Seven of the best young managers to watch in European football

Although most elite clubs typically seek out a head coach or rookie manager whenever there is a vacancy, the majority end up looking for someone in their 40s or 50s.

The tendency toward experience is certainly prevalent at top clubs across Europe: Carlo Ancelotti (64) is in his second spell at Real Madrid, while Max Allegri (56, Juventus), Stefano Pioli (57, Milan) and Jose Mourinho are also on the same page. (60, Rome) They all have a lot of brains. Elsewhere, even names like Mauricio Pochettino (51, Chelsea), Diego Simeone (53, Atletico Madrid) and Erik Ten Hag (53, Manchester United), who are still considered to be on the rise, are over 50 years old.

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Excluding the Premier League, ESPN takes a look at seven head coaches aged 45 or under in European football who have already been backed to lead a top club, and those who could be in line for the next opportunity.

Candidates like Xavi (43, Barcelona), Julian Nagelsmann (36, Germany), Roberto De Zerbe (44, Brighton) and Ruben Amorim (38, Sporting Lisbon) have been featured in this piece either in 2020 or 2022 and they are for that reason. not included.

Xabi Alonso, 41, Bayer Leverkusen

Just a year into his first stint as head coach at Bayer Leverkusen, the elegant former defensive midfielder who has won 114 caps for Spain has earned a reputation as a great manager in the making. It may be a bit premature, but he is nonetheless being touted as a future coach for his former clubs Liverpool and Real Madrid.

Aside from the impressive accolades, Alonso has undoubtedly succeeded in revitalizing a struggling Leverkusen side. Upon taking over last October, the Spaniard took the German club from second place in the Bundesliga to sixth place, reaching the semi-finals of the Europa League in the deal. One year later, Alonso’s side are top of the league, having won all their matches except for a 2-2 draw away to Bayern Munich.

The 41-year-old’s introduction of a 3-4-3 system has made Leverkusen more balanced, partly due to the extra space for the wing-backs to express their attacking potential and the additional centre-backs alleviating defensive weaknesses when losing. The ball is in the middle of the field. But it’s not just about tactics, it’s undeniable that Alonso’s people management and leadership skills are at a premium as well.

Arne Slott, 45, Feyenoord

Having already rejected an offer to take charge at Tottenham in the summer, Slott’s main challenge is managing his career rather than making a name for himself.

An advocate of high-pressing, energy-driven football, quick ball recoveries and ruthlessly efficient transitions, the Dutchman – beloved by his players for his charismatic style and clear communication – has drawn inspiration from renowned masters of the art such as Pep Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp.

Despite his high reputation, Slott is relatively new to the profession. In December 2020, his first stint as Arizona coach came to an abrupt end after a year and a half as his initial negotiations with Feyenoord in Alkmaar were not taken lightly. However, he left Arizona with a club-record points average of 2.11 points per game.

After taking the reins at Feyenoord six months later, Slott – mostly based in his favored 4-2-3-1 formation – led the club to the Conference League final and brought the Eredivisie title to Rotterdam the following season, claiming two titles. Rinus Michels Awards for Coach of the Year.

Sebastian Hoeneß, 41, Stuttgart

Despite his surname – Hoeneß is the son of former Bayern Munich striker Dieter and nephew of Ole, a perennial power figure at the same club – the Stuttgart coach is carving out a promising career in his own right.

After leaving behind a relatively modest spell as a player, Hoeneß entered coaching at the age of 29 and learned his trade in the progressive academies of Bayern and Leipzig. In the summer of 2020, he was given the opportunity to take over as coach of Hoffenheim’s first team, and although his two seasons there ended with somewhat disappointing mid-table results, Hoeness is still showing signs of being a flexible and thought-provoking coach. It alternates between a variety of systems and tactical styles.

