajax till 1997. His spell at Ajax was impressive as he won numerous accolades including 3 Eredivisie title and one UEFA Champions League.
His successful time with Ajax went noticed, as Barcelona soon captured his services in for 3 years, in which he guided the Catalan team to two La Liga titles. His other major accomplishments include a Eredivisie title with AZ in 2008/09 and the German Bundesliga with Bayern Munich in 2009/10.
van Gaal was appointed the manager of the national team of the Oranje’s in 2000 but failed to help his team to qualify for the 2002 FIFA World Cup. He was soon sacked and after a decade, a more experienced van Gaal was again asked to manage Holland. This time he didn’t fail anyone and continued his reputation of being a top class manager by helping Netherlands qualify for their 10th FIFA World Cup appearance. Netherlands under him topped their group and hence qualified directly for the mega event in Brazil.
2010 World Cup finalist have a squad that Louis van Gaal will be proud taking to the tournament. Having not achieved a major honour with a national team, this will be a challenge he would like to complete on a winning note. Drawn alongside Australia, Chile and Spain, it is unlikely that Netherlands under him won’t proceed to the next round.
Will he join Manchester United as their manager for the 2014/15 Premier League season is another future story. Right now his focus will be winning the World Cup in Brazil.
#14 Jrgen Klinsmann - U.S.A
Jürgen Klinsmann is Germany’s all-time third highest goal scorer. Playing for Germany and earlier West Germany he won the FIFA World Cup in 1990 and UEFA European Championship in 1996.
Klinsmann in 2004 replaced his former teammate Rudi Völler, to manage the German national football team. The 49 year old then took Germany to semi-finals of the 2006 World Cup, where they eventually lost to Italy 0-2. They did finish third in the tournament, but he stepped down and took over Germany’s most successful club Bayern Munich in 2008.
Klinsmann is one of those managers who believe in making a team before reaping its reward. His methods are still practiced with the teams he left managing. His most important contribution would be bringing in young players in the set up, and both Germany and Bayern Munich knows, how his impact in short managerial spells with these teams helped them in a significant manner in what they are today.
Klinsmann in 2011 took another project to managethe national team of United States. With U.S.A Klinsmann won his first major honour as a manager, when The Yanks won their fifth CONCACAF Gold Cup in 2013.
Already signed up a contract to remain with U.S.A national soccer team till 2018, Klinsmann helped U.S.A qualify for the 2014 FIFA World cup.
Drafted alongside Ghana, Portugal and his former team Germany in 2014 World Cup, Klinsmann now has a daunting task up his sleeves. With instant results required in modern football, Klinsmann would know how important it is for him to get the U.S.A national team get going from day-one in Brazil.
#13 Jorge Sampaoli - Chile
Jorge Sampaoli is the current manager of Chile national football team. He started playing football for the youth ranks of Newell's Old Boys in his home-country Argentina. But a serious injury cut short his playing career and forced him into retirement at a mere age of 19.
In 1992, he turned to coaching and began training amateur sides to start his managerial profile. In 2002, after a decade of coaching football teams, he got his first professional job at Juan Aurich, a professional club based in Peru.
After brief but successful stints at clubs in Chile and Ecuador, it was announced in the end of 2012 that Sampoali will serve as the manager of the Chile national football team. His inclusion as the head coach turned fortunes for the Chileans as they began playing good attractive football.
Chile scored 29 goals in 16 matches in the Qualifying stage and finished third behind Argentina and Columbia to directly qualify for the 2014 FIFA World Cup. Their record under him has been seen as a direct success. These are the stats for the The Red One’s under Sampaoli; played 16 –won 9, drew 3 and lost 4.
With Spain, Netherlands, Australia drawn together alongside Chile in Group B, Jorge Sampaoli has to ask his team for some major upsets to progress beyond the group stages in Brazil.
