Frank Christian
Coaching in football comes with immense pressure, but it also brings significant financial rewards.
Even when faced with termination, managers receive hefty compensations. For instance, Erik ten Hag reportedly secured a £16 million ($19.4 million) payout after being let go by Manchester United in November. Meanwhile, Jose Mourinho has amassed over £97 million ($122 million) throughout his career due to managerial dismissals.
Pep Guardiola, however, is staying put at Manchester City, with his new contract announcement anticipated on November 21. His salary increase is likely to position him among the highest-paid coaches globally.
Below, The Sporting News outlines the top 10 highest-paid active managers in the world, detailing their annual earnings based on 2022 information from sportkez.com and other reliable sources.
Who holds the title of the highest-paid manager in the world?
As of November 2024, Diego Simeone, the head coach of Atletico Madrid, tops the list with an annual salary of £30 million ($37.8m), outpacing Manchester City’s Pep Guardiola— at least according to Guardiola’s previous contract terms.
Following Simeone is Steven Gerrard, the coach at Al Ettifaq in Saudi Arabia, positioned just above Real Madrid’s Carlo Ancelotti, and ahead of Inter Milan’s Simone Inzaghi.
The remainder of the top 10 features coaches from the Premier League, including Manchester United’s recent hire Ruben Amorim.
| Manager | Club | Salary | |
| 1. | Diego Simeone | Atletico Madrid | £30m / $37.8m |
| 2. | Pep Guardiola | Man City | £20m / $25.3m |
| 3. | Steven Gerrard | Al Ettifaq | £15.2m / $19.2m |
| 4. | Carlo Ancelotti | Real Madrid | £9.6m / $12.1m |
| 5. | Mikel Arteta | Arsenal | £9.5m / $12m |
| 6. | Simone Inzaghi | Inter Milan | £8.8m / $11.1m |
| 7. | Unai Emery | Aston Villa | £8m / $10.1m |
| 8. | Ruben Amorim | Man United | £6.5m / $8.2m |
| 9. | Arne Slot | Liverpool | £6.2m / $7.8m |
| 10. | Ange Postecoglou | Tottenham | £5m / $6.3m |
| = | Sean Dyche | Everton | £5m / $6.3m |
Top 5 Highest-Paid Managers
5. Mikel Arteta: £9.5 million / $12 million
Following a tight race for the Premier League title against Manchester City, Mikel Arteta earned a new contract in September 2024, placing him fifth on this list. Since taking charge of Arsenal in 2019, Arteta has made notable progress, although recent inconsistencies during the 2024/25 season have tested the patience of some fans.
4. Carlo Ancelotti: £9.6 million / $12.1 million
Carlo Ancelotti’s illustrious career includes winning numerous titles, with a historic achievement in 2022 when he became the first manager to clinch all five major European leagues. Under his leadership, Real Madrid secured La Liga and triumphed against Liverpool in the Champions League final, marking Ancelotti as the first to win the title five times by 2024.
3. Steven Gerrard: £15.2 million / $19.2 million
Taking on a high-profile job at Al Ettifaq in July 2023, Gerrard became one of the best-paid coaches in Saudi Arabia. However, after finishing sixth in the previous season and winning just three of their first ten matches in 2024/25, his tenure has faced challenges.
2. Pep Guardiola: £20 million / $25.3 million
Celebrated as the world’s top manager, Guardiola has transformed Manchester City since 2016, achieving significant success with 18 trophies, including six Premier League titles and a historic treble in the 2022/23 season. Recently, instead of leaving, he has committed to a new contract that will extend his tenure at the club to a full decade.
1. Diego Simeone: £30 million / $37.8 million
Diego Simeone stands as the highest-paid manager globally, significantly ahead of others. In his impressive 13-year career with Atletico Madrid, he has garnered immense respect from fans, securing eight trophies, including two La Liga titles and reaching two UEFA Champions League finals.
