The 25 best managers in men's world football - ranked

Here at 90min, we love to rank everything in football.

Whether that's players by their position or managers by the way they dress, or managers by how hard they are, or managers by how suited they are to being a professor, you can find an assorted list for any taste around here.

But we recently noticed that we'd never ranked the best current managers in men's football. We quickly realised that's because it's much, much harder to do that.

For example, some managers will perform well at elite clubs, but would struggle in turning round the fortunes of a middling side. Whatever criteria you have in your head for how to appropriately rank a manager, disregard it. Go with the flow. That's the only thing that's kept us sane.

Here are 90min's picks for the best 25 managers in men's world football today.

Honourable mentions and managers on the up:

• Maurizio Sarri
• Mauricio Pochettino
• Jose Mourinho
• Franck Haise
• Arne Slot
• Eddie Howe
• Marco Rose
• Thiago Motta
• Edin Terzic
• Roger Schmidt
• Sebastian Hoeneß
• Francesco Farioli
• Ernesto Valverde

25. Peter Bosz

Currently in charge of: PSV Eindhoven

Things may have not worked out for Peter Bosz at every club he's coached, but they certainly have at PSV Eindhoven.

The Dutch side are pretty much guaranteed the Eredivisie title this season and are yet to be beaten in the league.

24. Xavi

Currently in charge of: Barcelona

Xavi's stock has nosedived this season having guided Barcelona to the La Liga title last campaign.

The Spaniard's struggles have led to him announcing that he will be leaving the club at the end of the current season, with Barcelona unlikely to add any more silverware to their cabinet this year.

23. Gian Piero Gasperini

Currently in charge of: Atalanta

A criminally underappreciated coach, Gian Piero Gasperini continues to defy expectations with Atalanta in Italy.

Despite having a shoestring budget in comparison to sides around them in the table, the underdogs consistently find a way to upset the odds.

22. Ruben Amorim

Currently in charge of: Sporting CP

One of the sparkly new coaches lighting up one of Europe's less revered leagues, Ruben Amorim has been a breath of fresh air at Sporting CP.

The Portuguese won the Lisbon side their first league title in 19 years during the 2020/21 season and is well placed to lift another Primeira Liga trophy this term.

21. Roberto De Zerbi

Currently in charge of: Brighton & Hove Albion

Roberto De Zerbi built on the foundations that Graham Potter had put in place at the Amex Stadium, helping Brighton qualify for their first ever European campaign last season.

The Seagulls are an incredibly well coached side and the Italian has impressed so much on the south coast that he is being eyed by the likes of Liverpool and Barcelona.

20. Erik ten Hag

Currently in charge of: Manchester United

Erik ten Hag's first season at Manchester United was impressive, but it's been a far more testing campaign for the Dutchman this time round.

The Red Devils are starting to find their feet again, but they never feel too far away from crisis.

19. Michel

Currently in charge of: Girona

The 48-year-old is another hot prospect in Europe right now having helped Girona massively exceed expectations this season.

Given they're part of the City Football Group, it's not quite as romantic a tale as some have reported, but they have still done immensely well to compete with the likes of Real Madrid, Barcelona and Atletico Madrid.

18. Julian Nagelsmann

Currently in charge of: Germany

Harshly treated at Bayern Munich, Julian Nagelsmann has since taken his talents to the international scene as he prepares Germany for a home European Championships this summer.

The former RB Leipzig boss is still only 36 and could help the German national team put some dark days behind them at the upcoming tournament.

17. Luis Enrique

Currently in charge of: Paris Saint-Germain

Luis Enrique has been tasked with leading PSG into a new era away from their faux-Galactico period to this point.

It's not been a routine journey so far for the Spaniard, but there are positive signs developing at the Parc des Princes.

16. Massimiliano Allegri

Currently in charge of: Juventus

After an underwhelming return to Juventus, things are finally looking up for Max Allegri this term.

The Turin side are well placed to return to the Champions League next season, even if they have little hope of winning the scudetto ahead of the mighty Inter.

15. Ange Postecoglou

Currently in charge of: Tottenham Hotspur

There may be a pinch of recency bias with Ange Postecoglou's 15th place position, but the charismatic Aussie has helped transform Tottenham in less than a season.

Spurs have gone from the drab football of Jose Mourinho and Antonio Conte to playing some swashbuckling, and sometimes kamikaze, stuff in north London.

