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Managing a football club is no easy task. Football is a highly result-oriented sport due to the large sums of money involved. From keeping the dressing room spirit high to ensuring that the right players are recruited, a manager has his work cut out.
Being a football manager is indeed a high-risk, high-reward job, especially at the highest level. Managers are adored and sought-after when they deliver consistent results and win trophies. However, they often get the sack for failing to deliver positive results, a dip in form, or even for falling out with players or the hierarchy.
More managers are getting sacked in the 21st century
While sacking managers has been a part of football for a long time, the rate has significantly increased over the last two decades. Teams are always looking for success, be it short-term or long-term. Chelsea are a prime example, with the Blues sacking 15 managers since the start of the century.
With that being said, some top managers have never been sacked, and here are six of them.
#6 Julian Nagelsmann
Julian Nagelsmann is one of the best young managers in the world. Having tasted success at 1899 Hoffenheim and RB Leipzig, Nagelsmann took charge of Bayern Munich at the start of the season. It is indeed hard to believe that a 34-year-old is managing one of the greatest clubs in the world.
The German tactician had an injury-prone playing career, which ended at the tender age of 20. He then decided to divert his attention towards coaching. During his early days in the managerial setup, Nagelsmann assisted Thomas Tuchel at FC Augsburg.
Nagelsmann, who was named "German Football Manager of the Year" in 2017, has never been sacked in his fledgling career. The Bayern Munich boss is yet to win a major trophy. However, with a win percentage of 77.78 percent in all competitions at his new club, he is sure to lift a trophy or two at the end of the season.
#5 Didier Deschamps
Didier Deschamps is renowned for guiding France to the 2018 FIFA World Cup title. The 53-year-old was a terrific footballer during his playing days. He won everything with France and was a serial winner at Marseille and Juventus too. Deschamps even led Monaco to their first and only Champions League final in 2014, eventually losing to Jose Mourinho's Portugal.
He was appointed the manager of Les Bleus after Euro 2012 and has been at the helm for almost a decade now. France have won the World Cup, the Nations League, and finished runners-up at Euro 2016 under Deschamps' tutelege.
Before managing the national team, Deschamps coached Monaco, Juventus, and Marseille. A bonafide legend, the Frenchman has never been sacked. He is also one of the only three men to have won the World Cup both as a player and manager alongside Mario Zagallo and Franz Beckenbauer.
#4 Luis Enrique
Luis Enrique, like Didier Deschamps, has also managed at both club and country level. Enrique started his managerial career with Barcelona B before coaching the likes of AS Roma, Celta Vigo and Barcelona. He enjoyed a fruitful three years with the Catalan giants between 2014 and 2017.
The Spanish manager helped Barca win two La Liga titles, three Copa del Rey trophies and one UEFA Champions League crown. In fact, he led the club to their second treble during the 2014-15 season. The 51-year-old has done a decent job for the Spanish national team as well.
Spain were heavily criticized for their controversial selections ahead of Euro 2020. However, they still managed to reach the semi-finals. Enrique also inspired La Roja to the 2020-21 Nations League runners-up spot.
#3 Zinedine Zidane
Zinedine Zidane is considered one of the best players in the history of football. While most world-class players haven’t been as triumphant in their managerial stints, Zidane has done wonders. The Frenchman has won two La Liga titles and three consecutive Champions League trophies with Real Madrid.
Zidane won it all as a player both at club and country level. However, he still had the motivation and drive to become a top-class manager. It is hard to compare his achievements to the likes of Pep Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp for obvious reasons. While the duo are much better tactically, Zidane is known for his man-management skills.
The former Ballon d’Or winner demands respect from his dressing room as players feed off his aura. Zidane has had two different tenures at the Santiago Bernabeu. However, he wasn't sacked in either spell, with the Frenchman resigning on both occasions.
#2 Pep Guardiola
Pep Guardiola is one of the best managers of the 21st century. The Spanish mastermind has managed Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Manchester City, dominating the domestic scene in all three stints.
Despite managing three of the biggest clubs in world football, Guardiola has never been sacked. The 51-year-old was keen on challenging himself in different circumstances, thus leaving Barcelona for Bayern Munich, whom he then quit to take charge of Manchester City.
However, it has been over a decade since he lifted the Champions League. Another criticism against him is that he always manages big clubs instead of going to relatively smaller teams and improving them. With all that being said, Guardiola is still one of the best managers of all time.
#1 Jurgen Klopp
Jurgen Klopp, along with the aforementioned Pep Guardiola, has been one of the best managers in world football in the recent past. Liverpool and Manchester City have dominated English football lately, and both tacticians have publicly acknowledged each other’s work.
Unlike most names on this list, the German coach had a sub-par playing career. However, he ended up being a fantastic manager. Klopp started his managerial career at Mainz before taking charge of Borussia Dortmund.
Unlike his rival Guardiola, Klopp hasn’t always had the most generous of budgets to work with. Moreover, the Liverpool boss finally ended the Reds' long wait for a Premier League trophy in 2020. He also guided the Merseyside club to their sixth Champions League crown in 2019.
