The highest-paid football managers in 2024 have wages that rival those earned by some of the most famous football players with whom they are working. This makes sense, however. These managers have revolutionized the game and helped fill their clubs’ trophy cabinets.
Some of the names on this list may surprise you, and some omissions will come as a shock. This is why it’s time to look at the highest-paid football managers in football right now.
The Highest-Paid Football Managers Right Now
While some financial information regarding managers’ wages is confidential, this list takes into account the findings made by the websites Sport.es and Daily Mirror.
This is an updated list for the 2024/2025 season.
Xabi Alonso – €5 million
Xabi Alonso has quickly made a name for himself in management, applying the same intelligence and vision he was known for as a player. Yes, no other manager is as talked about in 2024 than Xabi Alonso. Will he join Liverpool or Real Madrid? Or will he win the Bundesliga title with Bayer Leverkusen and thus end Bayern’s dominance? Though early in his managerial career, his potential is evident with Real Sociedad B, showcasing a promising future.
Mikel Arteta (Arsenal) – €9 million
Mikel Arteta’s salary of €9 million will, according to press reports, receive a considerable increase soon. Arteta has brought Arsenal back into the Champions League and nearly won the Premier League trophy in 2024 after a very strong campaign.
Arsenal’s board has already awarded Arteta a good amount of transfer funds, which the manager has used to bring in players such as Riccardo Calafiori or Mikel Merino.
Let’s wait and see if the new contract extension will make Arteta the highest-paid manager in the world.
Jorge Jesus (Al-Hilal) – €10 million
Jorge Jesus may not be a household name as far as most football fans are concerned. But the Portuguese is managing in what has become one of the richest sports leagues in the world, the Saudi Pro League.
Jesus may be the least famous manager on this, at least. But his bosses must surely love him. Al-Hilal won the 2023-2024 title ahead of Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr. With plans to continue to develop the Saudi league, Jorge Jesus may well accumulate even more riches as well as personal fame.
Simone Inzaghi – €10 million
Simone Inzaghi has continued Lazio and Inter’s tradition of competitive football with a keen eye for developing talent. His tactical setup, seen by some as rigid, has guided Inter to the very top of Italian football and has made them, once again, a top contender in the Champions League. The 2023/24 season has gone spectacularly so far, and his wages reflect the Nerrazzuri’s belief in their manager.
Jose Mourinho (Fenerbahce) – €10.5 million
Jose Mourinho (Fenerbahce) – €10.5 millionJose Mourinho, at least financially, fell upwards after his dismissal from Serie A’s AS Roma. Mourinho opted to leave the Big 5 European League for the always-animated and dynamic Turkish Super League.
The general consensus is that both Fenerhache and The Special One have taken a gamble. Fener has been in the shadows of its Istanbul neighbours, while Mourinho hasn’t won the league title in almost ten years.
However, should Mourinho find a way to earn silverware, he will also find his way into the hearts of Turkish supporters and, perhaps, back into the football elite. At the time of writing, Fenerbahche is first in the TSL and fighting for a place in the UCL.
Carlo Ancelotti – €11 million
Carlo Ancelotti is one of the most successful managers in European football, having won domestic titles in Italy, England, France, Germany, and Spain, along with multiple Champions League trophies. His calm demeanour and experience have made him a respected figure in the game.
Ancelotti may have considered retirement in recent years. But success is keeping him stay put. Real Madrid are winning trophies and developing a team that can be one of Europe’s finest for years to come. And, of course, Don Carlo is at the helm of it all.
Steven Gerrard – €17.6 million
Steven Gerrard made an immediate impact at Rangers, leading them to their first Scottish Premiership title in a decade, ending Celtic’s dominance. A well-respected figure in the United Kingdom, Gerard was touted as the next Liverpool manager. Things haven’t worked out exactly.
But Al-Ettifaq certainly believes in him and has offered him a terrific salary to ensure that the former midfielder is on the ground floor of what they see as a project to make the Saudi Pro League into one of the finest in the world.
Pep Guardiola – €22 million
Pep Guardiola is the inventor of modern football, having instilled a possession-based style that has seen him conquer leagues in Spain, Germany, and England. His Manchester City side is a testament to his philosophy, dominating the Premier League with an innovative approach to the game.
In fact, some might argue that this Manchester City and their seemingly never-ending success is ruining the fun of having teams contest for trophies. Guardiola is a true managerial genius and certainly deserves to be one of the highest-paid managers in football.