14. Thomas Tuchel

Currently in charge of: Bayern Munich

Thomas Tuchel may not be Bayern Munich manager for too much longer as the club fall further and further into chaos. Injuries have been testing for the former Chelsea boss, but, in all honesty, he seems to have lost the trust of his squad in Bavaria.

However, there can be no denying his quality given his past achievements.

13. Zinedine Zidane

Currently in charge of: Unemployed

13th may be a tad high for a manager who has been unemployed since 2021, but there still aren't too many coaches who can say they have won three Champions League trophies.

There are plenty of clubs who would kill for Zinedine Zidane in the dugout, but he seems to be waiting for the perfect opportunity to return to the touchline.

12. Stefano Pioli

Currently in charge of: AC Milan

Until his appointment at Milan in 2019, Stefano Pioli was just another Serie A journeyman, but he has broken free from those shackles of a stereotype and enjoyed a hugely successful period in charge at San Siro.

The Italian even managed to guide Milan to a Champions League semi-final last term, albeit they were outclassed by city rivals Inter over two legs.

11. Didier Deschamps

Currently in charge of: France

It's always difficult to know just how good a manger is when they have been in international management for so long, but Didier Deschamps has taken France to two World Cup finals - one of which he won.

He does have some impressive players at his disposal, but that shouldn't detract from what he has achieved with the French national team.

10. Lionel Scaloni

Currently in charge of: Argentina

The man who coached Argentina to their first World Cup title since 1986 - beating Deschamps' France in the 2022 final - Lionel Scaloni has enjoyed a productive period in charge of Lionel Messi and co.

The 45-year-old has never managed at club level, so we can only go by his achievements on the international stage.

9. Xabi Alonso

Currently in charge of: Bayer Leverkusen

The man who has sent Bayern spiralling into a chasm of self-doubt, Xabi Alonso has masterminded a revolution at Bayer Leverkusen.

The perennial underachievers are on course to win a first ever Bundesliga title under his tutelage, with the likes of Liverpool and Bayern eyeing him up as their next coach.

8. Luciano Spalletti

Currently in charge of: Italy

Luciano Spalletti won Napoli their first title in 33 years last season, an achievement which cannot be understated - especially given the attractive brand of football they played en route to the scudetto.

Now in charge of Italy, Spalletti will be hoping for similar success in his first international post.

7. Unai Emery

Currently in charge of: Aston Villa

Unai Emery genuinely had people believing that Aston Villa were title challengers for about two months of this season's Premier League. That's simply insane.

The Spaniard has massively overachieved in the Midlands and has put plenty of other Premier League coaches to shame following Villa's success.

6. Diego Simeone

Currently in charge of: Atletico Madrid

Every time you think that Diego Simeone's reign at Atletico Madrid has run its course, he always finds a way to slightly tweak their team and go again.

His longevity and tactical prowess is impressive, even if you don't love watching his side play.

5. Mikel Arteta

Currently in charge of: Arsenal

Mikel Arteta looked as if he may be another failed experiment at Arsenal, but the Spaniard has slowly built his side into an immense force following some clever recruitment and tactical tweaks.

The Gunners were close to winning the Premier League title last season and look set to battle it out for first place again this year.

4. Simone Inzaghi

Currently in charge of: Inter

At Inter, Simone Inzaghi has combined two very important footballing traits - the ability to sweep up trophies without needing to play a horrible style.

Inter reached the Champions League final last campaign and were more than a match for eventual winners Manchester City. Inzaghi's side are almost guaranteed the Serie A title this season, barring an almighty collapse in the coming months.

3. Carlo Ancelotti

Currently in charge of: Real Madrid

Hey, if Real Madrid can win La Liga or the Champions League with Joselu as their only natural centre forward option, then Carlo Ancelotti might need to move back to top spot.

The pragmatic Italian just knows how to win and never lets emotion cloud his judgement on the sidelines.

Of course, having Vinicius Junior and Jude Bellingham helps.

2. Jurgen Klopp

Currently in charge of: Liverpool

Liverpool supporters are still grieving the news that Jurgen Klopp will be leaving Anfield at the end of the season, with the German having completely revolutionised the Reds since his arrival in 2015.

The Premier League will miss his high-energy, relentless football, and Liverpool will have a job on their hands to replace his brilliance in the dugout.

1. Pep Guardiola

Currently in charge of: Manchester City

Jibe him for being a 'chequebook manager' all you want, but no coach still in the game is more successful than Pep Guardiola.

He is the reigning treble-winner after all, with Man City destined to win at least one trophy a season when he's in charge.

He's the best there currently is and perhaps the best there has ever been.

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