List of 10 Highest Paid Football Managers

A football manager’s job is extremely difficult since the pressure from the fans, board and the team is very intense. The highest-paid football managers in the world certainly either justify their pay or have done so in the past. Being a football manager means helping the team win trophies and, more importantly, getting through the bad periods.

The amount of money that players receive has grown exponentially and the pay grade has increased for the managers as well. The best teams in the top leagues pay their managers a handsome amount of money to get consistent and efficient results in return. Let’s take a look at who has made it to our list of the top 10 highest-paid football managers in the world, from renowned managers from the Premier League to the Saudi Pro League.

Top 10 Highest Paid Managers in Football

10) Carlo Ancelotti – Real Madrid – £8.3 million

Ancelotti is one of the best managers of modern football and is definitely amongst the likes of Pep Guardiola and Jose Mourinho. Carlo is Real Madrid’s most successful manager, winning 15 trophies with them and overall has also won one of the most trophies as a manager. Carlo’s latest achievement at Real Madrid was winning the Spanish Super Cup, La Liga and the UEFA Champions League in the 2023-2024 season, making him one of the highest paid football managers.

Real Madrid are off to an inconsistent start in the 2024-2025 season despite signing star Kylian Mbappe and are struggling as well; however, Carlo and Real Madrid have pulled their way through tough times before and will definitely find a way to do so in the 2024-2025 season.

9) Jorge Jesus – Al Hilal – £8.6 million

Al-Hilal have bolstered Jorge Jesus with multiple signings and a lot funds as well. The club’s main motive is to actively win the Saudi Pro League, rivaling Al-Nassr and dominate in the AFC Champions League as well. Jorge Jesus has already delivered results in the 2023-2024 season with Al-Hilal of winning the league with a dominant 96 points, making him one of the highest paid football managers.

8) Jose Mourinho – Fenerbahce – £9.2 million

The ” Special One ” has won multiple trophies at various clubs throughout his career. Jose Mourinho’s best achievement was winning the UEFA Champions League with an underrated team like Porto, making him one of the highest paid football managers. Now, Fenerbahce have appointed Jose Mourinho for his services to help them contend with Galatasaray for the league title.

As of now, Jose Mourinho’s Fenerbahce are second in the table with 39 points in 17 games. Fenerbahce are not doing well in the Europa League, sitting in 21st spot, winning two matches out of six played. The Special One currently manages the Turkish side, Fenerbahce, and hasn’t looked at how he used to be.

7) Matthias Jaissle – Al Ahli – £9.6 million

Many might say that Matthias Jaissle does not deserve to be a manager at such a young age; however, it is too early to say. Jaissle’s first season at Al Ahli is bound to be under a lot of pressure, as he hasn’t done much since 2023. Under his leadership, Al Ahli has been one of the consistent sides in the Saudi Pro League.

Furthermore, Jaissle does not have a lot of experience as a manager in the past as compared to other high-profile managers, as before joining Al Ahli, he only managed 110 games combined for FC Liefering and Red Bull Salzburg. Nonetheless, Al Ahli under Matthias Jaissle has had a great start to the season, losing seven matches in the SPL this season and is sitting in fourth place, making him one of the highest paid football managers.

Also Read: Ranking the 15 highest-paid football managers in the world currently

6) Luis Enrique – Paris Saint-Germain – £9.6 million

The pressure at Paris Saint-Germain is always intense. Winning the Ligue Un is a prerequisite for each manager since PSG is by far the strongest team in the French league. However, the main pressure that is always laid on each manager is to win the UEFA Champions League. The closest PSG came to winning it was in 2020. The 2024-2025 UCL seems more difficult than before since PSG no longer have the likes of Neymar Jr, Kylian Mbappe, or Lionel Messi to help them. PSG has entered a new phase and is rebuilding itself with quality youngsters and talented players rather than just big superstar players.

The drawback here for Luis Enrique is that even a manager of his calibre cannot succeed so quickly. Luis Enrique, who has won multiple trophies in his managerial career with his best achievement being the Sextuple at Barcelona in 2015, cannot possibly come close to winning the UCL with PSG so quickly. Although PSG are first and unbeaten in the Ligue 1, winning 14 matches, they are in 26th position and are under-performing in the UCL, losing three matches out of six. Their chances of making it to the top eight in the UCL league stage are next to impossible, considering their current stats.

