Football has made several players and managers extremely wealthy, especially during the last few decades. These days, both players and managers at the top of the sport earn exorbitant amounts of money each year.
Some clubs have begun to spend considerable costs only on hiring managers, while simultaneously paying them exorbitant salaries. But who are the world’s richest managers by net worth?
Whether it’s through outside businesses, successful stints at certain clubs, or a distinguished career among the top sides, there are a few managers that no longer need to coach for money and instead do it for the love of the sport. The Sun published a story in 2023 revealing the ten richest football managers on the planet right now. So, with a few minor tweaks over the months, these are the ten football managers with the highest net worth today.
10Arsene Wenger
Net worth: £39 million
Arsene Wenger, best known for his amazing tenure as Arsenal manager, during which the Gunners won many Premier League championships and became the first team in the division’s history to finish a full season unbeaten, has not coached a football team since leaving the Emirates Stadium in 2017. However, the iconic Frenchman now serves as FIFA’s Chief of Global Football Development.
During his career, Wenger was regarded as a genius and a man much ahead of his time, and he is estimated to be worth £39 million today. The 75-year-old is one of football’s most fearsome managers, and he has earned every penny of his success.
9Carlo Ancelotti
Net worth: £41.4 million
Few managers have received more accolades than Carlo Ancelotti. He has led teams such as Chelsea and Real Madrid to amazing success throughout the years, and he is widely regarded as one of the best managers of all time. He has been well compensated for all of the prizes he has delivered to those who have engaged him.
The Italian recently disclosed that he plans to quit Los Blancos at the end of the 2024-25 season. It’s unclear whether this will conclude his management career or whether he’ll move on to another club in the future, but one thing is certain: with a net worth of £41.4 million, he has enough money to retire comfortably.
8Jurgen Klopp
Net worth: £41.8 million
Few managers have rallied a fans and transformed a club’s fortunes like Jurgen Klopp did for Liverpool. Prior to his move to Anfield, he was a fan favourite at Borussia Dortmund. The connections he formed with each fanbase were unlike anything seen before, and he was rewarded handsomely for his efforts throughout the years.
The German, who currently serves as the Red Bull franchise’s Head of Global Soccer, has a net worth of somewhat more than £41 million, which will only increase now that he has taken on his new post.
7Sir Alex Ferguson
Net worth: £53.6 million
Sir Alex Ferguson is the greatest manager of all time, so it’s only natural that he’s one of the wealthiest executives in history. The Scot is in charge of building Manchester United into one of the world’s largest football teams. Despite their problems in the years since his retirement, the club is still regarded as one of the most powerful in the world, thanks in large part to him.
Ferguson led United to an incredible quantity of silverware during his 27-year tenure at Old Trafford. He never hesitated to spend money on some of the best players around, but the club also rewarded him well. He was recently fired from his position as an ambassador for the Red Devils, but with a net worth of £53.6 million, it’s difficult to imagine he’ll miss the money.
6Steven Gerrard
Net worth: £74.5 million
Steven Gerrard’s managerial career has yet to take off, yet he remains one of the wealthiest to have held the position. After a promising start with Rangers, the Liverpool great struggled to find success with Aston Villa and recently departed his position as head coach of Al-Ettifaq.
It’s uncertain what the future holds for Gerrard and whether the former player will return to management, but if he doesn’t, he won’t be struggling financially, as his net worth of £74.5 million currently places him as the sixth-richest manager in the world.
5Zinedine Zidane
Net worth: £99 million
Zinedine Zidane’s managerial career has consisted of only two two-year periods in command of Real Madrid, but that is more than enough to establish him as one of the sport’s most sought-after coaches. He appears to be associated with every top football post, but he has not returned to the hot seat since his second exit at the Santiago Bernabeu in 2021.
While he has only been a manager for four years, he has had tremendous success, including three consecutive Champions League victories. He has been out of the game for several years but still has an estimated net worth of £99 million.
4Pep Guardiola
Net worth: £100 million
While Sir Alex Ferguson is regarded as the best manager in Premier League history, Pep Guardiola is comfortably in second place ahead of everyone else. Whether it was with Manchester City, Bayern Munich, or Barcelona, the famous coach has won titles wherever he has gone. Pep has a reputation for overspending, but he has also been compensated handsomely as a manager.
Only two managers in the world are presently worth more than Guardiola, but neither can match his effect in the dugout or the heights to which he has led his clubs over the years.
3Jose Mourinho
Net worth: £100 million
Jose Mourinho, who shares a £100 million fortune with Guardiola, is one of football’s most beloved and contentious managers. The Special One has never been reluctant to express his opinions, and no player appears to be immune to his fury, whether in public or within the confines of the club where he works.
Mourinho is a maverick, and there was no one like him when he initially emerged as a head coach. Throughout his career, he has become a hero for clubs such as FC Porto, Chelsea, Inter Milan, and Real Madrid, and his trophy cabinet would make the majority of managers jealous. There is no doubt that he has earned his tremendous net worth.
2Diego Simeone
Net worth: £107.7 million
Diego Simeone’s legacy at Atletico Madrid is unparalleled in modern football. The Argentine coach has been with the La Liga team since 2011 and has skilfully guided them through various rebuilds. He has kept them around the top of the table throughout his time, ensuring they can compete with Real Madrid and Barcelona.
Simeone, known for developing an extremely proficient and defensive side, would be in high demand if he left Atletico in quest of a new challenge. However, given how much he is paid at the club and his net worth, which is now well over £100 million, no one can blame him for staying with the club that he loves.
1Wayne Rooney
Net worth: £170 million
There’s no sugarcoating how bad Wayne Rooney’s managerial career has been thus far, but it hasn’t stopped him from becoming the sport’s richest manager today. According to Goal, Rooney is now worth £170 million as a result of his time on the pitch and subsequent work as a pundit and elsewhere, making him far richer than any manager.
after his managerial troubles and the fact that he clearly does not need the money, Rooney continues to try his hand in the hot seat and is eager to try again, after been let go by Birmingham City, Plymouth Argyle and Derby County thus far.
