Now that we have the Champions league groups already, It feels like a good time to run down which managers are the best paid in Europe (and therefore the world) to see how the continent’s elite will fare this season.
If the club’s with the highest wage bills (for players) are supposed to win the Champions League, then surely those with the best paid managers will also.
Much like the Premier League could turn out to be, this list is dominated by both Jose Mourinho and Pep Guardiola.
The great rivals both pull in 15 million pounds a year, and are joint top of the list.
Then comes the rest…
1. Jose Mourinho (Manchester United) – £15m
Jose Mourinho
The Special One earned a pay rise of 5 million pounds per season by joining Manchester United, as compared to his deal at Chelsea.
Early signs are that Mourinho will justify his huge earnings. Certainly, the former Real Madrid boss can pull in the star names, as we have seen this summer.
2. Pep Guardiola – (Manchester City) £15m
Pep Guardiola
Both Pep and his great rival Mourinho earn 290,000 pounds a week which makes you think that all that stress on the touchline is worth it.
Pep has improved his yearly wage with every managerial move but struggle to do the same when he leaves The Etihad.
3. Carlo Ancelotti (Bayern Munich) – £9m
Carlo Ancelotti
Besides his early years in Italy, Ancelotti has been a success wherever he has been. Particularly at Chelsea and Real Madrid, where it still feels like he was harshly sacked.
It would be no surprise to see Ancelotti’s calm demeanour bring more success to Bayern Munich, with his players likely to enjoy his laid back style a little more than Guardiola’s.
4. Arsene Wenger (Arsenal) – £8.5m
Arsene Wenger
This could well be the last season Wenger appears on such a list. Or, if he does sign a new contract at Arsenal, despite plenty of fan opposition, “The Professor” can expect a pay rise.
Even those Arsenal fans who are unhappy with Wenger must admit that he has earned every penny for the club, bringing in trophies, a top four finish (EVERY season!) and presiding over the move from Highbury to The Emirates.
5. Jurgen Klopp (Liverpool) – £7m
Jurgen Klopp
Jurgen Klopp’s six-year contract extension even came as a surprise to the Liverpool manager, coming so soon after his arrival.
Klopp has undoubtedly won over the hearts of Liverpool fans but you still feel their defence is somewhat of a muddle and to break into the top four, even without European football this season, is a tough ask.
6. Antonio Conte (Chelsea) – £6.5m
Antonio Conte
It may be close to a third of what the big guns in the Premier League earn, and significantly less than what Jose Mourinho was on at Stamford Bridge, but Conte is earning a lot more now than he did with Juventus and Italy.
Conte’s reign at Chelsea has only just begun but if he can bring success to the Blues again, a pay rise will surely be in the offing.
7. Mauricio Pochettino (Tottenham) £5.5m
Mauricio Pochettino
It is testament to the job Mauricio Pochettino has done at Spurs, that he is even on this list. Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy knows he simply cannot lose “Poch”.
After all, Spurs were listless after sacking Harry Redknapp and now have a style of play and direction (specifically blooding youngsters) that is synonymous with the Argentine.
8. Zinedine Zidane (Real Madrid) £4.5m
Zinedine Zidane
The winner of the Champions League last season is significantly underpaid at Real Madrid!
If Zidane guides Real Madrid to more success and trophies in 2016/2017, he has every right to be knocking on Florentino Perez’s door for a pay rise.
9. Diego Simeone (Atletico Madrid) £4.4m
Diego Simeone
Simeone looks ripe for a bigger club on these wages but is happy at Atletico, to whom he is contracted until 2020.
Atletico will likely challenge for La Liga and the Champions League again this season and Simeone is absolutely key to their rise in recent seasons.
10. Rafa Benitez (Newcastle) £4m
Rafa Benitez
Now you know why Rafa Benitez is still Newcastle manager, despite the fact they are in the Championship!
On this salary, anything less than automatic promotion and the former Liverpool boss will be skating on thin ice with Mike Ashley…
Graphic of the top 10 best paid managers in the world (euros)
