Who are the 12 best-paid soccer coaches in the world? The best-paid soccer players are often discussed and talked about. Why not find out some of the best-paid soccer coaches? After all, the coaches are the ones who have the backhand for the team’s victory on the field.
If you are curious to know some of the best-paid soccer coaches in the world, you have come across the right article. Please keep reading to find it out.
The coaches use their tactical and strategic skills to guide the players to perform at their utmost best. So, some of the most influential and decorated soccer coaches are paid a massive salary by the team yearly.
Because soccer is one of the most popular sports in the world, not only the players but the coaches have also benefitted from its popularity.
Every club tries to sign a coach with a high winning rate to their team, no matter the contract’s large sum.
For avid soccer fans, it might be no surprise that the best-paid soccer coaches in the world are signed with the top European league clubs. But how much are they paid?
We have all the information gathered for you. So now, without further ado, let us look at 12 of the best-paid soccer coaches in the world.
Quick Overview
Before going into the details, here is a sneak peek of our inventory in the table below.
| Coach Name | Salary Per Year (As of 2022) | Country |
| 12. Brendan Rodgers | $12.3m (£10m) | United Kingdom |
| 11. Fabio Cannavaro | $13.5m (£11m) | Italy |
| 10. Carlo Ancelotti | $14.8m (£12m) | Italy |
| 9. Zinedine Zidane | $14.8m (£12m) | France |
| 8. Mauricio Pochettino | $16.3m (£13.2m) | Argentina |
| 7. Antonio Conte | $18.5m (£15m) | Italy |
| 6. Rafa Benitez | $18.5m (£15m) | Spain |
| 5. Jürgen Klopp | $18.9m (£15m) | Germany |
| 4. Pep Guardiola | $24.6m (£20m) | Spain |
| 3. José Mourinho | $24.6m (£20m) | Portugal |
| 2. Ernesto Valverde | $29.6m (£24m) | Spain |
| 1. Diego Simeone | $49.28m (£46.7m) | Argentina |
Best Paid Soccer Coaches In The World
We have prepared our list with primary references from Briefly.
12. Brendan Rodgers
With a yearly earning of $12.3 million (£10m), we have Northern Irish soccer coach Brendan Rodgers in the 12th position on our list. The 51 year-old Rodgers currently serves as the Premier League club Leicester City manager.
He began his soccer career as a professional player in 1984.
He joined the Ballymena United Youth Academy and made his senior debut as a defender for the team in 1987. Rodger’s playing career spanned from 1987 to 1995.
After his retirement from his playing career, he started coaching as a reserve manager for Chelsea in 2006. In 2008, he signed with Watford, an English professional soccer team, to be their head coach.
Since then, Rodgers has served as a head for various clubs like Reading, Swansea City, Liverpool, and Celtic. He became the head coach for Leicester City in 2019.
While serving as the coach for Liverpool, he led the team to a runners-up position in the league’s 2013-14 season. Similarly, under Rodger’s lead, Celtic had an undefeated season in his initial year in 2016.
Leicester City won the 2021 FA Cup in Rodger’s second season as a manager.
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11. Fabio Cannavaro
Number 11 on our list of the 12 best-paid soccer coaches in the world is the 50 year-old Fabio Cannavaro. He has an annual salary of $13.5 million (£11m).
Cannavaro was in Napoli Youth Academy from 1988 to 1992, where he began his soccer career. He made his senior debut with the team in 1991.
During his professional playing career, he played for teams like Parma, Internazionale, Juventus, Real Madrid, and Al-Ahli. He spent the majority of his playing career in his home country Italy.
Cannavaro achieved major success while playing for the Italian national team. After retiring, he transitioned into a coach in 2013.
He became an assistant coach for the Al-Ahli team from where he had previously played.
In 2014, Cannavaro debuted as a head coach for the professional Chinese soccer club, Guangzhou Football Club.
Besides the club, he has led Al-Nassr, Tianjin Quanjian, and China national soccer teams as their coach.
10. Carlo Ancelotti
On number 10 on our list is an Italian Football Manager, Carlo Ancelotti. The 64 years old coach’s salary is estimated to be $14.8 million (£12m) per year.
Considered one of the best soccer coaches, Ancelotti is one of the only three managers who has won the UEFA Champions League three times.
Similarly, he is also among the seven to win European Cup as a player and a manager.
Nicknamed Carletto, Ancelotti transitioned into a coach after retiring from his professional career as a midfielder. Since then, 64 years old has been one of the most appreciated managers in the UEFA Champions League history.
Likewise, Ancelotti, as a manager, has won major titles like FIFA Club World Cup twice, Serie A Championships, Premier League Champions, and Coppa Italia.
He has also won the European Super Cup (three times), the Italian Super Cup, the German Super Cup, and FA CUP.
Currently, Carletto is the manager of the La Liga club Real Madrid.
