Updated: 26 May 2026 21:17 BST |
8 min read
With each passing year there are several managers who come to the fore for their remarkable coaching performances across Europe, and the 2025-26 campaign was no different in that regard.
Whether it was a young coach announcing himself to the continent for the first time, or an experienced boss cementing his lofty status, Europe was blessed with plenty of managerial magic this season.
And with that in mind, FootballTransfers has decided to take a look at the 10 best coaches in Europe’s top five leagues in 2025-26, with each manager listed in no particular order.
Mikel Arteta (Arsenal, Premier League)
They finally did it. After a painful 22-year wait including three successive second-place finishes, Arsenal finally won the Premier League this season.
And while the Gunners boast several world-class players including David Raya, William Saliba, Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka, the man who deserves the most credit for their return to glory is Mikel Arteta.
In his first managerial post, Arteta has categorically removed the toxicity which engulfed Arsenal at the time of his arrival in 2019, and built a formidable side which has enabled fans to fall in love with their club again.
Unai Emery (Aston Villa, Premier League)
Having said his ultimate ambition was to lead Aston Villa to a major trophy, Unai Emery achieved that aim with victory in this season’s Europa League final.
In one of the best managerial spells in recent history, the Spaniard has taken Villa from 17th in the Premier League table in 2022 to their first piece of silverware since 1996.
And if that wasn’t enough, Emery also led Villa to a top-four finish in the Premier League this season – an unbelievable achievement considering the club were severely hamstrung by financial restrictions in the transfer market.
Andoni Iraola (Bournemouth, Premier League)
Considering Bournemouth lost Illia Zabarnyi, Dean Huijsen, Milos Kerkez and Antoine Semenyo this season, the fact that Andoni Iraola clinched European football for the first time in the club’s history is quite astonishing.
Having constructed a dizzying 18-game unbeaten run in the Premier League, the Cherries will play Europa League football next season after finishing sixth in the table and just three points off a Champions League berth.
In the absence of the names above, Iraola continued to develop future stars at the Vitality Stadium, with Bournemouth’s teenage duo Eli Junior Kroupi and Rayan (both 19) looking as though they are destined for the top – just like their manager.
Regis Le Bris (Sunderland, Premier League)
In the miracle of all miracles in Europe’s top five leagues, Regis Le Bris guided Sunderland to seventh place and subsequent qualification for next season’s Europa League.
And in doing so, the Black Cats became just the fifth promoted club to qualify for Europe through league position in their first season back in the Premier League.
Adding further gloss to that landmark is the fact that Le Bris made 15 senior signings ahead of Sunderland’s return to the top flight, though the Frenchman was quickly able to gel those new additions and build a united dressing room.
Luis Enrique (Paris Saint-Germain, Ligue 1)
Already one of the best coaches of his generation, Luis Enrique added to his bulging trophy cabinet by clinching what he described as his most difficult Ligue 1 title success with Paris Saint-Germain this season.
But his biggest achievement of the campaign has been leading defending champions PSG to a second successive Champions League final for the first time in their history, with a clash against Arsenal to come on Saturday, 30 May.
Regardless of what happens, the fact that Luis Enrique led PSG to the showpiece once again, which included the 5-4 win over Bayern Munich in the greatest semi-final first leg the tournament has ever seen, the Spaniard deserves plaudits for his coaching performance in 2025-26.
Pierre Sage (Lens, Ligue 1)
One of the main reasons why Luis Enrique felt this season’s Ligue 1 title success was his most challenging as PSG manager is because his side were pushed hard by Pierre Sage’s superb Lens team.
While Lens ultimately missed out on French football’s biggest prize by just six points, Sage led the club to their first ever French Cup with a 3-1 victory over OGC Nice earlier this month.
As first seasons go, Sage’s maiden campaign in charge of Lens was about as good as it could (realistically) get.
Vincent Kompany (Bayern Munich, Bundesliga)
While Vincent Kompany may have been on the losing end of Bayern’s thrilling Champions League semi-final tie with PSG, that does not diminish what the Belgian has achieved in Germany this season.
Having built one of the most prolific front threes of all time, with Michael Olise, Harry Kane and Luis Diaz becoming just the eighth trio to score over 100 goals in a single season, Bayern lifted the Bundesliga and German Cup double in 2025-26.
Notoriously a difficult club to manage, hence the infamous nickname ‘FC Hollywood’, Kompany has successfully managed upstairs by developing good relationships with Bayern chiefs Jan-Christian Dreesen and Uli Hoeness – something which should not be taken for granted.
Julian Schuster (SC Freiburg, Bundesliga)
When it comes to replacing an outgoing manager, Julian Schuster had a tall order when succeeding SC Freiburg’s greatest ever manager in Christian Streich in 2024.
However, after leading Freiburg to a fifth-place finish and subsequent qualification for the Europa League in 2024-25, the 41-year-old went from strength to strength this season.
In his first European campaign as a manager, Schuster led Freiburg to the Europa League final. And while they may have come unstuck against Villa, the club have earned a second crack at winning continental silverware after qualifying for next season’s Conference League by finishing seventh in the Bundesliga.
Cesc Fabregas (Como, Serie A)
Having enjoyed a trophy-laden career as a player, Cesc Fabregas now looks destined to win major honours as a manager after presiding over a magnificent season with Serie A side Como.
In one of the great underdog stories of the last few years, the Spaniard pipped Italian heavyweights AC Milan and Juventus to qualification for next season’s Champions League on a dramatic final day of the campaign.
Fabregas, who also guided Como to the Coppa Italia semi-finals, has developed a knack for identifying and developing future gems as well, with youngsters Nico Paz (21), Jacobo Ramon (21), Jesus Rodriguez (20) and Martin Baturina (23) all sparkling under his stewardship.
Inigo Perez (Rayo Vallecano, La Liga)
Inigo Perez completes this list having emerged as one of the brightest young managers in Europe with Rayo Vallecano this season.
The 38-year-old successfully negotiated three competitions with the La Liga outfit, setting up a Conference League final with Crystal Palace on Wednesday, as well as achieving an eighth-place finish in Spain’s top flight.
Heading into their maiden European final in great spirits having put together a nine-game unbeaten run across all competitions, Perez also earned praise for holding both Barcelona and Real Madrid to draws on home soil in 2025-26.
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