Roberto Mancini (Saudi Arabia) – €25 million
Roberto Mancini was surely motivated, primarily by financial compensation, when he opted to leave former European champions Italy and become the national team coach of Saudi Arabia. This was a shock exit. However, Mancini has joined a number of high-profile players, like Cristiano Ronaldo, in relocating to Saudi Arabia.
In fact, the Arabians needed Mancini to prove their earnest intent to become a local power and, let’s be honest, to one over their local rivals Qatar.
How are things going? Is Mancini justifying his €25 million a year salary? Saudi Arabia is currently second in a qualification group for the World Cup, which includes Japan, Australia, and China. In 2023, Mancini led the team all the way to the round of 16 of the AFC Asian Cup. Surely, more is expected.
Diego Simeone – €34 million
You may be surprised to learn that Diego Simeone is the highest-paid manager in football, according to the previously mentioned reports. But he is the architect of Atlético’s success.
Diego Simeone has redefined Atlético Madrid with his gritty, never-say-die attitude, leading them to a historic La Liga title and disrupting the duopoly of Barcelona and Real Madrid. His tactical acumen has solidified Atlético’s status in European competitions, making them a force to be reckoned with. Simone’s new contract is set to keep him in Madrid until 2027.
Now, it needs to be stated that from this salary, Simeone personally pays his entire coaching staff. This would likely mean that nearly of his wages are, essentially, shared with his assistant managers, goalkeeper coach etc.
And although rumours of his departure have persisted for years, surely, such news would cause riots around the Civitas Metropolitan Stadium.
Who is No Longer on the List of Highest Paid Managers?
A number of high-profile tacticians who were included on the list of highest-paid managers in the 2023/24 season are no longer included. Most often, they were sacked by the teams they were coaching, while one of them has entered a sabbatical. Let’s remind ourselves of them.
Niko Kovac – (previously earned) €4 million
Niko Kovac proved his mettle by leading Eintracht Frankfurt to a DFB-Pokal victory and Bayern Munich to a Bundesliga title. Still, a relatively young and new football manager, his inclusion on the list might surprise some. However, this is what being employed by one of football’s biggest institutions, Bayern Munchen, can do for one’s career.
Kovac’s ability to motivate his team and tactical flexibility has marked him as a manager to watch. Now, with VFL Wolfsburg, he has managed to retain some of his impressive earnings as a football manager.
In fairness, Kovac’s role at Wolfsburg seemed under threat from the start. Many felt that the position was given to him because of his experience managing Bayern. Kovac was fired after less than a year, and is currently seeking employment.
Jurgen Klopp – (previously earned) €18 million
Jurgen Klopp transformed Liverpool into a high-pressing, fast-attacking team, culminating in a long-awaited Premier League title and a Champions League victory. His charismatic leadership and tactical flexibility have endeared him to fans worldwide.
Yes, now that Klopp has opted to depart The Reds after a decade of success, filling his shoes will prove difficult. This period will be remembered not only as one of triumph but also as one of the most entertaining to watch in the club’s history. Klopp was worth every penny Liverpool were willing to pay him.
Jurgen Klopp shocked fans of the Reds when he announced that he would step down as manager at the end of the 2023/24 season. His plans are to take a sabbatical or, perhaps, even to retire from football altogether.
Thomas Tuchel – (previously earned) €12 million
Thomas Tuchel quickly established himself as the next great German manager. His tactical intelligence and fiery personality helped him advance quickly through the ranks in Germany. This led to managerial stints with some of the world’s finest teams, including Chelsea, with whom he won the Champions League shortly after taking over, Paris Saint-Germain and now, Bayern Munchen. His adaptability and strategic mind have been key to his success in Europe’s top leagues.
Tuchel failed to win the Bundesliga trophy, succumbing to Bayer Leverkusen’s nearly perfect season. This, together with disagreements between himself and Bayern’s hierarchy, meant that the club and manager parted ways this Summer.
Bayern replaced Tuchel, surprisingly, with Burnley’s Vincent Kompany, but it’s unlikely that the German manager will be without a top club for long.
Massimiliano Allegri –(previously earned) €12.8 million
Massimiliano Allegri has been instrumental in Juventus’ long period of domestic success, with multiple Serie A titles and Coppa Italia victories. His pragmatic approach to the game has also seen Juventus reach two Champions League finals under his tenure.
Having won everything with The Old Lady, he took a sabbatical and returned to the club as it faced one of its most difficult periods. Allegri can’t work magic immediately, but his approach seems to be providing results.
Allegri’s return to Juventus didn’t yield the results the board expected. The last straw was a red card received after an angry argument with the referee during Juve’s Coppa Italia victory over Atalanta. The Italian manager is currently without a job.
