Highest-paid managers in world football: Simeone, Arteta, Mourinho…
Three Premier League managers feature in the 10 highest-paid managers in world football in 2026 – and there are a couple of surprise entries too.
Surprisingly, only eight of the top 10 highest-paid managers are currently managing in Europe, with the other two coaches making serious money elsewhere.
Using the latest figures, we’ve assessed the 10 highest-paid managers in 2026 and have ranked them by their yearly wage.
10. Matthias Jaissle – £9.6million per year
Aged 38, Jaissle is by far the youngest manager on this list. He beats Brazil boss Carlo Ancelotti (£8.1million) to make it into this top 10.
The German coach did a fine job with Red Bull Salzburg and was picked up by Saudi Pro League giants Al-Ahli in 2023.
He has won the AFC Champions League Elite back-to-back with the Saudi club. Surely a return to Europe beckons at some point.
9. Luciano Spalletti – £9.7million per year
Juventus are sparing no expense to restore their former glory days, hiring Spalletti last summer after growing tired of Thiago Motta and Igor Tudor.
The Serie A giants missed out on the Champions League, finishing sixth. Spalletti will need to inspire a much-improved performance next year.
8. Andoni Iraola – £10.3million per year
Liverpool made Iraola the second-highest-paid Premier League manager when they appointed the Spaniard in June.
Iraola had done fine work at Bournemouth, but the hotseat at Anfield is a different level of challenge. Will his ideas translate to one of world football’s biggest clubs?
7. Luis Enrique – £10.3million per year
Following PSG’s back-to-back Champions League triumphs, Enrique will probably be demanding a pay rise when his contract comes up for renewal.
The Spanish coach has completely changed the culture at PSG and he played a key role in them becoming the best club in Europe.
“The first thing Luis Enrique told me is: ‘You’re going to see your team, the club, your team playing amazing football. You’re going to enjoy it,’” PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi told reporters earlier this year.
“That’s what he said … ‘I want to play offensive football’ and that’s what he told us and he’s done it. And he’s the best coach in the world.”
6. Jose Mourinho – £10.3million per year
Mourinho’s return to Real Madrid is accompanied with a £10.3million annual pay packet and we assume the inevitable pay-off when he’s sacked will be round about the same.
5. Xabi Alonso – £11.3million per year
Chelsea pulled off a coup when luring Alonso to Stamford Bridge; while the Spaniard’s reputation may have been hit at Real Madrid, the Blues finished 10th in the Premier League.
He’s already spent £117million on Morgan Rogers – which will need plenty of sales to pay for – and Chelsea may finally have a serious manager on their hands.
4. Oliver Glasner – £13million per year
The Austrian spent much of the summer being touted for the biggest vacancies in European football after turning Crystal Palace into a trophy-winning side.
Instead, he has taken the eyebrow-raising step of moving down the Premier League table to become Nottingham Forest’s fifth manager in 12 months.
Glasner’s reported £13million salary (The Sun) explains that one. After last season’s farce, attracting a coach of Glasner’s pedigree is quite something. Forest can’t afford to continue on their revolving-door managerial policy, but we wouldn’t put anything past Evangelos Marinakis.
3. Mikel Arteta – £15million per year
The Spanish coach signed a new three-year deal with Arsenal back in December 2024, which made him one of the highest-paid managers in world football.
Since arriving at Arsenal in 2019, the improvements that he’s made have been obvious to see. And Arteta’s work was rewarded with the Premier League title last season.
The highest-paid manager in the Premier League reportedly gets £10million plus another £5million for getting them into the Champions League.
2. Diego Simeone – £20.3million per year
Having been at Atletico Madrid since 2011, Simeone is one of the longest-serving managers in world football and he’s also the second-highest-paid.
As a player, he won the league and Copa del Rey with Atletico in the nineties and he’s been even more successful as a manager.
Battling against Barcelona and Real Madrid every year is no easy feat, but Simeone always finds a way to make his side competitive.
He’s still under contract with the club until 2027 and still seems as motivated as ever in the job.
1. Simone Inzaghi – £22.5million per year
After agreeing to leave Inter to join Saudi giants Al-Hilal last summer, Inzaghi became the second-highest-paid manager in world football.
He earns £22.5million per year in Saudi Arabia, the equivalent of £454,000 per week.
All that money and Inzaghi’s team could only finish second in the most recent Saudi Pro League.
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