The 20 best managers in the world: Arne Slot number one, Guardiola sinks

Paul Macdonald

• Updated: 21 Jan 2025 10:26 GMT
• 10 min read

It's been a while since we updated our manager power ranking, but the first edition of 2025 sees somewhat of a change at the top.

Gone are the likes of Jurgen Klopp and Erik Ten Hag, who are no longer in managerial posts, while the new crop of ambitious young coaches are waiting in the wings.

Arne Slot's Liverpool revolution has been nothing short of spectacular as they run away with the Premier League and top the Champions League, while Pep Guardiola's Manchester City implosion has been well documented.

And Xabi Alonso and Leverkusen continue to seriously impress, with the Spanish boss expected to find a new home - perhaps Real Madrid - by the end of the season.

And what about the likes of Carlo Ancelotti, Simone Inzaghi and Hansi Flick? How do Arsenal's struggles affect Mikel Arteta's standing?

Who are the best managers in the world? FT outlines the best coaches and how they are currently perceived by fans, clubs, and the media alike.

Our bespoke algorithm takes into account a huge number of factors, including:

- Club current form, adjusted for the strength of the competition

- European form

- Style of play

- Reputation

- Media buzz

- Recent trophies won

- Experience

- Recent additional achievements

All of this comes together to form the below list. Do you agree with our algorithm? Let us know in the comments.

1. Arne SLOT (Liverpool) 🟩 🔼 15

Liverpool fans didn't really know what to expect when the former Feyenoord boss was selected as the replacement to Jurgen Klopp - even more so after a summer where very little transfer business was completed.

But what has transpired is beyond their wildest dreams. Miles clear at the top of the Premier League, already through in the Champions League, and still fighting in both cup competitions.

It's an astonishing achievement by Slot in what could have been extremely difficult circumstances, but he's won everyone over - all he needs to do now is make sure the season ends with silverware.

2. Xabi ALONSO (Bayer Leverkusen) 🟩 🔼 1

After finally ending the Bayern monopoly with Leverkusen's title win last season, Xabi Alonso's side understandably got off to a bit of a slower start this time.

But aside from a sticky loss to Arne Slot's Liverpool in November, you need to go back to a defeat to RB Leipzig in August for the last time Leverkusen tasted defeat domestically.

They have emerged as the clear challengers to Bayern once again, and it's testament to Alonso's ability to shape and then reshape this team which makes him one of the finest coaches currently around.

3. Simone INZAGHI (Inter) 🟩 🔼 3

Are Inter one of the best teams in Europe? Unquestionably yes, even if their displays this season are a little less easy on the eye than they were in the past.

Inzaghi's side have real domestic pressure in the form of Napoli and to a lesser extent Atalanta this season, but so far the Nerazzurri are doing their level best to keep them at bay to retain their title.

Inzaghi continues to work with a squad filled with some budget signings - Marko Arnautovic and Mehdi Taremi, among others - but he's still able to create a team of high quality.

4. Carlo ANCELOTTI (Real Madrid) 🟥 🔽 1

The bizarre club that is Real Madrid can only really be managed by a man of immense experience like Carlo Ancelotti.

For every occasion it feels like his time is perhaps up, he's able to turn things around, in spite of injury and immense egos.

Real haven't been great at all so far this season, but they sit top of La Liga and will still qualify for the knockouts in the Champions League - they are gearing up at the right time, as usual.

5. Diego SIMEONE (Atletico Madrid) 🟩 🔼 6

Simeone is another coach, like Ancelotti, who feels like his decade plus with Atleti might well be up, and yet produces a fantastic run with a new, refined team, and they look like a great side again.

His forward line with Antoine Griezmann and Julian Alvarez is pretty unique in the modern game but it's been working - they are very much in the La Liga title race, and the Champions League is due an amazing Atleti run once again.

Simeone IS Atleti now - and he deserves more silverware.

6. Vincent KOMPANY (Bayern) 🟩 🔼 14

It's fair to say that eyebrows could not have been raised much higher when Kompany, who had taken Burnley down from the Premier League, was appointed the Bayern Munich boss.

But after a few results that didn't go in his favour, he's now got Bayern purring and in pole position to retain the Bundesliga title that Bayer Leverkusen took from them last season.

They're not quite the finished article yet, but Kompany has managed a notoriously difficult club with skill so far.

7. Gian Piero GASPERINI (Atalanta) 🟩 🔼 12

In terms of pure overachievement, it's hard to argue against the idea that Gasperini is the finest coach in the world today.

Operating the Bergamo club on almost a permanent surplus of transfer revenue, yet still competing on multiple fronts, not least winning the Europa League last season.

And his progressive style of play may yet deliver Serie A as they battle with Inter and Napoli at the summit.

8. Andoni IRAOLA (Bournemouth) 🟩 🔼 NEW

There's simply one word for what Iraola is achieving with Bournemouth - genius.

This type of run simply shouldn't be possible for a team of this stature and yet, despite an ever-growing injury list, they are able to win on such a consistent basis that Europe should now be the target rather than relegation.

