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In a perfect world, football would be an amalgamation of two important factors - entertainment and result. The two factors are not always intertwined, of course, but a great manager always finds a way to get the perfect blend.
Pep Guardiola, Jurgen Klopp, Sir Alex Ferguson and many have done it already and we are hopeful of seeing the trend continue.
Today, we will take a look at some young managers who are turning heads with their style of play and promising results. Here are the top five managers who are set to become great in the coming years.
#5 Ruben Amorim - Sporting Lisbon
From a tormentor to a messiah, former Benfica man Ruben Amorim has become Sporting Lisbon’s unexpected savior in the last couple of years. Amorim spent most of his career playing for Benfica, who happen to be one of Sporting’s biggest rivals.
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However, when an opportunity presented itself to manage Benfica’s U-23 side, Amorim graciously declined. Instead, he went on to manage Braga’s reserve team in the third-tier of Portuguese football.
Under unusual circumstances, he took charge of the senior side in 2019 and helped them win the Portuguese League Cup. En route to the cup triumph, Braga beat Porto, Benfica and Sporting, punching way above their weight.
Amorim took charge of Sporting Lisbon in March 2020 and led them to their first league title in 19 years the next season. The former Benfica player also guided Sporting to the Portuguese League Cup the same season.
Amorim has taken Sporting to the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 this season, becoming the second manager to achieve the feat in the club’s history.
They will next face Premier League champions Manchester City in the Champions League in February and March.
#4 Patrick Vieira - Crystal Palace
Following Roy Hodgson’s retirement, Crystal Palace decided to call upon the services of Arsenal great Patrick Vieira. Despite his legacy at Arsenal, Vieira went to Manchester City to get his coaching license. He was the Citizens' academy manager before eventually managing the U-21 and Youth League sides.
His first senior stint came at OGC Nice in Ligue 1. His expansive, free-flowing football impressed Palace and they appointed him at the start of the 2021-22 season.
He kicked off his Premier League stint with a 3-0 defeat to Chelsea. However, there were some clear signs of character in his team’s play. Palace tried to keep possession and looked to create clear-cut chances.
Since the drubbing, the Eagles have managed to bag quite a few impressive results. They have beaten Manchester City, Everton and Tottenham Hotspur; drawn against Arsenal and Leicester City, and have only been bested four times.
After 17 rounds, Palace find themselves in 11th position, and Vieira deserves the bulk of the credit for their rather impressive run.
#3 Marco Rose - Borussia Dortmund
Former RB Salzburg and Borussia Monchengladbach boss Marco Rose has proven himself to be quite a capable tactician. His playing style is direct and dynamic, fitting Borussia Dortmund like a glove this season.
Rose loves to play a 4-4-2 diamond formation, but is also open to fielding three at the top. Under him, Dortmund have been a pressing machine, although there have been a few defensive lapses here and there.
Having crashed out of the Champions League, Rose’s next objective is to stay hot on Bayern Munich’s heels. However, given the form the Bavarians are in, Rose will need a miracle to close the six-point gap with the league leaders.
#2 Steven Gerrard - Aston Villa
Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard made plenty of noise during his three-year spell at Rangers. In his debut season in 2018-19, Gerrard saw his team go on a 12-game unbeaten run, marking the beginning of something special.
The coach continued to evolve over the next couple of years and eventually guided Rangers to their first Scottish Premiership title in 10 years. They made history by not losing a single league match over the course of the 2020-21 campaign.
Gerrard is currently in charge of Premier League side Aston Villa and is already turning heads. He has guided them to four wins in six matches since taking charge, allowing Villa to get into the top half of the table.
Gerrard’s high-octane brand of football and man-management skills are well-documented and could see Villa consistently punch above their weight in the Premier League.
#1 Julian Nagelsmann - Bayern Munich
Current Bundesliga holders Bayern Munich are one of the most respected teams in Europe right now. They might not make as many headlines as Paris Saint-Germain, Barcelona, or Manchester United, but their football is arguably a class above the rest this season. And they have their coach Julian Nagelsmann to thank for it.
Rated as one of the brightest young coaches in football, Nagelsmann came into the spotlight following his work with 1899 Hoffenheim. He guided the U-19 team to their division’s Bundesliga title before eventually taking charge of the senior team.
He saved Hoffenheim from relegation in the 2015-16 season and helped them secure a top-four finish next term.
His good work continued at RB Leipzig as he took them to their first-ever Champions League semi-final appearance in 2020. In doing so, he became the youngest coach in history to manage a side in the premier European competition's last-four stage.
He has started brilliantly at Bayern this season and is on course for his first-ever Bundesliga title. With some luck, he could even go all the way in the Champions League and become the youngest-ever manager to lift the coveted trophy.
