“The experience of defeat, or more particularly the manner in which a leader reacts to it, is an essential part of what makes a winner.”
Alex Ferguson
A game of football can bring you thrills like no other. Deafening cheers fill the stadiums when the ball hits the back of the net. But behind every last-minute winner, trophy, and dominant performance is a mastermind that leads the troop from the shadows. A role as important as this comes with a heavy price tag. And the highest-paid football managers prove every day that they are worthy of it.
The legends of the past and present, like Sir Alex Ferguson and Pep Guardiola, have shown how the right tactics can lead to football dominance. Even fictional managers like Ego Jinpachi from the anime Blue Lock showcase how important a coach is in deciding a game of football.
In this article, we will look at the current highest-paid football managers and how they have contributed to the legacy of the sport.
Meet the 25 Highest-Paid Football Managers that Have Earned Their Price Tag
We have compiled below a list of football managers with some of the highest salaries. This list contains club-level managers who are actively managing a football club
| Rank | Manager | Salary | Current Club | Age | Nationality |
| 1 | Simone Inzaghi | €26 m per year | Al-Hilal | 49 | Italian |
| 2 | Diego Simeone | €23.5 m per year | Atlético de Madrid | 47 | Argentine |
| 3 | Pep Guardiola | £20 m per year | Manchester City | 54 | Spanish |
| 4 | Luis Enrique | €12 m per year | Paris Saint-Germain | 55 | Spanish |
| 5 | Antonio Conte | €11.2 m per year | Napoli | 56 | Italian |
| 6 | Mikel Arteta | £10 m per year | Arsenal | 43 | Spanish |
| 7 | Massimiliano Allegri | €9.3 m per year | AC Milan | 58 | Italian |
| 8 | Gian Piero Gasperini | €9.3 m per year | AS Roma | 67 | Italian |
| 9 | Xabi Alonso | €9 m per year | Real Madrid | 44 | Spanish |
| 10 | Thomas Frank | £8 m per year | Tottenham Hotspur | 52 | Danish |
| 11 | Unai Emery | £8 m per year | Aston Villa | 54 | Spanish |
| 12 | Hansi Flick | €7.5 m per year | FC Barcelona | 60 | German |
| 13 | Vincent Kompany | €7 m per year | FC Bayern Munich | 39 | Belgian |
| 14 | Jorge Jesus | €7 m per year | Al-Nassr | 71 | Portuguese |
| 15 | Arne Slot | £6.6 m per year | Liverpool F.C | 47 | Dutch |
| 16 | Roberto De Zerbi | €6.6 m per year | Olympique de Marseille | 46 | Italian |
| 17 | Ruben Amorim | £6.5 m per year | Manchester United | 40 | Portuguese |
| 18 | Eddie Howe | £6 m per year | Newcastle United | 48 | English |
| 19 | Manuel Pellegrini | €6 m per year | Real Betis | 72 | Chilean |
| 20 | Jose Mourinho | €5.8 m per year | Benfica | 62 | Portuguese |
| 21 | Stefano Pioli | €5.5 m per year | ACF Fiorentina | 60 | Italian |
| 22 | Luciano Spalletti | €5.5 m per year | Juventus FC | 66 | Italian |
| 23 | Maurizio Sarri | €5.2 m per year | Lazio | 66 | Italian |
| 24 | David Moyes | £5 m per year | Everton | 62 | Scottish |
| 25 | Okan Buruk | €5 m per year | Galatasaray S.K | 52 | Turkish |
Let us now dive into the reason why they are in this list. These managers have proven that their coaching abilities can bring long-term success.
1. Simone Inzaghi
- Salary: €26 m per year
- Current Club: Al-Hilal
- Age: 49
- Nationality: Italian
His coaching journey began with Lazio youth sides before he shaped the senior team into cup specialists. Success followed quickly, including Coppa Italia and Supercoppa titles. A move to Inter brought league dominance and deep Champions League runs. Inzaghi favors a flexible 3-5-2, blending structure with sharp attacks. Constant silverware and calm leadership pushed his value to elite levels across Europe and Asia.