Iraola came from La Liga with a stellar reputation but it was thought he was joining a club with a ceiling - how wrong that assertion was.

9. Pep GUARDIOLA (Man City) 🟥 🔽 8

Let's be clear - Pep is still the best, most influential coach in the world, bar none.

But City have plumbed the depths of late as personal issues and injuries hampered his team, and led to a devastating run which killed their title chances.

But they are starting to edge back upwards, and with Haaland's stellar new contract, maybe there's still something in this season for City and Pep.

10. Nuno ESPIRITO SANTO (Nottingham Forest) 🟩 🔼 NEW

Nuno is another coach whose time at Tottenham is the exception rather than the rule as to his managerial abilities.

Sacked after just a few months at Spurs, Nuno is showing what he is capable of with an expertly-constructed Forest side that are gunning for Champions League football.

11. Antonio CONTE (Napoli) 🟩 🔼 10

Conte's tactical struggles when he has to balance domestic and European matches is well-known, but when has just the league to focus on - like with Napoli this season - he is still one of the best coaches around.

He's had to contend with an on-running Victor Osimhen saga which disrupted his pre-season - as well as losing star man Khvicha Kvaratskhelia mid-season - but has still been able to make astute signings which have put Napoli in with a shout of Serie A glory for the second time in three seasons.

12. Hansi FLICK (Barcelona) 🟩 🔼 NEW

Flick inherited a hugely difficult financial situation at Barcelona, in a job which has definitely lost gravitas in the past few years.

But, coupled with a set of great young players led by Lamine Yamal, he has turned Barca into an exciting unit once again, one capable of handing serious hammerings to Real Madrid into the bargain.

How much silverware this actually delivers - remains to be seen.

13. Unai EMERY (Aston Villa) 🟥 🔽 3

It's been much tougher for Emery to work his magic with a smaller squad and also Champions League football to contend with.

But Villa's form in Europe has been superb, defeating Bayern Munich along the way, and they've been able to steady their league form to give them a chance of qualifying directly for the tournament again next season.

Emery remains one of the most astute coaches around, and Villa's upwards trajectory is down in no small part to him.

14. Mikel ARTETA (Arsenal) 🟥 🔼 10

It's difficult to assess Arteta and Arsenal right now; the overriding feeling of everyone being against them in the title race is affecting the team as well as an injury to undoubted key player Bukayo Saka.

Arteta is clearly an excellent coach but his team seem to be suffering under the strain of their form in recent seasons, and it's beginning to feel like something might change sooner rather than later.

15. Eddie HOWE (Newcastle) 🟩 🔼 2

Newcastle's recent incredible winning run has had fans questioning whether they could conceivably challenge for the title.

While that's unlikely to happen they have been returned to a great side to watch, with Alexander Isak becoming perhaps the best centre-forward in Europe under Howe's management.

16. Sebastian HOENESS (Stuttgart) 🟩 🔼 2

Stuttgart were expected to suffer a significant dropoff this season as Hoeness' side competed in the Champions League and domestically.

But Hoeness continues to work magic with this team and the fact they are in the Bundesliga top four - and have been competitive in Europe - is testament to the incredible job he has done.

17. Luis ENRIQUE (PSG) 🟥 🔼 8

PSG remain a club in real transition and still don't really know what they are; what's clear is that simply defeating the teams in front of them in Ligue 1 isn't going to be good enough long-term for the Qatari hierarchy in Paris.

Their Champions League displays simply haven't been good enough and Luis Enrique knows his performance at PSG will live or die by how far they progress in that competition.

18. LUIS DE LA FUENTE (Spain)

The Euro 2024 winning coach helped to return Spain to the summit of European football with a slick team and brilliant performances.

He will lead Spain into World Cup 2026 as one of the clear favourites, and is a rare example of a coach in international football now without much experience at club level.

19. Ruben AMORIM (Man Utd)

Bear with us - yes, it's been a disaster so far, in the main, since Amorim moved to Old Trafford. But he didn't become a poor manager overnight.

Just two months ago he was beating Manchester City - twice - and the drop-off at Sporting when he lift was gigantic. The Liverpool and Arsenal performances amidst the chaos will give him cause for a small bit of optimism, and he is a coach which in time will make his impact on this team.

20. Roberto DE ZERBI (Marseille) 🟩 🔼 5

Marseille probably wasn't the place most expected De Zerbi to end up after leaving Brighton, but despite being massively inferior to PSG are making a decent fist of Ligue 1 football this season.

De Zerbi's side have no Europe to worry about and that has worked in his favour, but they still need to win the matches. And they are positioned extremely well for Champions League qualification next season, which would have been his target from the start.

OUTSIDE THE TOP 20

21. Thomas TUCHEL (England)

22. Enzo MARESCA (Chelsea)

23. Dino TOPPMOLLER (Frankfurt)

24. Abel FERREIRA (Palmeiras)

25. Imanol ILGUACIL (Real Sociedad)

26. Luciano SPALLETTI (Italy)

27. Julian NAGELSMANN (Germany)

28. Sergio CONCEICAO (Milan)

29. Petr BOSZ (PSV)

30. Didier DESCHAMPS (France)

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