Being a football manager is a thankless job. It comes with a tremendous amount of stress, usually with very little reward. A manager will be dismissed from his post when very good results turn bad unless he retires or resigns. However, if he is good enough to manage at the top level, he will be earing extremely well for the position.
The list for the 2025 highest earning managers in the world consist of some big names, with the top five being Moyes, Arteta, Guardiola, Inzaghi and Simeone.
5: David Moyes (Everton) – £12.5m (Yearly salary)
David Moyes’s return to Everton is a fairy tale in the English football. After the Toffees experienced difficulty of all sorts with Sean Dyche, the club decided to call back the Scotsman. He is already known for doing miracles. Moyes kept the ship on an even keel, raised the spirits, and changed the relegation battle into a season characterized by resistance and honor. This is the type of redemption plot fans really take a liking to.
Earning around £12.5m a year, Moyes’ paycheck suddenly looks well-earned. His old-school tactics, mixed with the wisdom of experience, have given Everton something to believe in again. Looking from the outside, it’s simple to understand why the board was ready to take a big financial risk with the club.
4. Mikel Arteta (Arsenal) – £15.6m (Yearly salary)
Mikel Arteta upgraded Arsenal since he became boss. The North London club, once a team looking for a character, is now again in the titles race with a brash and self-assured young side. Arteta’s renewal of his contract raises him to an astounding £15.6 m per annum and he undoubtedly deserves it. His plans for the Gunners’ are not solely about the winning titles, but it is also about building a good and strong squad.
3. Pep Guardiola (Manchester City) – £20.7m (Yearly salary)
Pep Guardiola earns £20.7m annually. He is ranked among the industry’s fewer highest-paid individuals. No one else has his ability to win, Pep’s historic treble with Man City is his strength. Guardiola’s genius in figuring out what works best and seeking constant improvement is the gold standard for all coaches around the globe. The day City lose, you almost feel they have just one more change to quickly return to their best. Guardiola gets the money from his fame.
2.Simone Inzaghi (Al-Hilal) – £21.8m (Yearly salary)
People found Simone Inzaghi’ departure from Inter to Al Hilal quite a hot topic. After taking Inter to a league and cup success, finally, two consecutive Champions League finals, he opted for a new challenge and an astonishing £21.8m per year salary in Saudi Arabia.
1. Diego Simeone (Atletico Madrid) – £25.9m (Yearly salary)
And at the very top, is Diego Simeone. The Argentine mastermind has not yet lost his magic touch and is still getting the jaw-dropping amount of £25.9m a year at Atletico Madrid. Simeone’s not only the one whose fierce character, fierce loyalty, and talent of making other men give their best make him one of the hardest to cope with managers in the game.
Over the last ten years, Atletico has been able to stick to Barcelona and Real Madrid in every way possible during the fight for titles that were thought to be out of reach. He is a man full of passion, being very honest and forthright in his ways.
Author’s Opinion:
These salaries show one thing, elite managers aren’t just coaches, they’re brands. They shape clubs, transform players, and carry entire fanbases on their shoulders. The money’s massive, but so is the responsibility. And only a few can handle that kind of pressure week after week.