#12 Marc Wilmots - Belgium
Marc Wilmots is a former Belgium footballer and current manager of the Belgium national football team. He has been capped 70 times as a player for the national team and has sound understanding of the game and his involvement with previous World Cup’s as a player will be beneficial for Belgium this summer.
He has been to four World Cups as a player, an unused substitute in 1990, scoreless in 1994, scored two in 1998, and three in 2002 in the process making him Belgium’s highest scorer in World Cup. He retired from football in 2003 and turned to politics, a move which was unforeseen by many.
His stint as a politician didn’t last long, as he resigned as a senator in 2005 and put his entire mind on his managerial career. After two failed managerial attempts, he took some time off before returning in 2009 to serve as an assistant manager of Belgium national team under then manager Dick Advocaat and later Georges Leenkens.
In 2012, after the disappointment of not qualifying for Euro 2012, the predictable exit of Leenkens meant Wilmots was given the interim role which later turned to a permanent job. Under him as manager, Belgium topped the group A of World Cup Qualification, where they won 8 and drew 2. They beat Croatia enroute to come top of the group with 26 points from a possible 30.
Belgium is full of superstar footballers and Wilmots could well be the right man to take this team to its deserved position. Wilmots is probably aware that this Belgian team are no longer underdogs but firm favourites to win the cup in Brazil. As a player he has won a few laurels but as a manger he is yet to win a major honour. While many are seeing this upcoming tournament as a small part of a bigger picture, Marc Wilmots will want to add something to his managerial honours.
#11 Roy Hodgson - England
Roy Hodgson began his managerial career in 1976 with Swedish club Halmstads, and since then has gone on places to manage teams all across the globe. His most notable achievements as a manager include 7 Swedish Allsvenskan titles (2 with Halmstads and 5 with Malmö) and two UEFA Europa runners-up medal with Inter Milan and Fulham.
After the sacking of Fabio Capello in 2012, Hodgson was asked to lead The Three Lions in the 2012 UEFA Euro Cup. A usual quarter-final loss for England against Italy on penalties welcomed him to the England national team set up.
England under him were then undefeated and topped their group in 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifiers with 22 points from 10 games but had to survive a scare from Ukraine, as they were trying to barge in their way at the top spot. Ukraine missed the pole position by just 1 point and England directly qualified for the World Cup.
England has been drawn in Group D in the so called ‘Group of Death’. They face a stiff challenge against Uruguay, Italy and Costa Rica to qualify for the second round. Uruguay lifted the 2011 Copa America while Italy finished runners up in 2012 UEFA European Championship. Both Uruguay and Italy reached the semis of 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup. England faces teams who have been consistent in recent global and confederation football tournaments.
Hodgson has a squad with immense potential but that has been the case for England for ever, hasn’t it? The biggest concern remains what type of game play, Hodgson will opt for against other fast counter attacking teams. Remember Hodgson no longer has the services of Rio Ferdinand and John Terry at the back to provide an extra cushion of stability. The possible pairing of Phil Jagielka and Gary Cahill does provide a solid base and aggressive intent at the heart of defence and it would depend a lot on them to combine well at crunch situations.
#10 Fernando Santos - Greece
In 2000, FIFA concluded a survey in which Santos was ranked ninth in the list of best managers in the world. Exactly a decade later in 2010, Santos was elected by the Greek Football League as the best coach of the decade. This very much sums up his career till now.
Fernando Santos is a Portuguese who started in the youth ranks of Benfica playing as a right-back, but never fulfilled his true potential as a player and retired from professional football at the age of 21.
What he couldn’t achieve while playing football, he reconciled it through coaching. He turned to management and started from his former club Estoril in Lisbon. Few years later he moved to Porto where he was a part of the Porto’s run of five consecutive championships.
He then moved to Greek football and won numerous individual honours as a manager there. His awards include Super League Greece Manager of the Year in 2001-02, 2004-05, 2008-09 and 2009-10.
