Who’s Hot and Who’s Happening: Ranking the Top 20 Managers in World Football Right Now
The rundown
There are dozens of coaches doing excellent work across the globe, but only a handful are genuinely changing matches, clubs and national teams. This list weighs recent results, trophies, player development and tactical nous to separate the truly elite from the merely very good.
20. Thomas Frank — Tottenham Hotspur
Frank’s rise reads like a fairytale: from guiding Brentford into the Premier League after a 74-year wait for top-flight football to being parachuted into one of north London’s biggest jobs. He brings organisation, a clear style and a knack for improving players such as Bryan Mbeumo. Spurs fans will be watching to see if that pragmatic, high-energy Brentford blueprint can survive at a club of greater expectation.
19. Eddie Howe — Newcastle United
Howe has steadied the ship at St James’ Park and then taken it farther than many predicted — Champions League football and a long-awaited trophy in the League Cup. The Saudi-backed project adds pressure as the club hunts further silverware, but Howe has shown he can manage expectation and get the best out of his squad.
18. Gian Piero Gasperini — AS Roma
Gasperini spent years building a reputation in Italy before finally collecting his first major continental prize with Atalanta in the Europa League. Now at Roma, the veteran coach brings his intense, attacking philosophy and a track record of squeezing elite performances from limited resources. Age is a number; results are the currency.
17. Julian Nagelsmann — Germany
Still only in his late 30s, Nagelsmann’s ideas have reshaped modern coaching conversations. Sacked prematurely by Bayern, he’s taken the Germany job and mixed youthful players like Jamal Musiala and Florian Wirtz into an exciting core. Euro 2024 disappointment hasn’t dented his reputation — if he delivers at the next major tournament, his stock will soar.
16. Unai Emery — Aston Villa
Emery has turned Villa into genuine challengers for Europe, extracting far more than fans thought possible when he arrived. His European pedigree — Sevilla silverware — remains obvious in the way Villa compete and elevate players. A sluggish start to the 2025/26 season has nudged him down the list, but his tactical acumen is unquestionable.
15. Enzo Maresca — Chelsea
Maresca’s first season in the pressure cooker that is Chelsea management was a study in defying expectations. From dire pre-season form to securing Champions League qualification, he also picked up the UEFA Europa Conference League and the Club World Cup — notable achievements given the instability at Stamford Bridge. Young coach, bold ideas, real results.
14. Thomas Tuchel — England
Tuchel’s recent club spell had its ups and downs, but you don’t become one of Europe’s most sought-after tacticians without a hefty CV. Now England’s manager, he’s begun positively and carries the burden of ending the nation’s trophy drought. His Champions League pedigree and defensive structures make him a safe pair of hands for big tournaments.
13. Luis de la Fuente — Spain
De la Fuente has shepherded a talent-laden Spain side to a convincing Euro 2024 triumph, the product of a long-term rise through the national youth setup. His side’s blend of technique, pressing and game control suggests Spain will be favourites in major competitions for the foreseeable future. Long-term planning has paid off handsomely here.
12. Didier Deschamps — France
Deschamps remains the ultimate winner’s coach in international football. World Cup glory in 2018 and a near repeat in 2022 underline his pedigree. Critics point to some recent stumbles, but France’s talent pool is enormous and Deschamps knows how to get the job done on the biggest stage — that record keeps him firmly inside the top tier.
11. Lionel Scaloni — Argentina
Scaloni will forever be associated with delivering the World Cup to Lionel Messi and Argentina in 2022, but his work goes beyond that headline. He rebuilt a national side that was drifting and has kept Argentina competitive at the highest level, adding Copa América success along the way. That long-term cohesion and trophy-winning mentality make him one of world football’s most respected young coaches.
If you enjoy following managerial shifts and want the best odds on where coaches and clubs might end up next, you can check odds at best betting sites — just don’t forget, form changes and football is gloriously unpredictable.
That’s the top third of our list — managers who combine silverware, tactical innovation and the ability to develop players. Stick around and we’ll dissect the top 10 next, where the real heavyweight names and headline-makers sit.