However, his most famous achievement to date is leading Stuttgart to safety in the Bundesliga at the end of last season. With only eight games remaining and five points above the relegation zone, Stuttgart secured safety by beating Hamburg (6-1 aggregate) in the two crucial play-off ties. This season, Stuttgart – aided by top scorer Serho Geraci’s 13 goals – are the surprise team in the Bundesliga, sitting in second place, just one point behind Bayer Leverkusen.

Francesco Farioli, 34 years old, Nice

The young Italian did not choose the traditional path to become head coach of one of the most ambitious teams in the “top five” European League. Having been assistant coach – and partly goalkeeping coach – to Roberto De Zerbi at Frosinone and Sassuolo, Farioli jumped at the chance to take over as coach of Turkish side Karagumruk three years ago.

In a somewhat unfamiliar environment, Farioli performed well enough for a move to Alanyaspor before being surprisingly appointed by Nice this summer. His respectable results with mid-tier Turkish sides speak to his ability to adapt to unfamiliar settings, and early signs from France suggest he can further develop his career there too.

Despite the difficulty of the opening matches, Nice remain unbeaten in Ligue 1, having beaten Paris Saint-Germain and Monaco away from home. Faggioli has publicly acknowledged his gratitude to De Zerbe for his coaching career and it is no surprise that there are common principles he shares with the Brighton manager. Under the 34-year-old, Nice are playing on the front foot, winning the ball back early and allowing a large number of players into attacking areas.

Will Steele, 31, Reims

Born in Belgium to English parents, he still made headlines around the world when he was promoted to head coach of Reims following the departure of Oscar Garcia in October last year at the age of 30.

He worked his way up in football as a video analyst, spending just one spell in eight games as interim head coach in the Belgian second division at the age of 24. However, Reims began an incredible 17-match unbeaten Ligue 1 run. (The French club was forced to pay a fine of 25,000 euros per match due to Steele’s lack of the required coaching certificate.) A year later, his team is thriving in a respectable sixth place.

From a tactical point of view, Reims is efficient and solid – still inclined to play in a 4-2-3-1 – rather than experimental and adventurous, which would have been expected from a young and inexperienced head coach. Despite all the media attention, he remains humble, repeatedly expressing his gratitude for being given the responsibility of a head coach at such a young age, and focusing on developing himself tactically and building strong relationships with his players.

Thiago Motta, 41 years old, Bologna

The Brazilian-born former midfielder is still best remembered for his illustrious playing days where he won 30 caps for Italy, but he is building a promising but relatively low profile coaching career. However, it is fair to assume that Motta is being closely monitored by top clubs across Europe, largely due to his personal characteristics as an outspoken, hard-working speaker who carries himself with an aura of authority.

Aside from his first job at Genoa in 2019, which lasted just two months, he has had some success – firstly keeping Spezia low on spending against most expectations at the end of the 2021-2022 Serie A season. Then, after failing to agree a new contract with Spezia, he led Bologna to ninth place last season, their highest Serie A position in more than a decade.

It’s no surprise that Motta has been able to instill some of his own characteristics from his playing days. In a 4-2-3-1 system, Bologna are aggressive, well-organised and difficult to break down – conceding just six goals in their first eight matches – despite being the third-youngest team in the league.

Jajoba Arrasati, 45 years old, Osasuna

In an age when football managers are expected to take center stage in the media, spew catchphrases and embellish their reputations as if their lives depended on it, Arrasate represents something of an antidote. The easygoing Basque player rarely fires up his press conferences or engages in ‘mind games’ with his teammates, preferring to go about his business quietly, concentrating on his work on the training pitch rather than making headlines.

Having taken over Osasuna in 2018, Arrasate immediately earned promotion to the Primera Division, and since then Pamplona have never finished below 11th. Last season’s seventh-place finish represented the club’s best result in 11 years, plus Arrasate has guided them to King’s Cup final.

Perhaps most importantly, during his five-year tenure, the respected 45-year-old has built the right DNA for Osasuna: an aggressive, high-pressing team that is arguably the most direct in La Liga.