Top 10 of the best young football managers 2023: global ranking

Top 10 of the best young football managers 2023: global ranking

Ciku Njuguna
updated at April 12, 2023 at 7:58 PM

When the term football managers come to mind, we all think of the world-famous managers, Arsène Wenger, Antonio Conte, Pep Guardiola, or Jürgen Klopp. But have you ever wondered about the young up-and-coming football managers? This article looks at the top 10 best young football managers around the globe and includes their net worth and much more.

The best young football managers
Photo: canva.com (modified by author)
Source: UGC

The success or failure of a soccer team lies squarely on the shoulders of its manager. Although the most successful football managers happen to have decades of experience. Come with us as we find out who the best young football managers are and what level of success have they achieved.

Who are the best young football managers in 2023?

The average age of most successful managers in major league football clubs ranges between 44 and 60. This article will look at the best young up-and-coming football managers below 44 years.

Andoni Iraola
Andoni Iraola urges his team on during the 2022 LaLiga Santander match against Elche CF in Elche, Spain. Photo by Aitor Alcalde Colomer.
Source: Getty Images

10. Andoni Iraola - Rayo Vallecano

Iraola, one of the youngest managers in football, currently manages the first-tier La Liga club, Rayo Vallecano. His career as a manager started in 2018 when he was appointed to AEK Larnaca, leading them to 13 wins and 8 draws. He later joined the underdogs, Rayo, in 2020, leading them to their first win in 19 years against Barcelona.

Profile summary

  • Full name: Andoni Iraola Sagarna
  • Age: 40 (as of 2023)
  • Nationality: Spanish
  • Clubs coached: AEK Larnaca, CD Mirandés, Rayo Vallecano
  • Duration as a coach: 2018 - to date
  • Record: 13 wins and 8 draws
  • Net worth: $1.5 million

9. Sean McVay - Los Angeles Rams

Sean McVay
McVay looks on during a match between the Rams and the Baltimore Ravens during a preseason game in Baltimore, Maryland. Photo by Patrick Smith.
Source: Getty Images

McVay is currently the youngest head coach in the NFL to win two Super Bowls. Sean's record as a coach has led to a drastic change in coaching standards, with the phrase 'Everyone wants the next McVay' influencing hiring processes for coaches in the NFL.

Profile summary

  • Full name: Sean McVay
  • Age: 37 (as of 2023)
  • Nationality: American
  • Clubs coached: Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Florida Tuskers, Washington Redskins, Los Angeles Rams
  • Duration as a coach: 2008 - to date
  • Record: 55 - 26 (W-L)
  • Honors: Super Bowl (2), AP NFL Coach of the Year (1).
  • Net worth: $7 million
  • Salary: $8.5 million per year

8. Yaya Toure

Yaya makes it to the top 10 best young soccer managers in the eighth position. The African star's playing career lasted 22 years. Soon after retiring from active playing, Toure rose to become the best youngest African manager after signing with Olimpik Donetsk in 2021.

Profile summary

  • Full name: Gnégnéri Yaya Touré
  • Age: 39 (as of 2023)
  • Nationality: Ivorian & English
  • Clubs coached: Akhmat Grozny, Olimpik Donetsk
  • Duration as an assistant manager: 2021
  • Net worth: $70 million

7. Matthias Jaissle

Matthias Jaissle
Matthias celebrates with his midfielder Maurits after winning the penalty shoot-out during a match against RZ Pellets WAC, Austria. Photo by Roland Krivec/DeFodi Images & Christian Hofer.
Source: Getty Images

In the seventh position, is Matthias Jaissle, UEFA's wonderkid. Although knee injuries ended his playing career short, his coach, Ralf Ragnick saw the managerial potential in him. Speaking to Kicker, he acknowledged the role Rangnick had saying,

"Ralf already saw a coach in me when I didn't even know about it."

Matthias Jaissle's tactics at the FC Red Bull Salzburg propelled the club to Bundesliga glory with 19 wins and 4 draws out of 24 matches.

Profile summary

  • Full name: Matthias Jaissle
  • Age: 34 (as of 2023)
  • Nationality: German
  • Clubs coached: Bröndby IF, AKA Red Bull Salzburg U18, FC Liefering, FC Red Bull Salzburg
  • Duration as a coach: 2017 - to date
  • Record: 29 wins and 6 draws
  • Net worth: $1.5 million

6. Ruben Amorim

Ruben Amorim
Ruben during the 2022 UEFA Champions League match between Sporting CP and Manchester City in Lisbon, Portugal. Photo by Eric Verhoeven/Soccrates.
Source: Getty Images

Amorim, the current manager for the Portuguese Sporting CP, is the youngest manager with the most trophies. Being one of the youngest football managers with the most potential, he has been eyed by major league clubs, including Manchester United.

Profile summary

  • Full name: Rúben Filipe Marques Amorim
  • Age: 38 (as of 2023)
  • Nationality: Portuguese
  • Clubs coached: Casa Pia, Braga B, SC Braga, Sporting CP
  • Duration as a coach: 2018 - to date
  • Record: 33 wins and 5 draws
  • Honors: Portuguese Champion (1), Portuguese League Cup (3), Portuguese Super Cup (1)
  • Net worth: $1.9 million
  • Salary: $2.7 million per year

5. Wayne Rooney

Wayne Rooney
Derby County's coach Wayne Rooney during the 2021 Sky Bet Championship match against AFC Bournemouth at Pride Park Stadium in Derby, England. Photo by Robin Jones - AFC Bournemouth.
Source: Getty Images

Rooney's fame as a player has reached legendary proportions after his 2022 induction into the Premier League Hall of Fame. So, how long has Wayne Rooney been the manager at Derby? Rooney joined Derby County in 2021, keeping the club away from a near relegation in the 20/21 season.