2. Diego Simeone
- Salary: €23.5 m per year
- Current Club: Atlético de Madrid
- Age: 55
- Nationality: Argentine
Taking charge in Madrid in 2011, he rebuilt Atlético into relentless title contenders. League crowns and European trophies followed against richer rivals. Simeone’s teams defend deep, press fiercely, and strike fast on counters. That emotional intensity shaped a clear identity. Sustained success in Spain and Europe kept Atlético competitive and secured one of football’s longest, richest contracts through discipline and belief.
3. Pep Guardiola
- Salary: £20 m per year
- Current Club: Manchester City
- Age: 54
- Nationality: Spanish
His rise began at Barcelona, where possession football crushed records and rivals alike. Trophies poured in, including Champions League titles and domestic dominance. Guardiola refined ideas in Germany before perfecting them in England. Manchester City became a winning machine under his guidance. As of 2024, he has won6 Premier Leagues and 3 UEFA Champions League trophies to his name.
4. Luis Enrique
- Salary: €12 m per year
- Current Club: Paris Saint-Germain
- Age: 55
- Nationality: Spanish
He thrived at Barcelona by blending pressing, pace, and ruthless finishing. The treble season defined his managerial reputation worldwide. Later success with Spain confirmed his leadership at the tournament level. At PSG, he restored structure and hunger. Bold decisions, high-tempo football, and a proven winning pedigree justify him being one of the highest-paid football managers earned through titles and trust from players and boards across competitions.
5. Antonio Conte
- Salary: €11.2 m per year
- Current Club: Napoli
- Age: 56
- Nationality: Italian
Known for immediate impact, he reshaped squads with strict systems and discipline. League titles arrived in Italy and England within seasons. Conte demands fitness, focus, and tactical obedience from every player. His 3-5-2 setups maximize wing-backs and structure. Quick turnarounds, league trophies, and authority over dressing rooms support his high earnings across elite European clubs without prolonged rebuilding phases.
6. Mikel Arteta
- Salary: £10 m per year
- Current Club: Arsenal
- Age: 43
- Nationality: Spanish
He stepped into management during a chaotic phase at Arsenal and quickly imposed structure. An early FA Cup win restored belief across the club. League consistency followed, with title pushes built around young talent. Arteta favors pressing, control, and set-piece planning. That steady rebuild turned Arsenal into genuine contenders again, and sustained pressure on Manchester City explains his high salary.
7. Massimiliano Allegri
- Salary: €9.3 m per year
- Current Club: AC Milan
- Age: 58
- Nationality: Italian
His career grew through Italian leagues before major success arrived with AC Milan and Juventus. League titles and domestic cups defined his peak years. Allegri values balance, defensive order, and in-game adaptability. He manages squads pragmatically rather than emotionally. That reliability delivers results even in difficult seasons, which keeps top clubs willing to pay heavily for his calm authority.
8. Gian Piero Gasperini
- Salary: €9.3 m per year
- Current Club: AS Roma
- Age: 67
- Nationality: Italian
Years of steady coaching led to a breakthrough with Atalanta, where he rewrote expectations. Champions League nights and a Europa League title followed on limited budgets. Gasperini pushes aggressive pressing and brave man-marking systems. Players develop quickly under his guidance. Consistent overachievement against wealthier rivals makes his salary a reward for innovation and sustained competitive success.
9. Xabi Alonso
- Salary: €9 m per year
- Current Club: Real Madrid
- Age: 44
- Nationality: Spanish
His transition from player to coach felt seamless and sharp. Youth development laid the foundation for tactical maturity. An unbeaten domestic season in Germany confirmed his elite potential as well as a spot on this list of the highest-paid football managers. Alonso prefers controlled possession with intense pressing triggers. At Real Madrid, expectations are immense. Historic success at an early stage explains why clubs invest heavily in his leadership and football intelligence.
10. Thomas Frank
- Salary: £8 m per year
- Current Club: Tottenham Hotspur
- Age: 52
- Nationality: Danish
He built his reputation through structure, planning, and trust in data. Promotion success in England proved his methods at the highest level. Frank sets teams to defend compactly and strike with purpose. Players understand their roles clearly. Turning modest squads into difficult opponents earned league respect, and that consistent efficiency now supports his strong Premier League salary.
11. Unai Emery
- Salary: £8 m per year
- Current Club: Aston Villa
- Age: 54
- Nationality: Spanish
Unai Emery built his reputation winning four Europa Leagues with Sevilla (three titles) and Villarreal, plus a Ligue 1 title at PSG. He did this by using tactical flexibility with high pressing and set-piece mastery. At Aston Villa, he has transformed the team from relegation strugglers to fourth in the Premier League. He has also earned them a Champions League qualification and Conference League semis. This European expertise and rapid Villa revival, with consistent top finishes, justify his £8m salary through proven trophy hauls and overachievement.