He was named head coach of the Piratiko’s national side in 2010 and led Greece to the quarter finals of Euro 2012. They came second in World Cup qualifiers behind Bosnia and Herzegovina where his team played 10; won 8, drew 1 and lost 1. His side beat Romania 4-2 on aggregate in the final play off and qualified for the 2014 World Cup.
Santos has all the credentials to be called the same among the likes of football great managers; however this summer remains his greatest battle to overcome. Greece are currently ranked 10th in the world and are drafted alongside Ivory Coast, Japan and Colombia in the 2014 World Cup.
The 2004 UEFA Euro winners will be competing for the third time in this tournament and have never reached the knockout stages before. Santos will be happy to see Greece placed in a group against teams with lesser accomplishments but knows the task would not be simple as Ivory Coast, Japan and Colombia will be tough teams to beat.
#9 Cesare Prandelli - Italy
Cesare Prandelli can only be appreciated for how he has transformed this Italian side. With the system that crafted bricks of defensive game, now produces a great display of penetrating counter attacks. The De Rossi factor roars in sensibly in the oppositions half unlike the rash Gennaro Gattuso who played a deeper role, just in front of his defence.
Starting his managerial venture as the youth team coach of Italian club Atalanta, Prandelli’s biggest challenge as a manger came up in 2010, when he was appointed the manager of Italian national football team.
Earlier in the 2012 UEFA Euro, Spain in a group game against Italy went in with six midfielders upfront in a 4-3-3 false nine formation. the Italian coach responded by playing with just three centre backs to match the outburst of Spain's midfield inorder to strengthen their midfield by plotting five midfielders to increase their own space of passing to exploit the opposition’s defence. A gem of a plan, as they nearly won the match against the 2010 World Cup winners until Cesc Fabregas’ late equaliser ended the game 1-1.
They say 'The best form of Defending is to Attack'. Prandelli continued his tactics of playing with three centre backs in 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup semi-finals and even with Spain keeping up the good amount of possession could only worry Buffon at the dying moments of the game. A master plan implemented once again by the Italian boss was not good enough, as Italy lost on penalties to Spain.
What seems more bright and positive for Italy is the brand of football they are currently playing. If they continue the same blood pulsating brand of football in the 2014 FIFA World Cup, Prandelli’s men will have little to worry even though they are drafted in the group of death alongside England, Uruguay and Costa Rica.
#8 Ottmar Hitzfeld - Switzerland
Ottmar Hitzfeld has been one of the elite managers in the football for more than two decades. He has been one of the four coaches who have won two Champions League with two different teams and also been elected ‘’world coach of the year’’ twice.
His first major trophy came from FC Aarau where he won the Swiss Cup and later moved to Grasshopper Club Zürich where he won Swiss Super League twice consecutive years.
His tenure at Borrusia Dortmund and Bayern Munich twice (1998-2004 and 2007-2008) was successful too as he guided his teams to seven German Bundesliga titles and two Champions league in the process (two with Dortmund and five with Munich and a Champions League apiece).
In summer of 2008, Hitzfeld was appointed the Swiss national team coach and qualified for the World Cup 2010. After an unexpected start to their World Cup campaign beating the eventual champions Spain in the first group stage match, they failed to go through the knockout stage and were crashed out of the tournament.
Switzerland has topped their 2014 World cup qualifying group where his team were unbeaten in all 10 games, comprehensively booking their ticket to Brazil this summer. They have been drawn against France and Ecuador and Honduras and while the competition in group E is tough, they have every chance of moving onto the round-of-16’s this time. Whether they repeat the same mistake again remains the question to be answered.
#7 Alejandro Sabella - Argentina
Alejandro Sabella is a retired Argentina footballer who is currently managing the national team of Argentina. Sabela started playing in Argentina and then move to England where he played for Sheffield United and Leeds United for a couple of years before making his return to his home country Argentina.
He played over 433 matches, as a midfielder for various clubs but could only manage to represent his country on eight occasions.