Profile summary

  • Full name: Wayne Mark Rooney
  • Age: 37 (as of 2023)
  • Nationality: English
  • Club(s) coached: Derby County
  • Duration as a coach: 2020 - to date
  • Record: 12 wins and 13 draws
  • Net worth: $170 million
  • Salary: $118 thousand per week

4. Mikel Arteta

Mikel Arteta
Arsenal Manager, Arteta during the Arsenal 1st team training session at London Colney in St Albans, England. Photo by David Price/Arsenal FC.
Source: Getty Images

Who is Arsenal's manager? Mikel is a former Arsenal midfielder who led the club to 2 FA Cup victories. There are many who wonder which clubs Mikel Arteta has managed? Following his retirement from playing, Arteta joined Man City as an assistant manager before moving to Arsenal, where he grew to become the best young English football manager of his time.

Profile summary

  • Full name: Mikel Amatriain Arteta
  • Age: 40 (as of 2023)
  • Nationality: Spanish
  • Club(s) coached: Manchester City, Arsenal
  • Duration as a coach: 2016 - to date
  • Record: 21 wins and 4 draws
  • Net worth: $71 million
  • Salary: $10 million per week

3. Ejdin Djonlic

Ejdin Djonlic
Norwegian coach Ejdin Djonlic. Photo:_@EjdinDjonlic
Source: Twitter

In 2016, Ejdin Djonlic became the youngest football coach to receive the UEFA 'A' licence at 21 years, having received the UEFA C license at only 15 years of age. Although Ejdin is eager to become one of the young managers in big football clubs, he opted to forego offers to work with Premier League academies at Tottenham and Arsenal and instead enrolled for a sports degree at the Southampton Solent.

Profile summary

  • Full name: Ejdin Djonlic
  • Age: 29 (as of 2023)
  • Nationality: Norwegian
  • Club(s) coached: local Norwegian clubs

2. Ryan Mason

Ryan Mason
Ryan Mason speaks to the media prior to the 2021 Premier League match between Leicester City and Tottenham Hotspur at The King Power Stadium. Photo by Tottenham Hotspur FC.
Source: Getty Images

At 29 years of age, Mason became the youngest manager in Premier League history during his time at Tottenham. So, what ended Ryan Mason's playing career? Unfortunately, Mason's successful career in the Premier League ended prematurely after a head clash during a match, that left him with a fractured skull. Regardless, he has become one of the best young football managers in Europe.

Profile summary

  • Full name: Ryan Glen Mason
  • Age: 31 (as of 2023)
  • Nationality: English
  • Club(s) coached: Tottenham Hotspurs
  • Duration as a coach: 2019 - to date
  • Record: 4 wins and 0 draws
  • Net worth: $1.5 million

1. Julian Nagelsmann

Julian Nagelsmann
FC Bayern München's coach, Julian Nagelsmann at the press conference after the 2022 Bundesliga match against 1. FC Union Berlin at Allianz Arena in Munich, Germany. Photo by L. Theising/FC Bayern.
Source: Getty Images

Nagelsmann is one of the best young German football managers of his time. In 2016, he became the youngest coach in the Bundesliga when he was appointed as the assistant manager for the TSV 1860 Munchen U17 team. Since then, he has broken records in the UEFA and Bundesliga while coaching top tier clubs RB Leipzig and FC Bayern.

Profile summary

  • Full name: Julian Nagelsmann
  • Age: 35 (as of 2023)
  • Nationality: German
  • Club(s) coached: Hoffenheim U17, TSG Hoffenheim, Hoffenheim U19, RB Leipzig, FC Bayern.
  • Duration as a coach: 2008 - to date
  • Record: 26 wins and 4 draws
  • Honors: German U-19 Bundesliga Champion (1), German Super Cup (1).
  • Net worth: $1 - $5 million

Who are the top 5 best young female football managers in men's football?

Young female managers of male football teams
Are there any female football managers? Well, here is a list of the best female football managers of male teams. Photo by Hvroje Polan/ Ashraf Shazly/ Isaac Lawrence/@helenacosta78/ Lukas Schulze.
Source: Getty Images
  • 5. Tihana Nemčić - NK Viktorija Vojakovac
  • 4. Inka Grings - SV 19 Straelen
  • 3. Chan Yuen-ting - Eastern Sports Club
  • 2. Selma Al-Majidi - Al Nasr Omdurman
  • 1. Helena Costa - Eintracht Frankfurt

What is the criteria used to rank the young football managers on the list?

The young football managers on the list are ranked based on a number of factors, including their coaching record, the strength of the team they manage, and their potential for future success.

Although this article has not covered all of the best young football managers, thousands more youth are heading clubs in local and minor league clubs. Who would you like to see on this list of the world's best managers?

READ ALSO: Ten best managers who never played professional football ranked

Sportsbrief recently published an article about the top-performing football managers who have never played the game.

Although most of the famous and successful coaches in the world of football played before becoming coaches, several top-level coaches did not. Dig in here to discover more about some of the world's best coaches who never played the game.

Authors
Ciku Njuguna photo
Ciku Njuguna
Ciku Njuguna is a journalist with 3 year’s experience in content creation based in Kenya. She currently covers sports personnel as well as team biographies.