Football managers under 40 at the top levels have emerged more than before
lately.
Football manager might not be the easiest or most respectable job in the
world. Yet it seems to gain more popularity today than in the previous eras.
Today is the era when tactics and systems are the true stars in football, not
players anymore. The gaffers on the sidelines, who could be anyone with the
coaching license, are the main figure in their creation. They stand above the
stars on the pitch and have more authority in the team, but it also comes with
a huge risk when they fail. In short, it is one of the most challenging ones
but highly praised, should they thrive and win silverware.
For football fans with the obsession of the game, being a being a football
manager is like a dream job that can be taken by anyone, even without any
professional football background. Jose Mourinho and Arrigho Sacchi are probably
the most successful ones. Yet, there are also others who have notable success
too, such as the former banker, Maurizio Sarri, or the former teacher, Roy Hodgson.
In the past few years, more young football managers have started off their
careers at the top level, either from former well-known players or not. The
success of Julian Nagelsmann in the Bundesliga when he was first in charge of
Hoffenheim at the age of 28 in 2015 might be inspiring such a trend. The
current Germany national team boss was the youngest football manager in
Bundesliga history at that time.
Today, more young gaffers are fairly easy to spot. Some have won the titles,
while others might yet not. Nevertheless, they have the potential to be the
next great football managers, should they consistently manage to lead their
team to victory. Here are the best football managers under 40 years old who
have been in charge of the teams at the top level.
Fabian Hurzeler (Germany)
The current Brighton boss is one of the most widely discussed football
managers under 40 today after Julian Nagelsmann after he signed for The
Seagulls. He has become the youngest manager in Premier League history. At the
age of 31 years old, younger than some senior players in his team, most notably
James Milner, Hurzeler’s record has been fairly impressive so far. Lewis Dunk
and Co have been unbeaten with four wins and three draws in the first seven
games, including a famous 2-1 victory over Manchester United on match week two.
The Seagulls’ move to sign him as Roberto De Zerbi’s successor is
considerably bold. The Texas-born gaffer has yet to take charge of any teams in
the top flight. His only experience in the dugout was with FC St. Pauli in
Bundesliga 2. He was at the helm of the club from December 2023, initially as a
caretaker before being promoted as the head coach. Surprisingly, he was able to
lead the team back to the top division last season. It was their first return
to the Bundesliga since 2011.
So what makes Brighton dare enough to hire Hurzeler? His tactical approach seems to be the key, which is the combination of Jurgen Klopp’s counterpressing and De Zerbi’s playing-out-the-back. No wonder that the transition in The
Seagulls this season has been fairly seamless. It might take some time for the
German boss to win trophies, but he is undeniably Germany’s most potential
managerial talent after Julian Nagelsmann.
Francesco Farioli (Italy)
The current Ajax Amsterdam boss is still 35 years old. He might have yet to
win his first silverware, but his managerial career has been impressive.
Farioli began his stint in the dugout in Turkey by taking charge of Fatih
Karagumruk in 2021 and Alanayspor for two seasons. Farioli was able to guide
them to finish fifth in the 2021/22 campaign.
The Italian manager then switched sides to Ligue 1 as he was named OGC Nice
boss in summer 2023. Once again, Farioli brought them to finish fifth in the
final standings. The former goalkeeping coach under Roberto de Zerbi in
Benevento and Sassuolo is making his way to the Netherlands to inspire the
Amsterdamers’ return to their glory days. Farioli could be ending his
trophyless years by securing some titles with the Eredivisie powerhouse.
Will Still (Belgium)
He is
probably the most widely known in the media lately. The current Lens boss is
still 31 years old but has already experienced taking charge of Ligue 1’s Reims
for two seasons from 2022 to 2024. The Belgian-English boss has been an interim
manager in Belgian sides Lierse and Beerschot before moving to France.
Will
Still became the media sensation when he was appointed as a head coach in Reims
following the five-match unbeaten streak in the 2022/23 campaign at the age of
30 without even having a UEFA Pro License degree, which led to the fine for
some matches his team had to pay for leaving him in charge. The gaffer, who has
been inspired by EA’s Football Manager game, was even able to lead his team to
stay undefeated in the following 12 games, a new record in the French top
division. Yet, he still could not guide them to finish higher than 11th
in both seasons. He left on mutual consent and was named Lens boss last summer
to replace Franck Haise.
Ruben Armorim (Portugal)
He is
probably the most decorated manager under 40 years old today. At the age of 39,
Armorim has clinched two league titles and two Portuguese league cups with
Sporting Lisbon and another league cup with Sporting Braga in 2020, his first
job in the top-flight team.
The
former Portuguese international began his managerial career at the third-tier
side, Casa Pia, in the 2018/19 season. He then switched to Sporting Braga to
replace Ricardo Sa Pinto and managed to stun Porto in the domestic league cup
final at the end of their campaign. Armorim also gained instant success in Sporting
Lisbon in his first season with double domestic titles, which fast tracks his
momentum to be the top target in the major European league.
Last
season, he was on the verge of signing for Liverpool as Jurgen Klopp’s
successor as well as being linked to West Ham. However, he made a u-turn on his
decision and opted to stay in Lisbon.
Martin Varini (Uruguay)
Martin
Varini is one of the South American hidden gems in their managerial pool. The
Uruguayan gaffer is currently in charge of the Brazilian side, Atletico
Paranaense. He has been at the helm of the club since July this year after
winning Copa Uruguay with Defensor Sporting last March.
The
former Real Valladolid’s assistant manager began his managerial career in April
2021, when he was still 29 years old. Varini was appointed to lead Uruguay’s
Rentistas, which also competed in the Copa Libertadores. Such made him one of the youngest managers in the tournament’s history. He eventually left the post
and joined the former Liverpool (Montevidio) manager Paulo Pezzolano in
Cruzeiro and Valladolid as the technical staff before returning home in
December 2023 to lead Defensor.
Francisco Meneghini (Argentina)
He is known as Paqui and used to work under Marcelo Bielsa and Jorge
Sampaoli on the Chile and Argentina national teams as one of their technical
staffs. Meneghini was once introduced by Bielsa’s daughter and found his way to
work under the legendary manager.
After his stint as the staff, he started off his career as a head coach in Union La Calera in Chile, for which he took charge twice, with Audax Italiano in between before leading Everton Vina del Mar for two years. Meneghini has been praised as the young Bielsa due to his habit of preparing the game and tactical approach. Paqui returned to his home soil in mid-2024 to take charge of Defensa y Justicia.
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