9. Zinedine Zidane
Popularly known as Zizou, the next best-paid soccer coach in the world is 51 years-old Zinedine Zidane. He is number 9 with his yearly salary of $14.8million (£12m).
Zidane is one of the greatest players renowned for his athletic prowess. After he transitioned into a coach, his popularity and fame increased.
He started his early soccer career at the young age of 9 from AS Foresta. Zidane was part of various youth systems between 1981 to 1990 and made his professional debut as a player in 1989 with Cannes.
Zidane began his coaching career as an assistant coach for Real Madrid in 2013.
The following year, he became the head coach for Real Madrid Castilla, and from 2016, he served as a head coach for Madrid until 2021.
In his first two and half seasons, the Frenchman became the first successful coach to win the Champions League three times in a row, the UEFA Super Cup, FIFA Club World Cup twice, the La Liga title, and Supercopa de Espana.
In 2017, Zidane was named Best FIFA Men’s Coach.
He resigned from his coaching position in 2018 but returned in 2019 before leaving in 2021.
8. Mauricio Pochettino
Ranking eight on our list is Mauricio Pochettino. He is a 52 years-old manager who has an annual salary of $16.3 million (£13.2m).
Pochettino was part of the youth system from where he began his soccer career. He debuted in 1989 with the Argentine sports club Newell’s Old Boys, where he played as a central defender until 2006.
In 2009, Pochettino became the head coach for Espanyol, from where he began his managerial career. Then in 2013, he was appointed the head coach for Southampton and, in 2014, for Tottenham Hotspur.
While the Argentine was serving for Southampton, the team finished in eighth place in the Premier League, which was the club’s highest Premier League finish.
Similarly, Pochettino helped Hotspur to finish as a league runner-up in 2014 and 2019 UEFA Champions League finalist.
From 2021 to 2022, he led Paris Saint-Germain as their head coach. Under Pochettino, the team won the Ligue 1 and the Coupe de France.
7. Antonio Conte
On our number 7, we have 54 years-old professional manager, Antonio Conte. His salary is estimated at $18.5 million (£15m).
Before becoming a coach, Conte was one of the most celebrated and influential players in Juventus’ history.
He started his soccer journey at Lecce’s Youth Academy in 1982 and made his senior debut with the team in 1985.
Conte spent most of his playing career with Juventus, with whom he signed in 1991. After retiring from his playing career, he began coaching as an assistant coach for Siena in 2005.
Since then, he has served as a coach for various teams like Arezzo, Bari, Atalanta, Juventus, Italy, Chelsea, and Inter Milan.
In 2021, Conte signed up to become the head coach of Tottenham Hotspur and has been serving as their coach.
While working as the manager for Juventus for three years, Conte led the team to win the Serie A title each season. His other notable title wins include the Premier League title and FA Cup.
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6. Rafa Benitez
Rafa Benitez is a 64 years-old football manager who recently managed the Premier League club, Everton. He has an estimated annual income of $18.5 million (£15m) per year.
Benitez was in the Real Madrid youth system from 1973 to 1978. He made his senior debut in 1978 with the Real Madrid Aficionados team.
Since 1986, Benitez has been working as a soccer coach. The very first team he managed as a coach was Real Madrid’s under-17 team. Similarly, he also worked as Madrid’s assistant coach for a year.
Some of the teams Benitez has coached over the years include Valladolid, Osasuna, Valencia, Liverpool, Inter Milan, Chelsea as interim, Newcastle United, Napoli, Dalian Professional, etc.
FOR HIS OUTSTANDING MANAGERIAL ABILITIES, BENITEZ WAS AWARDED THE 2002 LA LIGA BEST COACH AWARD AND UEFA MANAGER OF THE YEAR AWARD FOR SEASONS 2003-04 AND 2004-05.
Benitez has helped the club under his helm manage to win various titles. His achievements include La Liga, UEFA Cup, FA Cup, UEFA Champions League, UEFA Super Cup, FIFA Club World Championship, Coppa Italia, etc.
5. Jürgen Klopp
Ranking fifth on our list of the 12 best-paid soccer coaches in the world is German Soccer Manager Jürgen Klopp.
The 56 years-old manager currently manages Premier League club Liverpool and earns $18.9 million (£15m) every year.
Klopp is widely considered one of the best managers in the world. Currently, he is the manager of the Premier League club Liverpool.
From 1972 to 1987, Klopp was part of the youth system. He made his senior debut with the German association soccer club, 1. FC Pforzheim. He played for various clubs but spent most of his career with Mainz 05.
After Klopp retired, he became the manager of Mainz 05. He was the team’s longest-serving manager for Mainz 05 and Borussia Dortmund.
In 2015, Klopp signed up to become the manager of Liverpool. He helped the team to win the UEFA Champions League finals in two successive years in 2018 and 2019.
