In the words of Steve Jobs, “It takes a lot of hard work to make something look simple.” Football managers do the hard work of finding players and coordinating a team.
In this piece, we will highlight the top 10 earning football managers in the world. Want to see if your favorite club manager is on the list? Read on to find out.
Top Highest Paid Football Managers and Their Salary
Based on the extensive research of our team of experts, these are the top 10 highest-paid football managers in the world of football. Take a look.
No. 10 Carlo Ancelotti
Carlo Ancelotti is a boss at Real Madrid, so you might be surprised that he is only earning £8.3 million a year. But don’t let that fool you; Ancelotti’s success at Real Madrid shows he is still a legend.
Since taking over at Real Madrid for the second time in 2021, Ancelotti has won two Champions League titles and two La Liga crowns. Little wonder the football club extended his contract to June 2026.
No. 9 Jorge Jesus
Jesus has been a winner wherever he’s gone, which justifies his current £8.6m Healy wage at Al Hilal. You can comfortably bet on his team performing well in any league. From this Betovo review, you will find the right game with the right payout. What better way to make money off one of the highest-paid managers!
Jesus’ record includes:
● Saudi Pro League title
● Saudi Super Cup
● 100+ goals in 2023
● Topping the league with 96 points.
● Three time top league champion with Benfica
● Two times Europa League finalist
No. 8 Jose Mourinho
Jose Mourinho has built a reputation as a serial winner, with league titles and a Champions League triumph under his belt at Porto, Chelsea, Inter Milan, and Real Madrid. His move to Fenerbahce for a yearly wage of £9.2m shows that the club thinks he is capable of elevating their status both domestically and internationally. Mourinho gave Pep Guardiola a run for his money when he was at Real Madrid with the 2011/12 La Liga title.
No. 7 Matthias Jaissle
Matthias Jaissle’s role as head coach of Al Ahli at £9.6m per annum underscores his rising stock in the football world. At just 37 years old, Jaissle is one of Germany’s brightest managers of all time. His reputation at RB Salzburg in Austria is quite a record.
After being sacked by RB Salzburg in 2023, Jaissle quickly rebounded with Al Ahli. His first season was a triumph with a third-place finish and a spot in the 2024/25 Asian Champions League.
No. 6 Luis Enrique
Luis Enrique occupies one of Europe’s most scrutinized managerial roles. Although he is a proven winner with a European treble from his Barcelona days, his tenure at PSG has been quite the challenge. Despite his £9.6m salary and PSG’s potential to win the 2024/25 Ligue 1 title, the same can not be said about the Champions League, seeing how PSG stumbled in the semi-finals last year. Do you think he will justify his £9.6m per annum salary at PSG?
No. 5 David Moyes
For an Everton manager, David Moyes is making history with £12.5m yearly earning. His return to Goodison Park from 2002 to 2013 had a clear mandate: keep the Toffees in the Premier League.
Moyes saved Everton from floundering under Sean Dyche. Now at 16th on the table, Everton have strung together three consecutive league wins. His £12.5m wage, underscores the high stakes and Everton’s belief that Moyes’ experience can be their lifeline.
No. 4 Stefano Pioli
While Stefano Pioli was still fresh off his tenure at AC Milan, Pioli swapped the San Siro for Saudi Arabia in the summer of 2024. He had the daunting challenge of managing global stars like Cristiano Ronaldo, Sadio Mané, Aymeric Laporte, and Jhon Durán.
Pioli’s third place in the Saudi Pro League league clearly indicates that he is worth his £15.5 yearly wage at Al Nassr. But can he mold this galaxy of stars into champions? We will have to wait and see.
No. 3 Mikel Arteta
Mikel Arteta’s salary is a testament to the remarkable turnaround he’s orchestrated at the Emirates. Since taking over in 2019, Arsenal has become a real-life example of Zig Ziglar’s famous quote, “It’s not how far you fall, but how high you bounce that counts.”
Arteta has led the Gunners to finish as runners-up for a third straight season.
Unlike some higher-paid peers managing star-studded teams, he’s sculpted Arsenal’s resurgence with shrewd signings. At 43, his £15.6m salary is a nod to his status as a modern coaching star.
No. 2 Pep Guardiola
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola is widely regarded as one of the greatest managers in football history. So it’s no surprise that his £20m annual salary reflects a career that’s redefined the sport with:
● Two Champions League titles with Barcelona
● Multiple league crowns with Bayern Munich
● Four straight titles
No. 1 Diego Simeone
Diego Simeone’s jaw-dropping yearly wage of £25.9m at Atletico Madrid, cements his status as the highest-paid football manager in the world. The man has been an absolute legend in Madrid since 2011 with two La Liga titles and two Europa League.
Despite a rocky 2022/23 season, his £25.9m wage underscores Atletico’s faith in “El Cholo.” Do you think Simeone’s worth the top spot among the best paid managers in the world?
Final Thoughts
Whether their clubs are in top European football leagues like the UEFA Europa League or not, the best-paid football managers are worth their yearly salary. From tactical brilliance to star-studded squad management, these international managers have earned a solid reputation in football.
The article is written by Kate Richardson.