The Top 15 Highest-Paid Football Managers in the World

11. Arne Slot - Liverpool

Yearly Wage: £6.8m

Arne Slot has taken over from Jurgen Klopp as Liverpool's manager. Klopp's tenure will be remembered as one of the most successful in the club's history, leaving big shoes for Slot to fill at Anfield. Slot arrives from Feyenoord, where he secured an Eredivisie title, bringing with him an exciting style of play that promises to energize the Liverpool faithful. With a talented squad already in place on Merseyside, there is optimism that Slot can lead Liverpool to contention for the Premier League title. Despite starting on a lower wage than Klopp, success could quickly elevate his standing and renegotiate his contract terms.

10. Luis Enrique - Paris Saint-Germain

Yearly Wage: £7.5m

Luis Enrique has been a fixture at the top of professional football for over a decade. After achieving success with Barcelona, he now commands the helm in the French capital. In his first season at the club, he led them to a Ligue 1 title but faced disappointment with an underwhelming exit from the Champions League semi-finals. Looking ahead to the 2024/25 campaign, he aims to reverse their fortunes, despite the departure of Kylian Mbappe to Real Madrid as part of a strategic shift towards team cohesion over individual stars. It's a bold strategy, but Enrique has proven his ability to unify teams in the past.

9. Jorge Jesus - Al Hilal

Yearly Wage: £8m

Jorge Jesus has had a varied managerial career, with his most successful stint coming at Benfica where he secured the league title three times and reached the Europa League final twice. Now at Al Hilal in Saudi Arabia, he's commanding a significant wage — ranked as the ninth-highest in the world, typical for high-profile moves to the Middle East.

Returning to Al Hilal in 2018 for a second spell, Jesus has made a remarkable impact. He led the team to victory in the 2023 Saudi Super Cup, King Cup, and Saudi Pro League, surpassing 100 goals for the season and finishing with a record 96 points, 14 points clear of their closest rivals, Al Nassr. His swift and decisive impact is undeniable.

8. Mikel Arteta - Arsenal

Yearly wage: £8.3 million

Mikel Arteta, Arsenal's manager, ranks as the eighth highest-paid manager globally. Despite facing challenges, the Spaniard has revitalized the Emirates Stadium, clearing out underperforming players and instilling an exciting style of football that has positioned the Gunners as contenders for the Premier League title.

Arsenal came agonizingly close to ending their title drought in 2022-23 and narrowly missed out on glory on the final day of the 2024 season. Arteta's current contract runs until summer 2025, and with his impressive management, it would be unsurprising to see him extend his tenure in north London.

7. Simone Inzaghi - Inter Milan

Yearly wage: £8.8 million

After a period of setbacks, Inter Milan has surged back to the pinnacle of Italian and European football, with Simone Inzaghi playing a pivotal role in their resurgence. Since joining in 2021, Inzaghi has made a significant impact, securing multiple domestic cups for the Nerazzurri and leading them to the Champions League final in 2022-23. His crowning achievement came in 2024 with a Serie A victory over bitter rivals AC Milan.

Inzaghi's current contract at the San Siro runs until 2025, and there are strong indications that he will receive a well-deserved extension. Should negotiations proceed, it's likely to include a substantial pay increase, potentially elevating him further up the ranks of the highest-paid managers.

6. Erik Ten Hag - Manchester United

Yearly wage: £9 million

The position of Manchester United manager has always been one of the most lucrative in world football, so it's unsurprising to find Erik ten Hag among the highest earners, despite some questioning his tenure at Old Trafford.

Following a promising debut season that saw the Red Devils qualify for the Champions League and clinch the League Cup, the club faced setbacks in 2023-24. They were eliminated in the group stages of the prestigious competition, and reports indicated division within the United dressing room under the Dutchman's leadership. However, despite these challenges, ten Hag secured the FA Cup with a victory over Manchester City, earning him another season at the helm.

5. Carlo Ancelotti - Real Madrid

Yearly wage: £9.6 million

Before signing his contract extension in early 2024, Gerrard and Al-Ettifaq had endured a winless streak, causing mounting pressure on the Liverpool legend. His extension and salary increase came as a surprise to the football community, signaling confidence from the club's leadership that he could reverse their fortunes. Since then, Gerrard has begun to justify this faith, with Al-Ettifaq showing impressive form after the winter break. The club and its supporters now look forward to Gerrard continuing to inspire his players to success.

3. Pep Guardiola - Manchester City

Yearly wage: £20 million

Guardiola, despite being the highest-paid manager in England, settles for third place on the global salary list. His impressive record of four consecutive league titles underscores why he commands such a substantial salary, with many considering him the current best manager worldwide.

Since starting his tenure with Manchester City in 2016, Guardiola's journey may conclude in 2025, as he has yet to finalize a new contract. His nearly decade-long tenure with the club has yielded a plethora of trophies, and he aims to surpass Sir Alex Ferguson's legendary trophy haul to cement his place as one of the most decorated managers in football history.

2. Roberto Mancini - Saudi Arabia

Yearly Wage: £21m

Roberto Mancini has carved out a legendary managerial career, marked by historic achievements. He famously led Manchester City to their first Premier League title in a dramatic fashion and steered Italy to Euro 2020 glory with a memorable victory on penalties. His successes have earned him widespread admiration, and now he has embarked on a new challenge in the Middle East.

Appointed as head coach of the Saudi Arabia national team in August 2023, Mancini signed a contract running until 2027. His initial assignment included guiding the Green Falcons through the 2023 AFC Asian Cup knockout stage, where they suffered a disappointing exit, losing 4-2 on penalties to South Korea in the round of 16.

1. Diego Simeone - Atletico Madrid

Yearly wage: £30 million