The demands of football management have never been higher. Top coaches today must cope with the demands of European competition, squad rotation, transfer schemes, and the ever-present expectations of club owners and supporters in addition to tactics and team selection. The 2024–25 season has been no exception, with managers all around the world garnering media attention for their triumphs, setbacks, and all points in between.
With teams that are well-trained and perform well, several coaches have dominated their leagues and won championships. Others have orchestrated lengthy runs in the Champions League, showcasing their tactical prowess against Europe’s top teams. There are also others who have turned around underperforming teams, surpassing expectations with little funding and gaining recognition for their ability to create something unique.
Based on their season-long results, this ranking examines the top 12 football coaches at the moment. Their impact on their teams, tactical influence, and capacity to produce outcomes when it counts most are all taken into account in addition to their trophy total. While some of the names on this list are well-known individuals who have held their position for many years, others are more recent arrivals who are having a significant influence on the world scene.
12. Nottingham Forest FC’s Nuno Espírito Santo 🌵🇹
During the 2024–25 Premier League season, Nottingham Forest has undergone a dramatic transition under Nuno Espírito Santo’s leadership. They are in seventh place in the league standings as of May 2025, which highlights how much they have improved. The decisive 7-0 victory over Brighton & Hove Albion on February 1, 2025, which was their biggest Premier League victory to date, was a high point of their season.
Under Espírito Santo’s leadership, Forest showed their competitive strength in domestic cup competitions by making it to the FA Cup semi-finals. However, they were eliminated in the second round of the EFL Cup, ending their voyage sooner. Interestingly, Forest did not play in any European competitions this season because they were not eligible for either the Europa League or the UEFA Champions League the season before.
11. Atletico Madrid’s Diego Simeone 🌦🇷
Diego Simeone’s time at Atletico Madrid is still a testament to his ability to motivate and use strategy.
After scoring early in the first leg to cut the lead to 2-1, Atletico lost to Real Madrid in a contentious penalty shootout. Under Simeone’s leadership, Atletico is fighting for a top-four finish in La Liga and exhibiting tenacity and strategic discipline.
10. SSC Napoli’s Antonio Conte 🌮🇹
Currently leading Serie A by one point over Inter Milan, they are a formidable force.
Conte’s emphasis on the league has paid off, as they are still serious candidates for the championship even though there isn’t any European football this season.
9. Xabi Alonso (Real Madrid/Bayer 04 Leverkusen) 🌪🇸
Competitive performances and tactical inventiveness have been hallmarks of Bayer Leverkusen.
The squad is still in a solid league position after finishing second in the Bundesliga. Leverkusen advanced to the Round of 16 of the Champions League before losing to Bayern Munich.
8. Bayern Munich’s Vincent Kompany 🌧🇪
This season, Bayern Munich defeated Leverkusen to win the Bundesliga. They advanced to the quarterfinals of the Champions League before losing to Inter Milan. Vincent Kompany has shown promise and is still regarded as one of the season’s most notable managers, despite doubts about his capacity to lead at the highest level.
Despite initial difficulties, Kompany’s strategy—which is built on relentless pressing and possession-based football—has started to take shape and has kept Bayern in the running for major awards.
7. Inter Milan’s Simone Inzaghi 🌮🇹
Inter Milan, who is presently in second position in Serie A, is still a strong competitor under Simone Inzaghi. After defeating FC Barcelona in a match that delighted all football fans, Inter advanced to the Champions League final. The Italian coach is highly underappreciated for his tenacity and tactical skill.
They advanced to the Coppa Italia finals domestically but lost to AC Milan.
6. Manchester City’s Pep Guardiola 🇪🇸
Manchester City, led by Pep Guardiola, has accumulated 65 points and is currently in an unusual sixth place in the Premier League.
Their long-standing run of qualifying for the UEFA Champions League, which they have maintained since the 2010–11 season, is in jeopardy due to their vulnerable position.
In addition to their domestic problems, City’s European campaign ended early when they were unable to advance past the Champions League playoffs. The team’s performance and Guardiola’s strategic direction have come under increased criticism as a result of this early departure, which has not happened often in recent years.
5. Real Madrid/Brazil’s Carlo Ancelotti 🇮🇹
After a season without a title with Real Madrid, coach Carlo Ancelotti has said that he will be joining the Brazilian national team at the end of the current campaign. In La Liga, he came in second.
Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal defeated Real Madrid in the quarterfinals of the Champions League, a match that the Gunners controlled. Nevertheless, Ancelotti’s tactical mastery this season is unaffected by that outcome. Throughout all competitions, his team continuously demonstrated tenacity and adaptability.
Real Madrid fell to FC Barcelona in a hotly contested match, but they advanced to the Copa del Rey final domestically.
4. Arsenal FC’s Mikel Arteta 🌪🇸
Mikel Arteta has maintained his position and pushed for success in both the Premier League and the Champions League while facing injuries in the front line. However, PSG dashed their dreams of qualifying for Europe, as Liverpool eventually won the league title.
The Gunners’ adventure came to an end after they lost to PSG both at home and away in the semi-finals, after defeating Spanish powerhouse Real Madrid 5-1 on aggregate in the Champions League quarterfinals.
Arsenal, which is presently ranked second in the Premier League, combines tactical adaptability with youth development.
3. Liverpool FC’s Arne Slot 🌳🇱
Since he was appointed, Slot has brought new life to Liverpool FC. The team’s outstanding attacking style and victory rate helped them win the Premier League.
Liverpool had a difficult Round of 16 matchup with Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League, which ended 1-1 overall. PSG prevailed in the penalty shootout that settled the game. Slot was proud of his team’s performance and tenacity in spite of the setback.
Even though Newcastle United defeated them in the Carabao Cup final, the Premier League victory is still a significant accomplishment for the team.
2. Paris Saint-Germain’s Luis Enrique 🌪🇸
1. Hansi Flick (FC Barcelona) 🇩🇪 PSG has won the league, led the table by a sizable margin, and been proclaimed champions in Ligue 1. They have also advanced to the Coupe de France final, highlighting their ambition to win multiple trophies this season. Luis Enrique has successfully managed PSG, turning them into an amazing team to watch; scoring goals, pressing high, dribbling with flair, and showcasing fluid attacking football. He has led them to the Champions League finals after a valiant victory over Arsenal.
FC Barcelona has been playing exceptionally well this season under Hansi Flick’s direction, and they are now the side that everyone is afraid to play against. After defeating Real Madrid four times this season—twice in the league and twice in the cup final—they were able to secure the La Liga title.
After defeating Borussia Dortmund, Barcelona proceeded to the Champions League semi-finals before losing to Serie A powerhouses.
They have also already won the Copa del Rey and the Spanish Super Cup. A domestic triple crown.
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