Sportskeeda's 10 best football managers of the year 2015

As another year comes to an end, we take a look back at the 12 months gone by and recognize the best players and managers who have performed well in the calendar year. With teams winning trophies, doubles and even trebles, there have been a number of high-performing players and managers who deserve all the accolades that come their way. Looking at the calendar year 2015, we have shortlisted 10 of the best managers this year. The players appear in no particular order.Who is your pick? Remember to vote at the end of the article.

#1 Jorge Sampaoli - Chile

“You try to inspire in them a love of the shirt derived of enjoyment, not obligation.”

That was Jorge Sampaoli’s philosophy when he took over Chile in 2012. The 55-year-old Argentine manager now has the respect of the Chilean people after the country won its first ever international trophy – the Copa America, 99 years after taking part in the first edition.

Chile played an electrifying brand of football and were unlucky to be eliminated in the knockout stages of the 2014 World Cup. But with the Copa America on home soil, Chile would win the title without losing a game. Along the way, they beat Uruguay in the quarter-final and Argentina in the final on penalties.

The team’s high pressing ideals of the team were never forsaken and the ability to switch tactics to take on a particular opposition (Lionel Messi struggled in the final as he was marked out) saw the fearless side go all the way.

#2 Arsene Wenger - Arsenal

Arsene Wenger FA Cup — Arsenal won their second consecutive FA Cup in 2015 – Wenger’s sixth overall

The Arsenal manager has had an interesting 2015. It started with the win over Premier League title holders Manchester City in January at the Etihad before knocking Manchester United out of the FA Cup, brushing aside any doubts that the Gunners were poor travellers against the big sides. Arsenal also retained the FA Cup after systematically dismantling Aston Villa 4-0 in the final. “A perfect day,” Wenger had said.

Wenger’s men have also been the best side when it comes to playing away games. No other Premier League side has won more points away from home this year. With respect to total points in 2015, again, it is Arsenal right at the top above the two Manchester clubs.

A great escape in the Champions League also saw them qualify for the Round of 16 for a 16th consecutive season beating Bayern Munich once again in the competition, this time in the group stage.

Arsenal are currently top of the Premier League table as Wenger looks to win his first league title since the Invincibles season in 2003/04.

#3 Claudio Ranieri - Leicester City

At the start of 2015, Leicester City were bottom of the table and looking at certain relegation. At the end of 2015, they might just finish top of the table!

An upswing towards the end of the 2014/15 season saw the Foxes escape relegation in the final six weeks to finish a respectable 14^th. This season, Claudio Ranieri came back to the Premier League with a point to prove.

And that he did. In a league as unpredictable as the Premier League, Leicester City have done well to be considered title contenders with an incredible start. In 15 games, they had lost just once (against Arsenal) and are no longer considered a flash in the pan. Ranieri’s Foxes have thrilled audiences with spectacular displays that have seen them score goals in every league game so far this season.

Whether they will still be in the top four come May remains to be seen.

#4 Dieter Hecking - Wolfsburg

On 30 May 2015, most of the world watched on sadly as Jurgen Klopp’s last game in charge of Borussia Dortmund saw them lose 3-1 to Wolfsburg in the DFB Pokal final. Wolfsburg rejoiced; it was their first trophy since they won the Bundesliga title in 2008/09.

The man behind their recent success is Dieter Hecking. The German Cup was just rewards for a campaign where they deserved something after finishing runners-up in the Bundesliga behind the unassailable Bayern Munich. They were the only other side to notch up at least 20 wins.

Wolfsburg have beaten Bayern Munich twice this year. The first was a 4-1 win in January as part of a 17-match undefeated run in the league. The second was more rewarding as Wolfsburg beat Bayern Munich in the season opener – the DFL-Supercup. They won 5-4 on penalties after a late equaliser to make it 1-1 saw the game go into extra-time.

Hecking finished the year having secured qualification to the Champions League Round of 16 at the expense of Manchester United on the final matchday in the group stages.

#5 Alan Pardew - Crystal Palace

When Alan Pardew was appointed Crystal Palace boss on 2 January 2015, the club was in complete disarray. After flirting with relegation in the first half of the season, they finally found themselves in 18th place. Pardew arrived and the club finished the 2014/15 season in 10th position in May.

