The Best Managers In Football XI
Blogs

The Best Managers In Football XI

The Best Managers In Football XI

A new generation of managers have taken centre stage across the footballing landscape. Many fan-favourites from their playing days have transitioned to new roles and have begun to find success.

In this article, we will be putting together a starting eleven of the best footballers turned managers across the globe.

Managers must currently be employed with a club to be eligible for selection.

Goalkeeper

Lee Grant - Huddersfield

With four Primeria Liga titles and a UEFA Champions League under his belt, Nottingham Forest manager Nuno Espírito Santo would be the expected goalkeeper for this eleven.

However, having spent the majority of his career as a back-up, former Derby County goalkeeper Lee Grant is given a spot instead. The current Huddersfield Town manager registered 511 appearances across a 22-year career.

Most known for his time with Derby County, Sheffield Wednesday, Grant retired from professional football in 2022, following a spell with Manchester United.

Despite the lack of trophies on his resume, Grant’s longevity is what gives him the edge over Espírito Santo.

Defenders

Diego Simeone

Diego Simeone’s playing career was nothing short of a success. The Argentine defender won ten trophies over 19 years, which included La Liga, UEFA Super Cup, UEFA Cup, Serie A and Copa America titles.

Known for his aggressive and ruthless style of play, Simeone most notably suited up for the likes of Atletico Madrid, Inter Milan, Lazio and Sevilla.

‘Cholo’ was also capped 108 times for the Argentina national team, scoring 11 goals from 1988 until 2002.

Simeone returned to former club Atletico Madrid as manager in 2011 and has since gone on to win two La Liga titles, two UEFA Europa League’s, two UEFA Super Cup’s, Copa del Rey and Supercopa de Espana.

The club have also finished runner-up in the UEFA Champions League on two occasions.

Vincent Kompany

Vincent Kompany only made his managerial debut in 2019 but has managed to become one of the premier managers in Europe over six years.

Starting out with Anderlecht, Kompany guided the Belgium side to third in the league and runners-up in the Belgium Cup in 2021.

Following a relatively successful start to his managerial career, Kompany took charge of English Championship side Burnley, winning the league title and securing promotion to the Premier League.

Burnley would be relegated the following campaign but Kompany’s style of football and management was enough to impress Bayern Munich, who appointed the Belgium coach in May 2024.

Bayern Munich would win the Bundesliga in Kompany’s debut season.

But before the managerial success, Kompany was known for being one of the best defenders in the world with Manchester City.

The Belgium centre back helped guide the Citizens to 12 trophies during his time with the club, including four Premier League titles, four EFL Cup’s and two FA Cup’s.

On the international stage, Kompany received 89 caps for Belgium, securing a bronze medal for the nation at the 2018 World Cup.

The former Manchester City captain was inducted into the Premier League Hall of Fame in 2022.

Javier Mascherano

Heralded as one of the best defenders and midfielders of his generation, Javier Mascherano’s playing days were full of success.

The current Inter Miami manager began his coaching career in 2022 with Argentina’s youth teams, managing the U20s and U23s until 2024 before being appointed manager of the MLS side.

Mascherano is most notably recognised for his time with Liverpool and Barcelona, winning 19 trophies with the latter.

During his time with Barcelona, the Spanish side were labelled by many as the ‘best team in the world’ for their dominance across Europe.

Barcelona would win five La Liga, five five Copa del Rey and two UEFA Champions League titles during Mascherano’s eight year stay with the club.

Having made his professional debut in 2003, the versatile Argentine retired with Estudiantes after 649 career appearances.

Mascherano was capped 147 times for the Argentina national team, finishing runner-up at the 2014 World Cup and on three separate occasions at the Copa America.

Felipe Luis

Not many managers can say they’ve had a better start to their career than former Atletico Madrid, Chelsea and Flamengo full-back, Felipe Luís.

The Brazilian manager took charge of former club Flamengo in September 2024 and hasn’t looked back since.

Flamengo have won the Copa do Brasil, Supercopa do Brasil and Campeonato Carioca during Luís tenure.

Luís boasts a win percentage of 68.75 across all competitions with Flamengo, winning 33, drawing 12 and losing just three times.

Luís’ success in management is no different to his playing days, having won a total of 22 trophies across a 20 year career.

A reliable and defensively sound left-back, Felipe Luis is most known for his two spells with Atletico Madrid.

The Brazilian defender registered 333 appearances for the La Liga side, helping secure La Liga, Copa del Rey, UEFA Europa League and UEFA Super Cup titles for the club.

Luís would also play a single season in England with Chelsea during the 2014/15 campaign, making 26 appearances as Chelsea won the Premier League and FA Cup.

Called 44 times for his national team, Brazil captured Copa America and Confederation Cup gold in 2019 and 2014 with Luís.

Midfield

Pep Guardiola

Pep Guardiola has cemented himself as one of the greatest managers of all-time.

The current Manchester City has won a staggering 41 trophies since beginning his managerial career in 2007.

Having won multiple league titles in England, Spain, Germany and the European stage, there’s nothing that the Spaniard hasn’t achieved.