After retiring as a player, he turned to coaching and worked as a field assistant for Daniel Passarella. In 2009, Sabela became the coach of Estudiantes de La Plata where he won the Copa Libertadores, the very same year.
After Argentina’s unprecedented early exit at the hands of Germany in 2014 FIFA World Cup, Sabella was called upon to manage the national side, taking over the charge from another Argentine, Diego Maradona. Sabella has made four time Balon-d Or winner Lionel Messi captain of the national team and would want him to lead by example.
Argentina currently sit sixth in the FIFA rankings and they are believed to be one of the tournament’s favourites if not ‘’the favourite’s’. This will be Sabella first world cup outing as manager and he doesn’t have World Cup experience as player either. But what he lacks in experience is adjusted through Argentina’s recent performances.
They topped their qualifying groups and directly qualified for the World Cup in Brazil. Argentina have been drawn against relatively easier opponents and could not have asked for more. They should move through the group stages with ease but what lies ahead is a long road, one which Argentina last completed in 1986 with some major help from the legendry Maradona.
#6 scar Tabrez - Uruguay
Óscar Tabárez is a former defender, who started managing Uruguayan football club Bella Vista in 1980.
His best managerial honour came up in 2011, when he won the Copa América with Uruguay.
Although Uruguay is drafted alongside England, Italy and Costa Rica in the group of death, Tabárez has a deadly front trio of Luis Suárez, Diego Forlán and Edinson Cavani to face the heat in Brazil.
Uruguay’s last success in a World cup tournament was in 1950, when they won their second trophy. Since then, they have failed to deliver their countries expectation.
With two World Cup outings in 1990 and 2010 as the manager of Uruguay, Tabárez is not short with the experience of leading a side in this tournament. The 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa is his best World Cup campaign, as Uruguay reached the semis thanks to Diego Forlán who single handedly scored goals when his team wanted him the most.
Forlán may not be the same, but his other strike partners Suárez and Cavani had an incredible 2013/14 domestic season with clubs Liverpool and PSG respectively.
Tabárez is no short with attacking prowess in his team and would like to balance his defence to bring back the Cup to his country.
#5 Jos Pkerman - Colombia
Not many know him as a player, but his achievements as a manager are well known and praised by critics and pundits of the game. His rise to fame came from winning the FIFA World Youth Championship thrice with the under- 20 squad of Argentina in 1995, 1997, and 2001.
His success from the youth coaching days in Argentina didn’t go unnoticed as he was soon appointed the head coach of the senior national team in 2004. Argentina were one of the favourites coming into the 2006 edition of World Cup, and their group stage performance didn’t disappoint either. However they were shocked by Germany in quarterfinals where Pékerman’s substitutions were seen to be given the blame.
He resigned as the manager of the national team and turned to Mexico for a few years where he managed clubs Toluca and Tigres.
In 2012 Pékerman became the national coach of Colombia and after a sixteen year long wait, Colombia finally managed to qualify for the 2014 FIFA World Cup and is currently sitting fifth in FIFA rankings as of 8th May 2014. They came second to Pékerman’s former team Argentina in the 2014 World Cup qualifiers.
There is no doubt that this Colombian team has a bunch of talented players but with the absence of their star man Radamel Falcao, it could easily be the difference between triumph and despair. Will the task to win the World Cup be too big for Pékerman and his men?
#4 Luiz Felipe Scolari - Brazil
After leading Brazil to a successful campaign in the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup, a lot is expected from Luiz Felipe Scolari and his men in this World Cup, especially given the fact that they will be playing in front of their home fans. A former World-Cup winning manager, Scolari was born in Passo Fundo, a city in the north of the southern Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul.
Scolari had spells with Caxias, Juventude, Novo Hamburgo, and CSA; however, he failed to leave his mark as a player and was often called "perna-de-pau" which means a bad player in Portuguese.
