Top Paid International Football Managers: Top 10 Coaches Currently (2026)

The top paid international football managers work fewer hours compared to club managers; however, they carry a lot of expectations as they need to meet the expectations of a whole country at the international level. Unlike the relentless weekly grind of club football in top football leagues in the world, international managers focus on tournaments and qualifiers during the stipulated international breaks.

While the salaries are relatively low compared to their club compatriots, a lot of the managers over the past years have secured lucrative contracts being in charge of international football teams. From rising young talented managers to icons of the game, here is our list of highest paid international football managers in international football currently.

List of the Highest Paid International Football Managers Currently

Here's the list consist of the top ten highest paid international football managers in the world at the moment. From Europe to South America or Asia, we earns the most in football.

Who are the Highest Paid International Football Managers in the World in 2026?

Now that we are already aware of our list of managers who should be called the highest paid international football managers 2026. Let's take a brief note on these names below:

10. Ronald Koeman | Netherlands

The Dutch coach Ronald Koeman was appointed as the Netherlands national football team manager in January 2023 on a 2.61 million per annum salary. He has vast experience in European club football, managing Barcelona, Ajax, and Everton for a considerable period of time before, doing an incredible job with the limited resources at his disposal.

While Koeman is renowned for his aggressive style, his style predominantly contains fast counterattacks. His tenure holds promise for Chile’s footballing future. With some of the best Dutch players currently under his nose, it is interesting to see how he would lead them in the World Cup 2026.

9. Lionel Scaloni | Argentina

Argentina have been the powerhouse at the international level, and their coach has been a vital factor. Lionel Scaloni has marked his place among the most successful football managers in international football. While they have been producing some elite-level players and performances, as a team, their performances have been phenomenal.

The Argentina national football team appointed Scaloni in 2018, to help elevate the national team to new heights. He delivered with the 2022 Qatar World Cup success, managing some of the best Argentine players currently. He has had less coaching experience compared to other managers on this list. This is by far the biggest job of his short career.

8. Marcelo Bielsa | Uruguay

Marcelo Bielsa is the textbook definition of “the favourite person of your favourite person.” From Pep Guardiola to Diego Simeone to Mauricio Pochettino, Marcelo Bielsa has been hailed as the “encyclopedia of football.” Known for his ultra-aggressive style of play called “Murder-ball,” Bielsa’s teams play an exciting brand of football.

While he does not have a trophy cabinet that he can boast of, he is adored by every fanbase that he has managed. He started incredibly well at the Uruguay national football team, making them qualify for the Copa America 2024. One can only hope that he builds on this success and does well in the 2026 World Cup in North America.

7. Didier Deschamps | France

Didier Deschamps already had a great reputation as a player, being the first captain to win a UEFA Champions League title with a French club. He added more feathers to his cap ever since he started his tenure as the manager of the France national football team a decade ago in 2012. While he often gets criticised for playing it too safe, considering the talents he has at his disposal, his achievements speak otherwise.

Making the finals in the 2016 EUROS and semifinals in 2024, playing in two consecutive FIFA World Cup finals and winning one in the span of 12 years is more than remarkable. Not to be surprised with the fact that, he is among the highest paid international football managers. Can he continue this success going forward and keep France at the top?

6. Roberto Martinez | Portugal

The Spanish manager Roberto Martinez had a weird trajectory as a manager. He had a great stint at Wigan Athletic, winning the FA Cup in 2013. He was good at the English Premier League club Everton, too, which ultimately got him the job as the manager of the Belgium National Team. While Roberto did extremely well in 2018, reaching the semi-finals but losing to France, which inevitably led to his sacking.

But, the Portugal national football team decided to have a leap of faith based on the 52-year-old manager's previous good achievements and appointed him to take care of their golden generation. With some of the best players in the world at his disposal currently, it is to be seen how he would fare.

5. Fabio Cannavaro | Uzbekistan

A manager who has had some of the incredible highs in his professional career at both club and international level. It was a huge surprise when Fabio Cannavaro was announced as the manager of the Uzbekistan national football team in 2025. With the reputation he had, the salary is over 3 million pounds, reportedly, and the central asian country is producing top world-class players.

The expectations are sky high for Uzbekistan, being one of the most talented sides in the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The World Champion Cannavaro's tenure is looking like a promising one. He was appointed on the 6th of October 2025 with a weekly payout of over 60k in pounds. The Italian manager occupies 5th spot on this list.

4. Julian Nagelsmann | Germany

Taking up management at a very young age, Julian Nagelsmann rose through the ranks very quickly. In a short span of seven years, he went from Hoffenheim to RB Leipzig to Bundesliga club Bayern Munich to the German national football team. His tactical knowledge and popularity put him amongst the top paid international football managers.

While the German national football team has not had success ever since their FIFA World Cup win in 2014, one of the youngest managers on this list. Julian Nagelsmann’s appointment in 2023 intends to change it. So far in his tenure, Germany looks good, playing exciting football, trying out new innovative tactics and are favourites for the upcoming World Cup.

3. Mauricio Pochettino | Argentina

The United States of America has so many great young talents coming up in its ranks, while some of these have been termed as the best American soccer players currently. To make sure that this golden era does not go to waste, the United States Soccer Federation (USSF) decided to appoint Mauricio Pochettino, making him one of top paid international football managers.

Coming with significant experience, at the club level, he has a great track record of working well and developing young talent at Southampton and Tottenham Hotspur. With the USA national football team hosting the next World Cup, he will need to make sure that they put out a great team. It is still early days to pass judgment on Pochettino. If we go by his track record, there is a high chance that the Argentine could be a huge success.

2. Thomas Tuchel | England

England has had a long line of the best English football managers in the past, but currently, they are not at that level. While Gareth Southgate did a good enough job, he was unable to cross the finish line on multiple occasions. So, the England national football team had to look outside their country to find the best coach who could lead this golden English side consist of some of the current best English players in the world.

The German boss Thomas Tuchel has an excellent record in knockout football, worked in England before and had tremendous success and has a great relationship with a lot of the current English players, including English captain Harry Kane. His style of play is well-suited for this format, and it is of no surprise that he is the highest paid international football managers in the world.

1. Carlo Ancelotti | Brazil

Now at the top of the we have one of the most decorated managers in football history, Carlo Ancelotti. The Italian showcased it during his highly successful and trophy-laden tenure with Milan and Real Madrid, winning several Champions League finals and league titles. Carlo has been backed up with the best Brazilian footballers currently in the squad in his very first international assignment.

The former Napoli manager currently holds the most lucrative contract in international football, earning a hefty salary of 8.28 million per year. It was not unexpected to see a manager of his reputation taking charge of the Brazil national football team, filled with superstars from top football clubs around the world. He is the perfect manager to manage the players of high profile.