5) David Moyes – Everton – £12.5 million

After a disastrous start from Everton in this ongoing Premier League season, under Sean Dyche. Everton has decided to go back to one of the most experienced managers in the world, David Moyes. Since he has taken the leadership role back at the Toffees, he has taken them out of the relegation zone and they are currently sitting in 16th position in the table.

The current situation of Everton in the league is not looking good, as they’re barely out of the relegation zone. But the season is still going on, we never know where Everton will be under the former West Ham United coach. He is set to receive £12.5 million annually at Everton, making him the highest paid coach in the world.

4) Stefano Pioli – Al Nassr – £15.5 million

Al Nassr has transformed under Stefano Pioli’s arrival since 2024. Stefano Pioli definitely justifies his spot on the list as the highest paid manager in the world. Pioli, so far, in his first season at Al Nassr, has managed 24 games, winning 16, drawing 4, and losing 4. Stefano Pioli will be getting £15.5 million annually at Al Nassr. He is expected to do the same thing that he did with AC Milan in Serie A.

Al Nassr currently sits in 3rd place in the 2024-2025 season of the Saudi Pro League below Al Ittihad and Al Hilal with 57 points in 27 games. It is to be seen how he will manage a squad field with so many elite players like Cristiano Ronaldo, Sadio Mane, Aymeric Laporte, and Jhon Duran.

Also Read: Ranking The 10 Best Coach In The World Right Now (2025)

3) Mikel Arteta – Arsenal – £15.6 million

Just like Atletico have regained their status as contenders in La Liga and UCL under Diego Simeone, Arsenal have also regained their status as contenders in the Premier League and UCL under Mikel Arteta. Arsenal is the only team, alongside Liverpool, to give a tough challenge to the dominant Manchester City in the Premier League.

Although Arteta has won only the FA Cup since his arrival and has not won the League or the UCL with Arsenal, his influence and effect are commendable. Arteta, who used to be Pep Guardiola’s assistant manager, has definitely learned a lot from his teacher and is implementing it efficiently. As of the 2024-2025 season, The Gunners are second in the Premier League and third in the UEFA Champions League league stage ( as of 7th January, 2025).

2) Pep Guardiola – Manchester City – £20.7 million

Winning six Premier League titles, winning four PL titles for four seasons consecutively, winning one UCL and many other commendable titles. All of these have been set by Pep Guardiola at Manchester City and some of them are unbreakable. Pep’s trophies and transformation with Manchester City in a span of eight seasons definitely justify his number-one position as the highest-paid manager in football.

The 2024-2025 season has been off to a rough start for Manchester City, performing poorly as per their standards in the Premier League and the UCL, losing multiple matches. This is due to the injuries of key players, however, Pep’s team always makes a comeback midway in the season and always shocks the other teams. The former FC Barcelona and Bayern Munich manager is definitely one of the best managers of all time and will help Manchester City regain its glory.

1) Diego Simeone – Atletico Madrid – £25.9 million

The Diego Simeone effect at Atletico Madrid has been phenomenal since his era, the club has seen a lot of changes and glory as well. Although Simeone is criticized for his defensive style of play, the results are commendable. Under Simeone, the club has won the La Liga not once but twice, which is very commendable considering the dominance of FC Barcelona and Real Madrid. Atletico Madrid have also reached two UCL finals under Simeone, losing both against Real Madrid.

However, Atletico Madrid did win the Europa League in 2017. These accolades, combined with Simeone’s other achievements at Atletico Madrid, justify him being first in the list of the top 10 highest-paid football managers in the world. As of now, Atletico Madrid is giving tough competition to Real Madrid and FC Barcelona in the 2024-2025 La Liga season.

Top 10 Highest Paid Football Manager

Rank	Manager	Club	Yearly Wage
1	Diego Simeone	Atletico Madrid	£25.9 million
2	Pep Guardiola	Manchester City	£20.7 million
3	Mikel Arteta	Arsenal	£15.6 million
4	Stefano Pioli	Al Nassr	£15.5 million
5	David Moyes	Everton	£12.5 million
6	Luis Enrique	Paris Saint-Germain	£9.6 million
7	Matthias Jaissle	Al Ahli	£9.6 million
8	Jose Mourinho	Fenerbahce	£9.2 million
9	Jorge Jesus	Al Hilal	£8.6 million
10	Carlo Ancelotti	Real Madrid	£8.3 million

Also Read: 10 Football Managers With the Most Trophies in History (Ranked)

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