Rethinking Greatness in the Dugout
The UEFA Men’s Coach of the Year typically favors Champions League glory. But in truth, some of Europe’s best coaching performances come far from the trophy stage — in survival battles, overachieving squads, or quiet turnarounds. These 20 managers redefined what success looks like.
1. Nuno Espírito Santo (Nottingham Forest)
Achievement: Transformed a relegation-threatened side into European qualifiers
Nuno stabilized Forest and turned their season around with counter-attacking football and disciplined defending — securing a top-seven finish and a historic European spot.
2. Luis Enrique (Paris Saint-Germain)
Achievement: Rebuilt PSG post-Mbappé with youth and intensity
Enrique brought energy, youth, and system-first football to PSG, leading them to domestic dominance and a Champions League final without their superstar.
3. Claudio Ranieri (AS Roma)
Achievement: Midseason rescue to Champions League contention
Ranieri returned to a crisis-hit Roma and engineered one of Serie A’s best second halves — a defensive masterclass and only two losses since February.
4. Liam Rosenior (Strasbourg)
Achievement: From bottom-half drift to Champions League chase
Rosenior’s flexible tactics and midfield control brought Strasbourg into unexpected top-four contention with a late-season surge.
5. Hansi Flick (Barcelona)
Achievement: Restored Barça’s cohesion and rhythm
Despite a UCL semifinal exit, Flick gave Barcelona structure and entertainment, revitalizing stars like Raphinha and de Jong.
6. Arne Slot (Liverpool)
Achievement: Replaced Klopp without chaos
Slot maintained Liverpool’s title challenge, balancing aggression and control in a seamless post-Klopp transition.
7. Antonio Conte (Napoli)
Achievement: Turned adversity into defense-first dominance
Missing key attackers, Conte rebuilt Napoli around the league’s top defense and launched a credible Scudetto run.
8. Andoni Iraola (Bournemouth)
Achievement: Mid-table stability on a modest budget
Even with spring struggles, Iraola’s tactical imprint and counter-attacking blueprint kept Bournemouth punching above their weight.
9. Cesc Fabregas (Como)
Achievement: Serie A safety and a giant-killing win
Fabregas led Como from relegation threats to mid-table comfort — blending veteran experience and youthful energy with major scalps along the way.
10. Thomas Frank (Brentford)
Achievement: Sustained competitiveness in year four
Frank’s set-piece mastery and system discipline secured another comfortable Premier League season despite modest resources.
11. Alexander Blessin (St. Pauli)
Achievement: Promoted side now Bundesliga’s defensive rock
Blessin built a resilient top-flight side from a newly promoted team, navigating early struggles with minimal attacking output.
12. David Moyes (Everton)
Achievement: Defensive resurgence and mid-table finish
Moyes returned to Goodison and delivered defensive grit, steering Everton away from the drop and into safety.
13. Niko Kovac (Borussia Dortmund)
Achievement: Tactical clarity and late UCL push
A midseason appointment, Kovac brought structure and attacking consistency, keeping Dortmund in the Champions League race.
14. Manuel Pellegrini (Real Betis)
Achievement: Resurgence through smart January moves
Pellegrini lifted Betis into European contention and the Conference League final after a winter rebuild.
15. Francesco Farioli (Ajax)
Achievement: Defensive rebuild and UCL return
Farioli emphasized resilience and identity, restoring Ajax’s shape and securing a Champions League comeback.
16. Horst Steffen (SV Elversberg)
Achievement: One of Germany’s most astonishing rises
From fourth-tier obscurity to Bundesliga brink in two years, Steffen’s underdog story is nothing short of historic.
17. Filippo Inzaghi (Pisa)
Achievement: First Serie A promotion since 1991
Inzaghi blended resilience with creativity to take Pisa back to the top flight — a career-defining turnaround.
18. Regis Le Bris (Sunderland)
Achievement: Championship dark horse turned promotion hopeful
Le Bris defied expectations, turning a youthful Sunderland into a tactical machine on the cusp of Premier League return.
19. Luis Castro (Dunkerque)
Achievement: Nearly promoted and a cup semifinalist
Castro masterminded Dunkerque’s rise, using sharp strategy and fearless football to push for Ligue 1 and a deep cup run.
20. Stephan Gilli (Paris FC)
Achievement: Long-awaited promotion finally achieved
With savvy recruitment and structure, Gilli led Paris FC into Ligue 1 for the first time — and they look ready to compete.
Coaching Brilliance Without the Spotlight
These coaches may not hold trophies in May, but they’ve pulled off something arguably tougher: reshaping expectations, maximizing potential, and elevating clubs far beyond projections. In a sport driven by glory, they’ve built legacy through transformation.