Pardew was made a scapegoat at Newcastle by the fans and allowed to leave in December 2014. It would be their biggest mistake as Newcastle slipped further down the table. But Palace benefited and eventually had their most successful season in the league.

Pardew became the first manager to take over a club in the relegation dogfight and guide them to a top half finish. He was also credited with saving two clubs from relegation as Newcastle also survived on the final matchday – mainly because of their start to the season.

Palace are currently sixth in the table. While he has dismissed a chance at qualifying for Europe saying it was too early to consider it, one wouldn't put it past him.

#6 Pep Guardiola - Bayern Munich

Under Guardiola, Bayern lost only five times in Bundesliga last season as they sewed up the title by the end of April itself. He also managed to guide Bayern to the Champions League semi-final and were undone mainly by the magic of the world class player he helped create – Lionel Messi. But Guardiola was given credit for taking the game to Barcelona when others would have sat back and soaked up the pressure.

The new seasons hasn’t seen their intensity let up. With one more game to go before the winter break (the traditional halfway mark), Bayern Munich sit top of the league with a healthy 8-point lead with a terrifying goal difference of 37! They also made a mockery of the Champions League group stages, winning five games and scoring 19 goals in the process, conceding only three.

Will he extend his contract at Bayern Munich if he can’t win them the Champions League?

#7 Jose Mourinho - Chelsea

A questionable inclusion but his early 2015 exploits sees him make the list. Two trophies cannot be ignored. Jose Mourinho’s Chelsea won the league title having never relinquished the top spot in the Premier League table – a phenomenal achievement.

Although the new year started off with a 5-3 drubbing by Tottenham Hotspur, the Blues managed to keep it together and won 12 of the next 18 games, losing just once – after wrapping up the Premier League title.

Chelsea also managed to exact revenge when they beat their London rivals in the Capital One Cup final to make it two domestic trophies in Mourinho’s second season in his second stint. Six Chelsea players also made it to the PFA Team of the Year.

A disastrous start to the 2015/16 season has seen them drop to the bottom half, but the results of late have shown a slight improvement in the form of several players. Mourinho will be expected to make it back to the top four in no time, but it is becoming increasingly difficult.

#8 Massimiliano Allegri - Juventus

When Massimiliano Allegri was appointed in 2014, there were voices of dissent among the Juventus faithful. Antonio Conte had left the side after winning three consecutive Serie A titles to manage Italy. But Allegri made Juventus a threat in Europe as well.

The Serie A title was guaranteed after they took a commanding lead, never relinquishing top spot after they took the lead early in the season. They lost only thrice on their way to winning the Scudetto with an enormous 17-point lead. Allegri also won the Supercoppa Italiana as they looked to win a treble.

That dream came to an end as the mighty Barcelona beat them 3-1 in the Champions League final in Berlin to deny Juventus a sixth time in a European final – a record. Although the 2015/16 season started with three losses in six games, the Old Lady has slowly moved to the top half of the table into fifth place after five consecutive wins.

#9 Laurent Blanc - PSG

Paris Saint-Germain may still not be a major force in Europe just yet. But they are unstoppable in France. While many may point to the millions spent on transfers to get the best players, credit should go to Laurent Blanc for creating a team that has brought the rest of the teams in Ligue 1 down to their knees.

Ligue 1? Champions. The Trophée des Champions? They won that too. What about the Coupe de France? PSG took that home as well. And the Coupe de la Ligue? Who else, PSG won that trophy too. A domestic quadruple for PSG.

Need we say more?

#10 Luis Enrique - Barcelona

La Liga, check. Copa Del Rey, check. Champions League, a resounding check! Having almost completely overhauled Pep Guardiola’s tiki-taka philosophy, Barcelona were a treat to watch this year.

After signing Luis Suarez, Enrique changed Lionel Messi’s role to provider but he still managed to get on the scoresheet time and again thanks to the cohesion of the MSN trio. Luis Suarez and Neymar were also either getting goals or assists. They finished the season with 122 goals and 66 assists. Enrique had also changed the squad to get in Ivan Rakitic – a move that worked wonders for Barcelona’s midfield and eased Xavi’s transition.

This season has seen them easily qualify for the Champions League knockout stages while also topping La Liga as they look to defend their titles.

Edited by Staff Editor