The highest-paid football coaches in the world are a mystery. The most successful coaches have a high wage, a long list of endorsements, and a high profile. But there are also many less successful coaches who have a much higher salary than they are worth. It's not always easy being a football coach, and it can be challenging to secure the top contracts.
But don't worry, we've got you covered. Here are the highest-paid football coaches in the world.
Football coaches earn a salary worth $1.5 million per year, with an average annual advance of $50,000. More than most top managers, head coaches, and directors of sports teams make in a year. If you're in the business of football, you'll want to check out this list.
Known throughout history as the world's most paid football coaches, there are a variety of high-profile figures who have trained and coached at the top levels of the game. From Theodor Matney To Jurgen Klopp To Arsene Wenger, several football coaches have earned a lot of money. Here's why all of them are worth it.
The Forbes list of the world's highest-paid coaches
The American magazine Forbes released their list of the world's highest-paid coaches on Dec. 3, ranking the top 50 coaches globally. Only 12 of the world's top 50 coaches earn more than the $1 million salaries required to win the title of "world coach."
Here are just some of the Karl- and Jurgen-sized fortunes of the world's highest-paid coaches.
Jurgen Klopp, Germany's most successful coach
The Liverpool manager is one of only a few coaches who have won both the World Cup and the U.S. national championship. Klopp has won more than $1 million in salary since joining Liverpool in 2004, and he has also made significant money through endorsement deals.
Jurgen Klopp's earnings were impressive when he was only 32 when he announced his retirement. As a young man, he helped set up a successful youth system that featured players like Mohamed Salah, Xherdan Shaqiri, and Roberto Firmino. As a coach, Jurgen has compiled a combined total of $8.6 billion in earnings through his companies and associations.
The 62nd most prosperous football manager in the world
Fiji's Suhasini Thakur is the world's 66th richest football manager, with $4.1 billion. The FC Barcelona management is one of the wealthiest soccer management groups in the world, with teams like Barcelona and Real Madrid making significant contributions to the club's finances.
Thakur's wealth comes from her stakes in several companies. Her controlling stake in Aspire Resources owns a majority stake in the oil refining company Petrofijno, and she also holds a small stake in Rio Tinto. Her other investments include a controlling stake in the insurance company DSB Insurance and a controlling interest in the hospital management firm St. John Ambulance.
The World's Highest-Paid Football Coaches 2014
Making his name as a manager in Europe, familiar with the business of winning titles and finishing near the top of the table, he is among the world's highest-paid football coaches. With a salary of $800,000 per year and an average annual advance of $500,000, Dutch manager Wilmer van der Wiel is one of the highest-paid coaches in the world.
Other Dutch managers with significant amounts of money in their contracts include Feyenoord’s }); Thomindependent ( $548,000), Bayern Munich’s ( $518,000) and Ajax ( $516,000) all have significant amounts on the contract.
The World's Highest-Paid Football Coaches 2014
The list continues with names like Mourinho, Porto's David Luiz, Paris Saint-Germain's Thomas Tuchel, AC Milan's Dejan Lovren, Roma's Gianluigi Buffon, PSG's Antero Niilo, Bayern's Michael Zskylitsky, Barcelona's Luis Enrique and Manchester City's Giancarlo F.
The highest-paid coaches in this list are former French champions PSG who make $1.1 million per year. They are followed by English teams Arsenal ($821,000) and Liverpool ($819,000).
The World's Most Powerful Manager in 2015
With a high salary and extensive worldwide network of clubs, Austrian manager Peter Stöger is one of the world's most potent managers. The regular winner of the English Premier League, and the 2011 World Coach of the Year, Stöger, has compiled a net worth of $5.5 billion.
Stöger's wealth comes from his companies and investments and his ownership stake in St. Michael's Church in Munich. The club also owns several other businesses, including a publishing company, a health system, and a company that builds robots. Stöger is a household name in Germany, where he has won three consecutive Bundesliga titles and has the second-most wins in the world with 5054.
The World's Highest-Paid Manager in 2016
With an annual salary of $1.9 million, Yugoslavian manager Gennady Molchanov is one of the world's most successful managers. The former Lokomotiv Moscow and Dynamo Moscow manager also hold the most successful foreign coach.
Molchanov's wealth comes from his companies, investments, and lucrative contracts with other companies. The former handler of the Black Sea portfolio and the owner of several other companies has made significant contributions to the lucrative global management industry.
The World's Highest-Paid Manager in 2017
With a net worth of $6.1 billion, Malaysian manager Glenn Hodden is one of the highest-paid managers in the world. The MLS Coach of the Year, and the leading assistant with a net worth of $4.8 billion, Hodden has been a part of the MLS for more than a decade.
Outside of managing teams, Hodden owns a private equity fund that invests in companies in the technology, media, and sports sectors.
The World's Most Powerful Manager in 2017
With a global net worth of $6.9 billion and a vast network of clubs, German coach Niko Kovac is one of the most influential managers in the world. Kovac has managed at different national and international stages, and he once served as the manager of Real Madrid.
Kovac's wealth is rooted in his companies, investments, and ties to world-renowned sporting stars like Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, and Alejandro Sabate.
The World's Most Powerful Manager in 2018
With an annual salary of $6.9 billion and an extensive international network of clubs, Filipino manager Nani is one of the most influential managers in the world. The only coach to win the Nobel Peace Prize, and the only man to have won the World Coach of the Year award, Nani is a living testament to human progress.
The World's Most Powerful Manager in 2018 is Russian coach Serhiy Rybalka, who has a net worth of $6.8 billion. Having won Olympic gold with Russia in 2014 and the 2014 FIFA World Cup for Russia, Rybalka is the most successful coach in the sport's history.
The World's Highest-Paid Manager in 2019
With a net worth of $6.8 billion and an extensive international network of clubs, Japanese manager Hidetomo Wada is one of the most successful managers in the world. The only coach to win the Nobel Prize for Peace, Wada has managed around 40 teams in his sporting career and compiled a record of 76 wins and four losses.
Hidetomo Wada's wealth is primarily due to his companies, investments, and ties to world-renowned sporting stars like Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, Diego Maradona, and Bruno Samorim.
The World's Most Powerful Manager in 2020
With a net worth of $6.8 billion and an extensive international network of clubs, Australian manager Mark Clattenburg is one of the most influential managers in the world. The only coach to win the Nobel Prize for Peace and two Olympic gold medals, Clattenburg is one of the most successful managers in the sport's history.