The 11 Highest Paid Football Managers 2025–26
- Think Football Ideas
- Aug 7
- 4 min read
Top 11 Highest-Earning Football Managers in the 2025–26 Season
They’re the visionaries behind tactics, the figureheads in press rooms, and the ones who shoulder the blame when the plan unravels. Football managers today are more than tacticians, they’re high-stakes leaders in a billion-pound industry.
While fans roar for players on the pitch, it’s the masterminds on the touchline who make or break entire seasons. These are the men who walk the tightrope of expectation and are paid handsomely for doing so. But who is the highest-paid manager for the 2025-26 season?
Below Are The 11 Highest Paid Football Managers 2025–26
11. Unai Emery – £8.3m/year
Club: Aston Villa
After spells at various clubs, including Valencia, Sevilla, Arsenal, and PSG, Unai Emery has quietly cemented his place among the game’s most elite tacticians. After transforming Aston Villa into a European force, his stock has surged.
The club rewarded him with a hefty contract that reflects the upward momentum he brought to Villa Park. Under his watch, Villa aren’t merely surviving in the Premier League, they are now punching above their weight in both domestic and continental competitions.
10. Carlo Ancelotti – £8.4m/year
Team: Brazil National Team
Carlo Ancelotti swapped Real Madrid for the Maracanã and didn’t miss a financial beat. As Brazil’s national coach, Ancelotti brings a unique mix of calm, charisma, and Champions League pedigree to a nation starved of trophies in recent years, yet still obsessed with flair and success.
The role may not involve the daily grind of club football, but the expectations and the pay remain immense. The Italian's experience is seen as Brazil’s best bet for reclaiming global dominance.
9. José Mourinho – £9.2m/year
Club: Fenerbahçe
The self-proclaimed "Special One" is back on the sidelines, this time in Turkey. Jose Mourinho’s appointment at Fenerbahçe shocked some, but the Istanbul club have gone all-in, banking on his pedigree to deliver domestic silverware and European progress.
While Mourinho’s methods divide opinion, his salary reflects the enduring belief that he knows how to win, regardless of geography.
8. Matthias Jaissle – £9.6m/year
Club: Al-Ahli
A sharp, modern mind in the managerial game, Matthias Jaissle left European football’s rising circuit for the riches of Saudi Arabia. Al-Ahli, one of the league’s historic clubs, placed him at the helm of their ambitious project.
Jaissle's high-tech, progressive approach mirrors the league’s attempt to modernise, and his wage packet proves they’re serious about building from the dugout as much as the pitch.
7. Luis Enrique – £9.6m/year
Club: Paris Saint-Germain
After finally guiding PSG to that elusive Champions League title in May 2025, Luis Enrique is reaping the rewards. His ability to manage egos, tweak systems, and deliver big moments on the biggest nights has renewed belief in the PSG project.
While previous managers struggled under the spotlight, Enrique has embraced it, and Paris have paid him accordingly. These 10 interesting facts about Luis Enrique offer more insight into the Spanish coach.
6. David Moyes – £12.5m/year
Club: Everton
David Moyes’ second coming at Everton raised eyebrows, as did the wages. But context matters. After stabilising West Ham and delivering the UEFA Europa Conference League trophy in 23, Moyes was brought back to Goodison Park not for sentiment, but for structure.
The Scot is one of the highest-paid managers in the Premier League, and the Merseyside club's hierarchy believe he’s worth every penny if it means reviving Everton’s identity and ambition.
5. Stefano Pioli – £15.5m/year
Club: Al-Nassr
Once the architect behind AC Milan’s resurgence, Stefano Pioli is now part of the Saudi football revolution. At Al-Nassr, Pioli earns more than most European bosses, and with good reason.
The club is packed with global stars and massive expectations. Pioli’s calm leadership and Serie A-winning résumé make him a vital piece of Saudi Arabia’s wider footballing vision.
4. Mikel Arteta – £15.6m/year
Club: Arsenal
Mikel Arteta's rise has been both strategic and spectacular. He took Arsenal from uncertainty to title contention, and now commands one of the most lucrative deals in the Premier League.
Beyond tactics, he’s transformed the club’s culture, reconnected fans to the badge, and developed young talent. Arsenal’s decision to reward him with a bumper deal is both a recognition of results and a bet on continued growth, as they aim to secure the Premier League title soon.
3. Pep Guardiola – £20.7m/year
Club: Manchester City
The trophy cabinet at the Etihad speaks volumes. Pep Guardiola changed how English football thought about the game. His salary, among the highest in world sport, is a reflection of his influence on and off the pitch.
Whether it’s a Premier League title, a Champions League night, or a League Cup quarterfinal, Guardiola brings intensity and innovation every week. There’s talk of him stepping away in the near future, but Man City will be praying they can squeeze a few more masterclasses out of him.
2. Simone Inzaghi – £21.8m/year
Club: Al-Hilal
After taking Inter Milan to major finals and winning Serie A silverware, Inzaghi became one of Europe’s hottest managerial commodities. Then Al-Hilal pounced.
The Saudi Pro League giant offered a mammoth package, and Inzaghi left the San Siro after Inter's 5-0 loss to PSG in the 2025 Champions League. He is now in Saudi Arabia looking to lead Al-Hilal to regional dominance. His tactical acumen and calmness under pressure will be a good weapon for Al-Za'eem.
1. Diego Simeone – £25.9m/year
Club: Atlético Madrid
Diego Simeone still reigns supreme when it comes to managerial salaries, holding the crown as the highest-paid coach worldwide. Known for instilling Atlético Madrid with relentless grit and determination, his tenure has brought tangible success, including two La Liga titles and two Europa League trophies.
However, not everyone is sold on his approach. Critics argue that his style sometimes stifles creativity, limiting players' ability to flourish on the pitch. Yet, Atlético’s leadership remains pragmatic.
They reckon replacing Simeone with someone “better” or more suitable would come at an even steeper price. For now, as long as results keep coming, the club is happy to keep investing in their enduring, if divisive, touchline king.
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