While IFFHS (International Federation of Football History and Statistics) has named Lionel Messi the best playmaker of the decade, they have also ranked top coaches of the last decade, and the winner will surely take you by surprise.
10. Marcelo Gallardo
Since becoming the manager of River Plate in 2014, Marcelo Gallardo has led the Argentine club to an array of titles including two Copa Libertadores, three Copa Argentina and Supercopa Argentina. He also had been linked with a move to Barcelona before they appointed Quique Setien to replace Ernesto Valverde.
9. Mauricio Pochettino
Despite not winning any major trophies in the last decade – which is now over after winning Trophees Des Champions with PSG – Mauricio Pochettino established himself as one of the promising managers in Europe, He spent around five seasons at Tottenham, where he always made them regular contenders for the Champions League football and also reached the semi-finals in 2018/19 season. Now, he has embarked on a new journey with PSG following a year-long sabbatical.
8. Carlo Ancelotti
Over the last decade, Ancelotti had his spells with Chelsea, PSG, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich and didn’t fail to win a trophy with any of them. Winning the Champions League with Madrid in 2013-14 would be the highlight reel of the current Everton manager.
7. Zinedine Zidane
Not all the managers can do what Zinedine Zidane did at Real Madrid, whilst just being a beginner to the managerial career. That is winning the Champions League three times in a row and also had a crack at the La Liga title twice.
6. Unai Emery
Emery might have endured a torrid spell at Arsenal but his success with Sevilla and PSG is the reason why he was considered for the managerial job at Emirates Stadium. The Spaniard won the Europa League with Sevilla for three straight seasons while he also enjoyed much domestic success with Les Parisiens.
5. Max Allegri
Max Allegri turned Juventus into perennial Scudetto winners in the last decade although he has failed to lift the Champions League despite coming close on a couple of occasions, the key reason behind his sacking in 2019.
4. Jose Mourinho
The Chosen one has made it to fourth in the list and some of his notable achievements in the last decade were winning the Premier League with Chelsea, La Liga with Real Madrid. Mourinho might have lost his relevance due to his lukewarm spell at Manchester United but he still managed to win the FA Cup and Europa League with them. Now, once again he is proving his doubters wrong by propelling Tottenham into one of the fearsome sides in Europe.
3. Jurgen Klopp
Klopp will go down as one of the best managers in Liverpool history if not the best after helping the Merseyside club lift the Premier League title after 25 years. Not to mention the European title he won against Spurs in the 2018/19 season.
2. Pep Guardiola
Guardiola’s arrival to Manchester City was touted as the dawn of a new era and it soon became reality when the Sky Blues won the Premier League title in 2017/18 and 2018/19 while winning EFL Cup, FA Cup and Community Shield combinedly six times.
1. Diego Simeone
Diego Simeone’s name might have taken you all by surprise but there is a saying that the credit has to be given when it’s due. It’s true in the case of Simeone as he turned an offbeat Atletico Madrid into one of Europe’s heavyweights. Winning the La Liga and Copa del Rey once in the last decade despite the duopoly of Real Madrid and Barcelona speaks volume about the Argentine manager. Adding to it, two Europa League titles, two UEFA Super Cup and runners up of the Champions League in 2013-14 and 2015-16. Now, El Cholo looks destined to lift his second league title.
