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Top 30 Highest-Paid Football Managers Worldwide in 2026

Managing a football team is a tough job, often filled with pressure and little appreciation. Managers are usually dismissed when results drop, unless they decide to retire or resign first. But those who succeed at the highest level earn impressive salaries.

Football's financial landscape keeps expanding, especially with Saudi Pro League clubs offering enormous contracts to attract top coaches. Here is a detailed list of the 30 best-paid managers, covering international teams and leading clubs in the Champions League.

Managers Ranked 30th to 11th by Annual Salary

  • 30. Okan Buruk (Galatasaray) – £4.2m
  • 29. Nuno Espirito Santo (West Ham) – £4.5m
  • 28. Frank Lampard (Coventry City) – £5m
  • 27. Michael Carrick (Manchester United) – £5m
  • 26. David Moyes (Everton) – £5m
  • 25. Thomas Tuchel (England) – £5m
  • 24. Manuel Pellegrini (Real Betis) – £5.1m
  • 23. Mauricio Pochettino (USA) – £5.1m
  • 22. Maurizio Sarri (Atalanta) – £5.3m
  • 21. Matthias Jaissle (Newcastle United) – £6m
  • 20. Vincent Kompany (Bayern Munich) – £6m
  • 19. Cristian Chivu (Inter Milan) – £6.3m
  • 18. Ruben Amorim (AC Milan) – £6.3m
  • 17. Hansi Flick (Barcelona) – £6.4m
  • 16. Massimiliano Allegri (Napoli) – £7.1m
  • 15. Gian Piero Gasperini (AS Roma) – £7.9m
  • 14. Roberto De Zerbi (Tottenham) – £8m
  • 13. Unai Emery (Aston Villa) – £8m
  • 12. Carlo Ancelotti (Brazil) – £8.1m
  • 11. Luciano Spalletti (Juventus) – £9.5m

Top 10 Highest-Paid Managers in 2026

  • 10. Enzo Maresca (Manchester City) – £10mStepping into Pep Guardiola's shoes is no easy task, but Enzo Maresca has been given a hefty contract to lead Manchester City. The club expects instant success with their star-studded squad.
  • 9. Andoni Iraola (Liverpool) – £10mDespite rumors that money wasn't his motive, Andoni Iraola secured a lucrative deal at Liverpool. Expectations are sky-high as he takes charge of one of England's biggest clubs.
  • 8. Ange Postecoglou (Al-Nassr) – £10mAfter a tough period at Nottingham Forest, Ange Postecoglou landed a major contract in the Saudi Pro League, managing stars like Cristiano Ronaldo and Sadio Mane.
  • 7. Luis Enrique (Paris Saint-Germain) – £10.2mFormer Barcelona coach Luis Enrique brought PSG its first big trophy in a historic treble season. His salary reflects his standing, with a potential pay rise on the horizon.
  • 6. Jose Mourinho (Real Madrid) – £10.2mThe return of Jose Mourinho to Real Madrid marked a major move, with Benfica receiving a large compensation fee. He previously led Madrid to record-breaking success.
  • 5. Xabi Alonso (Chelsea) – £11.5mXabi Alonso holds the Premier League's highest managerial salary thanks to Chelsea’s American owners. His appointment is a big gamble given past tensions at Real Madrid.
  • 4. Oliver Glasner (Nottingham Forest) – £13mAfter triumphs with Crystal Palace, Oliver Glasner took over at Nottingham Forest, becoming one of the richest managers globally as Forest fight to avoid relegation.
  • 3. Mikel Arteta (Arsenal) – £15mMikel Arteta earned a new three-year contract after restoring Arsenal to the top of English football, leading them to Premier League and Champions League glory.
  • 2. Diego Simeone (Atletico Madrid) – £20.1mLong the highest-paid manager, Diego Simeone now ranks second. Despite some recent struggles, he remains beloved after signing a new contract with a pay cut.
  • 1. Simone Inzaghi (Al-Hilal) – £22.2mHaving achieved great success with Inter Milan, Simone Inzaghi moved to Saudi Arabia's Al-Hilal, where he became the world's top-paid manager with an enormous salary.


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