Pep Guardiola is widely recognised as the best manager in club football – but the Manchester City boss doesn’t sit top of the pile.
The managerial conveyor belt is in full swing bringing about new coaching strategies, philosophies and closely fought battles in the quest for honours.
Guardiola continues to make history at City, but is he the best performing club manager right now?Getty
The Premier League boasts many of club football’s brightest managerial talents, but in Europe’s top five leagues, a host of emerging head coaches with points to prove are making themselves heard.
Among the English top-flight’s representatives are Guardiola – fresh off the back of four-consecutive Premier League titles – and Arne Slot, who has won 11 out of his 12 matches in charges since replacing Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool.
Mikel Arteta meanwhile has got Arsenal challenging for trophies once again, while Unai Emery continues to do wonders at Champions League table-toppers Aston Villa.
Across Europe, Antonio Conte has Napoli firing, Simone Inzaghi continues to shine at Inter Milan, while another Italian in Carlo Ancelotti shows no signs of letting up at European champions Real Madrid.
And Villa cult hero Gabby Agbonlahor was given the difficult task of ranking the current top five club managers.
With one or two placings that might cause a stir and one expected entrant, the talkSPORT co-host gave us the low-down on his top performers.
5. Mikel Arteta (Arsenal)
In fifth place and for what he’s done over the last two years, it’s Mikel Arteta.
How he’s changed the way Arsenal play, the way they’ve become more of a team they can go and win games.
It’s not all about the Arsenal way of how you play.
They get results and they are one favourites to win the Premier League this season, third favourites for the Champions League.
Honours: FA Cup
GettyArteta has come within a whisker of ending Arsenal’s 20-year title drought on two occasions[/caption]
4. Carlo Ancelotti (Real Madrid)
It’s not just about what you win, Ancelotti inherited such a great team at Real Madrid.
He’s obviously made tweaks and he’s obviously a great manager and he’s done a fantastic job, overcoming Manchester City last season to win the Champions League.
Honours: Champions League x6, Serie A, Ligue 1, Bundesliga, Premier League, La Liga x2, Coppa Italia, FA Cup, Copa del Rey x2
Ancelotti is still going strong at 65 as he eyes a seventh Champions League title this seasonGetty
3. Pep Guardiola (Manchester City)
Is Pep Guardiola the best manager in the world? Yes he is.
But did he have an outstanding amount of money to spend and did he inherit a great squad? Yes he did.
He’s done a fantastic job, but wherever he’s been, he’s had the tools straight away.
Honours: Champions League x3, Premier League x6, Bundesliga x3, La Liga x3, Copa del Rey x2, FA Cup x2, League Cup x4, DFB-Pokal x2
Guardiola has been helped by an embarrassment of riches at City according to AgbonlahorGetty
2. Unai Emery (Aston Villa)
He’s been at the club for two years and taken them from 16th to seventh position firstly, to get into the UEFA Conference League.
Then to be playing in Europe every Thursday and then getting into the top four – an outstanding achievement at Aston Villa.
This season, top of the Champions League (table) after three games and also in the top four.
There’s no sign of them falling short in the Premier League because of the Champions League.
And what he’s done with a lot of players that were there when he took over.
Honours: Ligue 1, Europa League x4, Coupe de France x2, Coupe de la Ligue x2
Emery has worked wonders since he moved to Aston Villa in 2022Getty
1. Xabi Alonso (Bayer Leverkusen)
He won the league unbeaten in his first full season at Leverkusen.
He’s doing well in the Champions League this season as well in sixth position, seven points after three games.
Bayern Munich always wins the league in Germany, so to go in there and go unbeaten and win the league comfortably in such a short space of time.
He didn’t spend big money either.
Xabi Alonso for me at the moment is the best manager.
What I like about him is he turned down Liverpool to stay and carry on there. He’ll get a big job one day.
Honours: Bundesliga, DFB-Pokal
Bayer Leverkusen manager Alonso led the club to their first ever Bundesliga title last seasonGetty