12. Hansi Flick
- Salary: €7.5 m per year
- Current Club: FC Barcelona
- Age: 60
- Nationality: German
Hansi Flick guided Bayern Munich to a 2020 treble (Bundesliga, DFB-Pokal, Champions League) with high-intensity pressing and fluid attacks in a 4-2-3-1, then won Euro 2024 with Germany. Now at FC Barcelona, he implements energetic, goal-heavy football, restoring competitiveness. His seamless Bayern dominance and international success, blending attack with Gegenpressing, command his €7.5m pay via elite results under pressure.
13. Vincent Kompany
- Salary: €7 m per year
- Current Club: FC Bayern Munich
- Age: 39
- Nationality: Belgian
Vincent Kompany rose from Burnley’s promotion via playoffs to mid-table Premier League stability with possession-based play and leadership, before taking Bayern Munich helm, emphasizing build-up from the back. His calm authority and tactical clarity stabilized Bayern post-turbulence and have made him worthy of the price tag, putting him alongside the highest-paid football managers in the world. Rapid progression from Championship to Bundesliga giants, fostering unity, earns his €7m salary through potential realization at top clubs.
14. Jorge Jesus
- Salary: €7 m per year
- Current Club: Al-Nassr
- Age: 71
- Nationality: Portuguese
Jorge Jesus dominated in Portugal with Benfica (multiple Primeira Ligas, cups) and Brazil’s Flamengo (2019 Libertadores, Brasileirão) using attacking 4-2-3-1 flair and man-marking intensity. At Al-Nassr, he leverages experience for Saudi success. Continental triumphs across continents, blending European discipline with South American verve, sustains his €7m wages via global adaptability and silverware.
15. Arne Slot
- Salary: £6.6 m per year
- Current Club: Liverpool F.C
- Age: 47
- Nationality: Dutch
Arne Slot excelled at AZ Alkmaar with youth development and high-pressing possession, winning Eredivisie in 2024/25 amid financial constraints, then joined Liverpool post-Klopp, implementing controlled, intense 4-3-3 transitions. His Feyenoord Eredivisie title and European runs showcased efficiency. Seamless success at underdog clubs transitioning to giants like Liverpool validates his £6.6m salary through smart, progressive management.
16. Roberto De Zerbi
- Salary: €6.6 m per year
- Current Club: Olympique de Marseille
- Age: 46
- Nationality: Italian
Roberto De Zerbi progressed from Sassuolo to Shakhtar Donetsk, then Brighton. He is among the highest-paid football managers as his innovative, attacking style transforms mid-tier teams into contenders, earning his €6.6m salary through European overachievement and rapid improvements. He implemented bold possession football with a 4-2-3-1, achieving sixth in the Premier League and Europa League quarters. At Olympique de Marseille, he secured second in Ligue 1 for Champions League qualification using intense pressing and fluid attacks.
17. Ruben Amorim
- Salary: £6.5 m per year
- Current Club: Manchester United
- Age: 40
- Nationality: Portuguese
Ruben Amorim rose at Sporting CP, winning Primeira Liga titles in 2021 and 2024 with a compact 3-4-3 high press and vertical play, ending a 19-year drought. Now at Manchester United, he instills disciplined transitions and youth integration. His tactical acumen and domestic dominance at Sporting, plus Europa success, justify his £6.5m pay as a young elite manager.
18. Eddie Howe
- Salary: £6 m per year
- Current Club: Newcastle United
- Age: 48
- Nationality: English
Eddie Howe promoted Bournemouth twice to the Premier League, achieving survival and mid-table finishes with energetic pressing and counter-attacks before Newcastle United in 2021. There, he turned relegation candidates into fourth-place finishers, winning the EFL Cup amid Saudi investment. His motivational skills and pragmatic style deliver consistent progress, securing his £6m salary via top-four breakthroughs.
