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Managers who made European debut in UCL 2025/26

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Several managers have just made their debut in the continental competition in their managerial career by taking charge of one of the contestants in UCL 2025/26. 

UCL 2025/26 has completed its fifth game in the league phase. Several big teams have been in contention to strengthen their positions in the standings, whereas some other sides are not in safe positions, with the playoff stage threat meddling in their congested fixtures next year. 

This season, a number of teams, including the elite sides, have opted to hire managers without experience in European competitions. The likes of Tottenham Hotspurs, Ajax Amsterdam, Atalanta and Inter Milan signed for young or well-known managers from the lower level.  

Some have been doing quite well so far, but some others have even been dismissed. Here are those managers who make their European debut in the continental top-flight competition directly without even tasting the second or third tier ones and how their teams have performed so far.

Johnny Heitinga (Ajax)

The former centre-back was appointed to take charge of Ajax Amsterdam earlier this season. It was his first club in his managerial career. Unfortunately, it did not go well. Heitinga was only at the helm of the team in 13 games, including four matches in UCL. His record with the capital side was four wins, four draws and five defeats.

In UCL, his team was hapless in those four games, as Ajax was beaten 2-0 versus Inter and trounced 5-1 and 4-0 against Chelsea and Marseille, respectively, before being dismantled 3-0 by Galatasaray at home in November. It was the final coffin on his brief spell in Johan Cruyff Arena.

Rafaelle Palladino (Atalanta)

Rafaelle Palladino has just begun his spell on a high note in Europe as La Dea ran rampant in a 3-0 victory in their away game while taking on Bundesliga’s Eintracht Frankfurt. It was quite the contrary to Palladino’s first debut in Serie A. They stumbled in a 3-1 loss to Napoli. The former Fiorentina boss is able to turn things around quickly after just one game in charge.

Palladino was named Ivan Juric’s successor in Atalanta in November 2025 after leaving La Viola on mutual consent despite his positive campaign on guiding Moise Kean and Co. to seal the ticket in the Europa Conference League. He previously worked for Monza and guided them to Serie A for the first time in the club’s history. He stayed at the Milan-based club for two years before signing for La Viola.

Thomas Frank (Tottenham)

The Danish boss has never been in the continental competition during his previous managerial career. Frank spent his tenure in Brondby and Brentford before taking up the challenge for the Spurs job this season. His experience in guiding The Bees from the low-tier division to the Premier League and staying at the top flight appeared to be the key points in Daniel Levy’s decision to hire him.

Spurs’ campaign under Frank so far is simply satisfactory, with eight wins and five draws in 21 games. His UCL results have been fine too, with two wins over Copenhagen and Villarreal and two draws against Bodoe/Glimt and Monaco, but they suffered a 5-3 loss to the reigning champions, PSG, which Frank’s Spurs almost stunned in the UEFA Super Cup earlier in the season before losing on penalties.

Christian Chivu (Inter Milan)

The best debutante manager in continental competition in the UCL this season is Inter Milan’s Christian Chivu. He began to be at the helm of Nerrazurri in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup. Since then, the Romanian boss has been leading Lautaro Martinez and Co. in 21 games, with 14 wins and one draw.

His team’s record in the Champions League has been quite convincing too. Inter have clinched four wins and one loss. Chivu still has to work on his team’s performance to match the standard at the top level. However, the former Parma boss has the potential to do so in the future. Last season, he was able to save Gialloblu from relegation after leading them only in 13 matches. 

 


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