Managers are the masterminds of world soccer; the success of any team largely depends on the strategy and decisions deployed by its coach. Some football managers are retired players, others have only studied the tactics of the game; however, most fans would agree that the best managers are the ones who are able to get the most out of their players. This article ranks the best managers in world soccer according to their recent achievements and records.
Managers who achieved accolades in the 2010 World Cup and the 2009-2010 Champions League are ranked higher. The 2010 World Cup witnessed the ultimate triumph of a seasoned coach, Vicente del Bosque, while it saw the rise of several younger tacticians, such as Germany’s Joachim Low. The failure of former soccer stars, such as Maradona and Dunga, proved that winning trophies as a player does not always translate into coaching success.
Best Football Managers Ranking
1) Vicente del Bosque
Age: 59, Country: Spain, Team: Spain
The former Real Madrid player proved that he is one of the best football managers by leading Spain to win its first ever World Cup. Prior to coaching Spain, Del Bosque had plenty of success at club level; he won the Spanish League and the Champions League twice with Real Madrid. In South Africa, Del Bosque managed to form a cohesive and motivated unit consisting of some of the best players in world soccer. He now aims to winning the 2012 UEFA EURO with Spain to add to his list of accolades.
2) Jose Mourinho
Age: 47, Country: Portugal, Team: Real Madrid (Spain)
Jose Mourinho has quickly risen amongst the ranks of the best football managers in the world. The Portuguese shot to world soccer fame when he won the Treble (League, Cup, and European trophy) with FC Porto in 2002-2003. He has also won two English Premier Leagues with Chelsea and two Italian ones with Inter Milan. Mourinho’s Inter also won the 2009-2010 UEFA Champions League and, in the process, earned him another treble.
3) Pep Guardiola
Age: 39 , Country: Spain, Club: FC Barcelona (Spain)
Guardiola is the perfect example of a star player who went on to become a successful football manager. The former Barcelona FC star won the Spanish League 6 times as a player before going on to coach his former club. At only 39, Guardiola is one of the youngest coaches in world soccer and he has already won two Spanish Leagues and the UEFA Champions League. Many predict that Guardiola will eventually become the best football manager in the world and will coach the Spanish national team.
4) Oscar Tabarez
Age: 63, Country: Uruguay, Team: Uruguay
Tabarez did not have spectacular success as a football club manager. He led Spanish side Real Oviedo and Italian clubs, Milan AC and Cagliari, in the 1990’s without earning significant accolades. Tabarez also had a first stint with the Uruguayan national team in the 1990 World Cup, leading the South Americans to the second round. His greatest achievement came at the 2010 World Cup, where he transformed his country into the tournament’s dark horses by leading them into the semi-finals.
5) Sir Alex Ferguson
Age: 68, Country: Scotland, Club: Manchester United (England)
The Scottish legend, Sir Alex Ferguson, is one of the most renowned figures in world soccer and one of the best football managers of all time. Ferguson's greatest achievements have come during his long spell at Manchester United. The Scotsman has been managing the EPL club for a staggering 26 seasons, winning 11 Premier League titles and 2 Champion League trophies. The 2009-2010 season was relatively disappointing for Ferguson as rival club, Chelsea FC, won the EPL.
6) Joachim Low
Age: 50, Country: Germany, Team: Germany
The relatively inexperienced Low led one of the most exciting German teams at the 2010 World Cup. His country finished as the top-scoring team of the tournament, even though it ultimately failed to reach the final. Low has proven that he is a worthy successor of Jurgen Klinsman and is on his way to becoming one of the best football managers.
7) Bert Van Marwijk
Age: 58, Country: Netherlands, Team: Netherlands
The former midfielder has coached several Dutch clubs with moderate success, winning the Dutch Cup and the UEFA Cup with Feyenoord. His greatest achievement as a football manager came recently, when in 2010 he led the Netherlands to the final of the biggest event in world soccer. Many hailed him for leading the Dutch to its first final in more than 30 years, while others critized him for adopting a defensive approach contrary to the typically Dutch “total football” style.
8) Ricki Herbert
Age: 49, Country: New Zealand, Teams: New Zealand and Wellington Phoenix (Australia)
Ricki Herbert deserves a place in the best football managers ranking due, not only to the All-Whites success at the 2010 World Cup, but to the fact that he is one of the few managers in the world who is coaching two teams at the same time. Herbert has been manager of the Wellington Phoenix in the Australian League since 2007, and he is also in charge of the All-Whites.
9) Arsene Wenger
Age: 60, Country: France, Team: Arsenal (England)
The aptly named Arsene Wenger has been football manager of EPL club, Arsenal, since 1996. He has won the English League 3 times and reached the UEFA Champions League Final once. Wenger is famous for his ability to detect young talented players and mature them into stars.
10) Gus Hiddink
Age: 63, Country: Netherlands, Team: Turkey
The Dutch master achieved worldwide fame by leading South Korea to the 2002 World Cup semi-finals, Australia to the 2006 eighth finals and Russia to the EURO 2008 semi-finals. 2009 proved to be a failure for him as he did not succeed in qualifying Russia to the World Cup in South Africa. He is now aiming to qualify Turkey to the EURO 2012.
Read about the best players in world soccer in the following Suite 101 articles:
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