However, all the success achieved in management has overshadowed a playing career that’s on par with some of the greats.

Guardiola graduated from La Masia, making his senior debut for Barcelona in 1990. A defensive midfielder by trade, Guardiola spent 11 years with his boyhood club, making 382 appearances and scoring 11 goals.

Barcelona would win six La Liga titles, including four in a row from 1990 to 1994.

Guardiola would win 15 trophies with Barcelona, captaining the club from 1997 until his departure in 2001.

A gifted playmaker, Guardiola is regarded as one of the best defensive midfielders of all time due his ability to simultaneously create and defend.

With the Spanish national team, Guardiola would make 47 appearances, scoring five goals.

Xabi Alonso

With an invincible Bundesliga title, DFB-Pokal, DFL-Supercup and a runners-up medal in the UEFA Europa League to his name, not many can match Xabi Alonso’s resume over the last three years.

Having guided Bayer Leverkusen to their first ever Bundesliga title during his tenure, Alonso departed the German side in favour of becoming Real Madrid manager.

The appointment sees Alonso make a return to the Santiago Bernabeu, having spent five years with Los Blancos as a player.

Most notably known for his spells with Real Madrid and Liverpool, Alonso is regarded as one of the most technically gifted midfielders of his generation.

A serial winner, Alonso picked up 14 trophies with three different clubs - winning the UEFA Champions League with both Real Madrid and Liverpool.

He also managed to win three consecutive Bundesliga titles with Bayern Munich before hanging up his boots in 2017.

Internationally, Alonso made 114 appearances for Spain lifting the FIFA World Cup in 2010 and back-to-back UEFA European Championships in 2008 and 2012 as part of Spanish footballs ‘golden generation.’

Patrick Vieira

Patrick Vieira’s name is synonymous with winning titles. Best known for his time with Arsenal, the French midfielder was a key component in the Gunners’ invincible Premier League title in 2003/04.

A dominating box to box midfielder, praised for his mentality and aggressive nature, Vieira retired with 19 trophies to his name - including three Premier League and four Serie A titles.

At the international level, Vieira made 107 appearances for France from 1997 to 2009, winning the FIFA World Cup in 1998, UEFA European Championships in 2000 and Confederations Cup in 2001.

Now manager of Genoa, Vieira has found his stride following an up and down managerial career.

Frank Lampard

Before he was guiding Coventry City to the Championship playoffs, Frank Lampard was viewed as one of the greatest footballers to ever come from England.

The former Chelsea and West Ham United midfielder is highly regarded as arguably the best midfielder to play in the Premier League, holding records for most goals scored by a midfielder in league history (171).

As a player, Lampard lifted three Premier League titles, four FA Cup’s, two EFL Cup’s, two Community Shield’s, UEFA Europa League and a UEFA Europa League with Chelsea.

Lampard also received 106 caps for England scoring 29 goals, placing him 11th all-time.

Forwards

Robin Van Persie

While Robin van Persie’s managerial career is still young, his playing days are fondly remembered by the footballing world. A Premier League champion with Manchester United, the Dutch forward also represented Feyenoord, Arsenal and Fenerbahce during his career.

Despite having a career littered with success, many in North London will remember the Dutch forward for his controversial move from Arsenal to Manchester United in 2015 in an attempt to secure a first Premier League title.

A lethal goalscorer, van Persie found the back of the net 272 in 593 appearances. He is also the all-time leading scorer for the Netherlands national team with 50 goals.

Following his retirement in 2019, van Persie was given his first shot in management with Heerenveen, impressing enough in 26 matches to earn a move to manage former club Feyenoord.

Ruud van Nistlelrooy

With 349 goals to his name, Ruud van Nistlelrooy is recognised as one of the all-time great strikers in football history.

A Manchester United legend, the Dutch striker scored 150 goals in five seasons with the Red Devils, winning the Premier League, FA Cup, EFL Cup and Community Shield in the process.

A career resume which also consists of playing for Real Madrid, PSV Eindhoven, and Hamburger, van Nistlelrooy established a ruthless pedigree across a number of leagues.

Having transitioned into management in 2021, the Dutch coach has taken charge of Jong PSV, PSV Eindhoven, Manchester United (caretaker) and Leicester City.

Honourable Mentions: Luis Enrique, Carlo Ancelotti, Mikel Arteta, Didier Deschamps, Antonio Conte

Benji Kosartiyer
Journalist
Reece Coughlan

Writer

Videos
See more
From Non-League to the AFCON Final - The Story of Kwesi Appiah
Listen to our full podcast with Kwesi Appiah as he discusses his sensational rise from non-league all the way to starting in the AFCON final.
Is it time for Luton Town to make THE DECISION?!
Watch out latest edition of EFL Hot Takes as the lads give their opinion on the Rob Edwards situation at Luton Town.
WHO is in our Championship TEAM OF THE SEASON so far?!
Find out how we would put in our Championship Team of the Season so far on YouTube as we approach the busy period.

Join our newsletter

Become a part of our community and never miss an update from Football Park.