Under Klopp’s Leadership, Livepool won the UEFA Super Cup, FIFA Club World Cup, and Premier League titles. Consequently, Klopp was awarded FIFA Coach of the Year back-to-back in 2019 and 2020.
4. Pep Guardiola
According to our research, the fourth best-paid soccer coach in the world is Pep Guardiola, with an annual salary of $24.6 million (£20m).
Currently managing the Premier League club Manchester City, he is regarded as one of the most excellent managers.
The Spanish man is one of the most acclaimed soccer coaches in the world.
Now 53 year old, he started his senior career in soccer playing as a defensive midfielder for Barcelona in 1988.
Before his debut, he was in the youth system from 1981 to 1990.
After retiring from his professional playing career, Guardiola started his career as a coach with the Barcelona B team. The team won the Tercera Division title with him in the coaching position.
Similarly, as a coach, he also served major teams like Barcelona and Bayern Munich. In 2016, he signed up to be the coach for Manchester City.
Guardiola is the most successful manager in soccer and holds the records for one of the highest consecutive league games won in La Liga, the Bundesliga, and the Premier League.
Likewise, the major title wins of his career include La Liga Championships three times, Bundesliga Championship three times, UEFA Champions League twice, and a Premier League title.
In 2021, Guardiola led the club to their maiden UEFA Champions League Final.
3. José Mourinho
Now, we are in the top three of the 12 best-paid soccer coaches in the world. On number 3, with a yearly salary of $24.6 million (£20m), we have 61 years-old José Mourinho.
The Portuguese manager is the head of the Italian Serie A club Roma. Not only is Mourinho one of the most extraordinary managers of all time, but he is also one of the most famous managers ever.
Before he began his coaching career, Mourinho was a midfielder playing in the Portuguese leagues. However, his playing career was relatively uneventful, and his professional playing career spanned from 1980 to 1987.
In 2000, Mourinho became the head manager for the Portuguese club Benfica. Since then, he has coached clubs like União de Leiria, Porto, Chelsea, Inter Milan, Real Madrid, Manchester United, and Tottenham Hotspur.
Mourinho has one of the best winning rates in the soccer world.
Some of the titles he has won in his career include Premier League Championships thrice, Premier Liga Championships twice, and Serie A Championships twice.
Similarly, it also includes UEFA Europa League titles twice, UEFA Champions League titles twice, and a La Liga Championship.
2. Ernesto Valverde
With a yearly earning of $29.6 million (£24m), we have 60 year-old Ernesto Valverde in second place on our list of 12 best-paid soccer coaches in the world. Currently, he manages the La Liga club, Athletic Bilbao.
Valverde was also a former professional soccer player. Starting his career in San Ignacio and Alavés’ youth system, he made his senior debut with the latter in 1982.
His professional career spanned from 1982 to 1997.
Upon his retirement, Valverde began his coaching career in 2001 as an assistant coach for Bilbao. A year later, he became the head coach for Bilbao Athletic.
Since then, he has managed various clubs like Espanyol, Olympiacos, Villarreal, Valencia, and Barcelona.
The Olympiacos won the double, which is the achievement of winning the country’s top tier division in 2008-09 and 2011-12.
Similarly, Valverde also helped Barcelona to win the double in the 2017-18 season. He also helped Barcelona to win the La Liga 2017-18, 2018-19, Copa del Rey 2017-18, and Supercopa de España for the 2018 season.
Valverde was awarded UEFA La Liga Coach of the Year for the 2015-16 season.
1. Diego Simeone
The title for the best-paid soccer coach in the world goes to 53 years-old Diego Simeone or else also known as El Cholo.
The charismatic Argentine Soccer Manager has an annual salary of $49.28 million (£46.7m).
Simeone started his soccer journey in the youth system of Vélez Sársfield and made his senior debut in 1987 with the team.
His professional playing career spanned from 1987 to 2006, during which he played for various notable teams.
After playing for Racing Club for the last time on 17 February 2006, Simeone became the manager of the same team.
Since then, he has held the helm of teams like Estudiantes de La Plata, River Plate, San Lorenzo, and Catania.
Since 2011, he has been serving as the coach for Atlético Madrid. Additionally, Simone got his biggest managerial career success with the team and is the longest-serving manager in La Liga history.
In his successful title wins, Simone has won La Liga twice, UEFA Europa Leagues twice, UEFA Super Cups twice, the Copa del Rey, and runner-up for the UEFA Champions League twice.
The Argentine is considered the rising coaching star of the soccer world.
Conclusion
With this, we conclude our article on the 12 best-paid soccer coaches in the world. Thanks to these coaches’ hard work, the players can play to their full potential, and the standard of the games keeps rising.
No wonder these coaches are paid high amounts for their ability and services! They are recognized for their efforts and hard work in managing and drawing strategies for the team’s benefit.
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