19. Manuel Pellegrini
- Salary: €6 m per year
- Current Club: Real Betis
- Age: 72
- Nationality: Chilean
Manuel Pellegrini won league titles across Chile, Argentina, Spain (with Villarreal runners-up in Champions League), and Manchester City (2013/14 Premier League and League Cup). At Real Betis, his measured possession and experience stabilize mid-table pushes. Global trophy cabinet across continents underscores his €6m wages through longevity and adaptability at 72.
20. Jose Mourinho
- Salary: €5.8 m per year
- Current Club: Benfica
- Age: 62
- Nationality: Portuguese
Jose Mourinho’s iconic career includes Champions Leagues with Porto and Inter, Premier Leagues at Chelsea, and leagues in Italy, Spain, and Turkey, using defensive resilience, counter-attacks, and psychological mastery. At Benfica now, his pedigree persists. Hence, it is no surprise to anyone that amongst the highest-paid football managers. Multiple trebles and records against odds cement his €5.8m salary as football’s most decorated winner.
21. Stefano Pioli
- Salary: €5.5 m per year
- Current Club: ACF Fiorentina
- Age: 60
- Nationality: Italian
Stefano Pioli managed clubs like Bologna, Lazio, and Inter before his defining spell at AC Milan from 2019-2024, where he ended an 11-year Serie A drought in 2022, secured Champions League qualification, and reached the semifinals with a balanced 4-2-3-1 emphasizing pressing and transitions. Now at ACF Fiorentina, he applies squad-building expertise from prior stints. His Milan revival from mid-table to champions, plus consistent top finishes, justifies his €5.5m salary through proven title-winning nous.
22. Luciano Spalletti
- Salary: €5.5 m per year
- Current Club: Juventus FC
- Age: 66
- Nationality: Italian
Luciano Spalletti won Serie A with Roma in 2001 and Napoli in 2023 using high-pressing, fluid 4-3-3 attacks, plus Russian titles at Zenit and Europa Conference League with Roma. At Juventus FC, his intense style demands technical precision and width exploitation. Multiple league triumphs and European innovation across leagues earn his €5.5m pay via adaptability and silverware.
23. Maurizio Sarri
- Salary: €5.2 m per year
- Current Club: Lazio
- Age: 66
- Nationality: Italian
Maurizio Sarri revolutionized Napoli (2015-2019) and Chelsea (2018-2020) with “Sarriball”, a possession-heavy 4-3-3 passing triangles and high lines, reaching Europa League finals and a Europa League title. At Lazio, he imposes geometric control. Domestic near-misses turned into trophies, plus Premier League success, sustain his €5.2m wages through stylistic revolution, while also placing him amongst the highest-paid football managers.
24. David Moyes
- Salary: £5 m per year
- Current Club: Everton
- Age: 62
- Nationality: Scottish
David Moyes guided Everton to sustained top-eight Premier League finishes over a decade with organized defending and counter-attacks, plus Manchester United’s Europa League win in 2017 and West Ham’s 2023 Conference League triumph. Now at Everton, his resilience shines. Longevity in top-flight survival and European glory justify his £5m salary amid modest resources.
25. Okan Buruk
- Salary: €5 m per year
- Current Club: Galatasaray S.K
- Age: 52
- Nationality: Turkish
Last on this list of the highest-paid football managers is Okan Buruk. He dominated Turkish football with Akhisarspor (2018 cup) and Başakşehir (2019/20 Süper Lig), now leading Galatasaray to back-to-back titles since 2023 using a pragmatic 4-2-3-1 with wing play and set-pieces. His domestic hegemony and upsets over Fenerbahçe secure his €5m pay through consistent Turkish success.
Conclusion:
The list of the highest-paid football managers shows how much value modern football places on leadership, tactics, and consistency. These managers carry the pressure of results, player management, and fan expectations every single season. Their salaries reflect more than trophies. They reflect trust, long-term vision, and the ability to shape winning teams.
As football continues to grow as a global business, the earnings of elite managers are likely to rise even further. Success on the pitch and strong leadership off it remain the key drivers behind these record-breaking paychecks.
FAQs
1. Why do football managers earn such high salaries?
They handle tactics, player development, transfers, and pressure from fans and owners. Their decisions directly affect club success and revenue.
2. Do trophies affect a manager’s salary?
Yes. Winning major leagues or international titles often leads to higher pay, bonuses, and contract extensions.
3. Can a manager’s salary change mid-contract?
It can increase through renegotiations, bonuses, or new deals after strong performances or major wins.
