This is, without a doubt, a very impactful statement in Football.
Especially coming from a Football Coach.

Although this is also my honest opinion, I must say that the facts support me, in a way.

Consequently, what makes a Coach remarkable?
And, more importantly, why do we have the same references for such a long time?

Let’s look at the Top-Profile Coaches around the World at think about the last couple of decades.

Who are they?
From Pep Guardiola, Jurgen Klopp, Carlo Ancelotti, Vicente Del Bosque, Jose Mourinho, Zinedine Zidane, Hans-Dieter Flick, Unay Emery to Abel Ferreira among others, there were many Coaches able to win the major Competitions worldwide.
To keep the same line of thought, let’s consider the major Competitions, or Tournaments, around the globe, as:

• European Champions League (Clubs)
• Europa League (Clubs)
• European Conference League (Clubs)
• Conmebol Copa Libertadores (Clubs)
• Asian Champions League (Clubs)
• World Cup (National Teams)
• Copa America (National Teams)
• Euro Cup (National Teams)
  

Searching these Competitions, in the last 15 years, how many Coaches won 2 or more times one of these titles?

The answer is simple: 9 (!)
The Names are:

• Vicente Del Bosque (Spain 2010 and 2012)
• Tite (Corinthians 2012 and Brazil 2019)
• Marcelo Gallardo (River Plate 2015 and 2018)
• Abel Ferreira (Palmeiras 2020 and 2021)
• José Mourinho (Internazionale Milan 2010; Manchester United 2017 and AS Rome 2022)
• Unay Emery (Sevilla 2014, 2015, 2016 and Villareal 2021)
• Zinedine Zidane (Real Madrid 2016, 2017 and 2018)
• Pep Guardiola (FC Barcelona 2011 and Manchester City 2023)
• Hansi Flick (FC Bayern 2020 and 2021)
   

Therefore, looking at the stats, here are the most successful Coaches from the last 15 years, at the International Competitions. It’s very interesting to understand that Carlo Ancelotti or Jurgen Klopp even being – without a doubt – considered among the best Coaches in the World and yet not placed at these stats (both won “only” one international competition – European Champions League – throughout these years, with Real Madrid FC and Liverpool FC, respectively).

Consequently, what makes a Coach remarkable?
And, more importantly, why do we have the same references for such a long time?

I mean, form the above names mentioned at this list, in 2010 only 3 were not yet Coaches – Abel Ferreira, Marcelo Gallardo and Zinedine Zidane – and from those only Zinedine Zidane was already retired from Professional Football as a player, but already involved at the Real Madrid FC board structure. These are also the youngest Coaches at the list, naturally – Abel Ferreira (45), Marcelo Gallardo (48) and Zinedine Zidane (51).
On the flip side, Vicente Del Bosque, Tite, Pep Guardiola and Jose Mourinho were already references and winners of multiple national and international competitions, and only Vicente Del Bosque (73) is now retired from Professional Football with all the others are still active and working at the Top level teams.

Finally, presenting my argument, why do we have the same Coaching references for the past decades? What happened that avoid the appearance of many more Coaches conquering this space for winners?

Ok, you may consider that recently we’ve had different successes,  and influence from a few Coaches as Rúben Amorim (SC Braga and Sporting CP in Portugal), Roberto De Zerbi (US Sassuolo, Shakhtar Donetsk and Brighton HA), Eddie Howe (AFC Bournemouth and Newcastle United), Míchel (Girona FC) and Xabi Alonso (Bayer 04 Leverkusen).

But, the question is: are these Coaches here to stay, at first? Additionally, can they take these “old hands” position at the Top Level of Coaching for the next decades?

But, the question is: are these Coaches here to stay, at first? Additionally, can they take these “old hands” position at the Top Level of Coaching for the next decades?

Honestly, I’m not sure if there’s any rupture or revolution in terms of Style of Play, if there will be new concepts born from these Coaches, those that are able to sustain for years and at a global scale.
Just as those that were teach by Jose Mourinho (Tactical Periodization), or Pep Guardiola (Positional Game and obsessive Ball Possession) or Jurgen Klopp (Gegenpressing), or even from the learning we can take for Coaches as Carlo Ancelotti, Zinedine Zidane or Vicente Del Bosque related to Leadership and the way to influence a group of talented players to work towards the same goal with responsibility, freedom and accountability.

There are many takers from these Coaches, honestly.
So many that I agree that the heritage is considerably high and hard to re-create and surpass.

But I believe that this problem is a global pandemic on Professional Football Coaching.
There are less options for Clubs to choose from, less disruptive options for sure.

This theme made me think recently, again, coming from a Football Coach.
What you think?

Keep in touch!