Summary
International football, which is frequently despised by fans, creates brotherhood among supporters of the same country.
Some of the most exciting managers in world football are England’s Thomas Tuchel and Germany’s Julian Nagelsmann.
The annual salaries of multinational managers vary by country, with the top 15 earning between £871,620 million and £8.28 million.
The majority of fans dislike international football, yet it allows them to mix and get along with their fellow citizens, all of whom want the same result. That, of course, cannot be said during the domestic football season, when there are so many different teams to support.
The World Cup, European Championships, AFCON and the Copa America – dependent on a nation’s location on the planet – are all prospective competitions that sides want to win – and chances of success often hinge on the man in command. Given the infrequent nature of international football, managers are less busy than their domestic counterparts.
That is not to suggest that there is a lack of managerial quality, since Julian Nagelsmann, Didier Deschamps, and Thomas Tuchel lead Germany, France, and England, respectively. But what is their pay? Using Salary Leaks data, here are the top 15 highest-paid managers in international football, regardless of their content.
13Hajime Moriyasu, Japan
Wage: £871,620
Hajime Moriyasu, who was born and raised in Kakegawa, Shizoka, received high praise after leading Japan to a 3-2 victory against Brazil recently, but the 57-year-old has not always had it easy. Overall, he has presided over just shy of a century of matches, with 68 of them resulting in triumphs, 13 draws, and 18 losses.
He was appointed in August 2018 and is one of the longest-serving managers on our list, although he continues to be the lowest-paid, earning £871,620 each year. Moriyasu has much of credit for his earlier performances at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, where his Japan team stunned both Germany and Spain, defeating both by a score of 2-1. He hopes to have the same luck in North America next summer.
Hajiime Moriyasu, Japan Statistics
Wage
£871,620
Appointed
1 August 2018.
Matches
99
Wins
68
Draws
13
Losses
18
Points per match.
2.19
12Luis de la Fuente, Spain
Wage: £1.74 million
To his credit, Luis de la Fuente is on his way to developing a superteam with Spain, so it’s surprising that he’s making significantly less than some of his managerial contemporaries. At the time of writing, the seasoned boss earns £1.74 million per year, ranking 12th among the highest-paid worldwide managers.
Despite defeating England at Euro 2024, La Roja were Europe’s champions. He took over in 2022, and his modifications led to rapid success: he won the Nations League in 2023, followed by the aforementioned victory in Berlin. With Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams at his disposal, it’s hard to imagine him slowing down anytime soon.
Luis de la Fuente – Spain Statistics
Wage
£1.74 million.
Appointed
1 January 2023.
Matches
35
Wins
29
Draws
3
Losses
3
Points per match.
2.57
11Gustavo Alfaro, Paraguay
Wage: £2.18 million
Gustavo Alfaro, a lesser-known name on this star-studded list, took over as manager of the Paraguay national team in the summer of 2024 following management stints around the world. He arrived with a wealth of expertise, particularly on the international arena, and was regarded as a breath of fresh air. His record, however, isn’t exactly shining.
Nonetheless, he has led them to qualification for the 2026 World Cup, and whether they can make a splash at next summer’s championship in North America will make or break the ex-Boca Juniors and Tigre player. He won the Superliga Argentina with the former, but whether that achievement will translate to international triumph remains to be seen.
Gustavo Alfaro – Paraguay Statistics.
Wage
£2.18 million.
Appointed
16 August 2024.
Matches
14
Wins
6
Draws
6
Losses
2
Points per match.
1.71
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