Coming to his managerial career, Scolari has managed eighteen teams from 1982 to 2012 before taking up the job of Brazil once again in 2012. Brazil, under his management, won their fifth FIFA World Cup trophy in 2002 after they beat Germany 2-0 in the final. The following year, Scolari took over the charge of the Portuguese national team and went very close to winning the 2004 UEFA Euro as they were defeated by underdogs Greece in the final.
Now that he is back with the Brazilian national team, he faces the task of winning Brazil their much awaited sixth World Cup. Brazil has been drafted into Group A alongside Cameroon, Croatia and Mexico and are one of the favourites to lift the 20th edition of the FIFA 2014 World Cup having won the 2013 FIFA Confederation Cup by beating Spain 3-0, who are the current holders of the World Cup.
#3 Paulo Bento - Portugal
Paulo Bento is a retired Portuguese who has played most of his football in Portugal playing for the likes of Benfica and Sporting Lisbon, the latter is where he retired as a football player. For his national side, he only managed 35 caps but was a part in 2002 world cup where Portugal had an early exit from the group stage.
After retiring at the age of 35 at Sporting Lisbon, he became their youth team coach and won the junior championship in 2005. A year later he was given the first team coaching responsibilities following the sacking of José Peseiro.
In his reign at Sporting Lisbon, he won the Portuguese cup in 2006 and successfully defended it the next season. Adding to his trophy cabinet were two back to back Portuguese Super Cup.
In 2010, Bento was named the national team coach for Portugal and enjoyed a good run of form in 2012 UEFA Euro Cup where they lost to eventual champions Spain on penalties in a tightly contested semi-final. Portugal came second in qualifying group stage and went to play Sweden in a two legged play-offs where his side won 4-2 on aggregate.
Portugal has been drawn alongside one of the tournament favourites Germany in the World cup in Brazil, while the other teams in the group being Ghana and United States. This is Bento’s first World Cup as a manager. While all hopes will be on Cristiano Ronaldo to create some magic on the field, for Portugal to create history in Brazil, Bento has to weave in the same magic into the team.
#2 Joachim Lw - Germany
Joachim Löw played as an attacking midfielder for clubs Frieburg, Stuttgart and several others. Löw represented Germany’s under-21 national side four times but never went on to play for the national senior team.
His coaching career began as a youth coach for FC Winterthur while he was still active as a player. He then went on to manage a handful of teams, winning a handful of trophies in the process.
In 2004, Jurgen Klinsmann called upon Löw to be the assistant coach and both of them made a formidable partnership. Two years later Löw replaced Klinsmann as the head coach of the German national side. Germany came third in 2010 World Cup emerging as the most attractive side throughout the competition but failed to go beyond the semi-finals after a defeat at the hands of eventual champions Spain.
The same repeated in Euro 2012 where Germany were stunted by an impressive Italian side in the semi-finals and were crashed out of the competition. No one more than Löw had the stability of maintaining his national side for so long coming into this World Cup in Brazil, and while his previous results would give him confidence, he knows that this time moving past the semi-finals remains to be his concern.
#1 Vicente del Bosque - Spain
Spain are once again one of the favourites to pick the FIFA World Cup trophy this year in Brazil, and a lot of credit goes to manager Vicente del Bosque who is one of the most decorated managers in world football, having won almost every major honour at both club and international level and till date is the only coach to have won the UEFA Champions League, the UEFA European Championship, and the FIFA World Cup.
He was appointed as the successor of Luis Aragones after Spain's victorious campaign at the European Championships in 2008, and he didn't let down anyway. Under his management, Spain reached their first ever World Cup final, where he led the La Roja’s to their very first World Cup trophy following a goal scored by Andres Iniesta in extra time, beating Netherlands 1-0. In addition to that, Spain successfully defended their European title in 2012.
If Spain are to lift the trophy again, Del Bosque will be the only man after Vittorio Pozzo to win the World Cup twice as a coach and also the first to lead a team to victory in three successive major tournaments.
