Ranked: The top 10 out-of-work managers right now

The dugout can be unforgiving, and managers are always only a few bad results away from the chopping block.

This may explain why there are often more than a few elite coaches resting up while their fellow managers slog it out on the sidelines. Even though club teams are starting their preparations for the 2024/25 season, there are still roles to be had in football.

The latest role to emerge is the job of England manager, after Gareth Southgate stepped down following Euro 2024. Southgate led England to another European Championship final, but there was a second defeat, this time losing 2-1 to Spain in normal time.

• Read more: Next England manager? Odds, favourites and predicted line-ups as Gareth Southgate resigns

So the race is on to see who England will pick to be their next manager. And they have their favourites. But there are other options for England, and clubs that may still be eyeing a change.

We’ve ranked the best 10 managers without a job who could be up for grabs — focussing mainly on club managers, so Southgate won’t be making this list.

Honourable mentions: David Moyes, Stefano Pioli, Edin Terzic, Walter Mazzarri, Rudi Garcia, Niko Kovac, Maurizio Sarri. 

10. Graham Potter

Graham Potter’s stock has fallen slightly after his disastrous spell at Stamford Bridge that saw him record the lowest win rate of any permanent manager in the club’s history (39%), but his spells at Östersunds FK, Swansea and Brighton should not be forgotten. Known for his innovation, methodical approach and man-management skills, Potter first came to the attention of the world after leading Swedish side Östersunds FK to the top flight for the first time in their history in 2015, before guiding them to an eighth-place finish in their first campaign.

After beating Arsenal in the Europa League with the Swedish minnows, Potter returned to the UK for a spell at Championship side Swansea before replacing Chris Hughton at the Amex. After two seasons fighting off relegation, he led them to their best-ever Premier League finish in 2021/22, ending the season in ninth, before leaving for what he thought was his big break at Stamford Bridge, but it was not to be.

Could he be on his way to manage England, however?

9. Joachim Löw

Joachim Löw would have ranked much higher on this list, but the majority of his success has come at international level, while’s been out of work since the end of the last European Championships in 2021. But what success he enjoyed with Germany.

Löw — now 64 — reached three major finals during his 15-year-old spell as Germany boss, of course bringing home the ultimate prize with the 2014 World Cup as well as winning the final Confederations Cup in 2017, reaching the final of Euro 2008 and the World Cup semi-finals in 2010, beating Uruguay to finish third.

That is an incredible international CV, and goes along nicely with his more modest but still very impressive achievements at club level, which include the 2001/02 Austrian Bundesliga title with Tirol Innsbruck — their last title — and the 1997 DfB-Pokal with Stuttgart.

8. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer

Solskjaer’s spell at Man Utd sure was strange. The former striker was certainly given a fair crack, staying in the job for nearly three years. And in fairness to him, he enjoyed a 54.17% win rate and reached the Europa League final in 2021. However, things just never quite took off and it always felt Solskjaer was out of his depth at one of the world’s biggest clubs (though fortunes haven’t really improved that much since he left).

What you can say for certain is it’s very surprising he hasn’t been offered another role in slightly more relaxed and modest surroundings, given his experience in the Old Trafford pressure cooker and the fact he’s still only 50 years old.

Solskjaer is currently touring around the United States taking in facilities and knowledge at MLS clubs, which caused him to be linked with Charlotte FC last October. However, club president Joe LaBue quickly shut that speculation down.

“To be very clear, Ole visited our facility along with many other MLS facilities last week. It’s common and best practice to host people from across the globe and we’ll continue to do so. We’re proud of what we’ve built. End of story here,” LaBue wrote on X.

To be very clear, Ole visited our facility along with many other MLS facilities last week. It’s common and best practice to host people from across the globe and we’ll continue to do so. We’re proud of what we’ve built. End of story here. https://t.co/EZV0qLNk2p

— Joe LaBue (@JCLaBue) October 11, 2023

For the record, Dean Smith became Charlotte FC’s new head coach.

7. Sergio Conceicao

It’s going to be weird watching Porto without Sergio Conceicao. The Portuguese manager spent nine years in charge of the Dragons, taking charge of 379 matches. It was an extremely fruitful spell too. Conceicao took charge of Porto in a period of Benfica domination, and had a tough first season.

However, Porto grew under Conceicao and in 2017/18 they ended Benfica’s four-year streak, finishing seven points clear at the top of the table. Porto would go on to win two more titles under Conceicao, taking their tally to 30 overall. Conceicao also led Porto to glory in the Portuguese Cup four times and once in the Taca da Liga. There was a bit of failure in translating Porto’s performances over to Europe, but Conceicao will be one to follow to see where he goes next.

6. Massimiliano Allegri

Juventus ended Massimiliano Allegri’s second tenure with the club by sacking him after his behaviour at the 2024 Coppa Italia final.

Just two days after leading Juventus to victory, Allegri was dismissed for ranting at match officials and waving away Juve’s sporting director during the celebrations. Following this, the Italian Football Federation’s disciplinary tribunal investigated him.

Allegri led Juventus from 2014 to 2019, during which they won the title in each of his five seasons, claimed four Italian Cups, and reached the Champions League final twice. He left by mutual consent at the end of the 2018/19 season.

After a two-year break, he returned as Juventus manager at the start of the 2021/22 season, but his second tenure did not match the success of his first. The team only won the Italian Cup, finishing fourth and seventh in his two full seasons before his recent departure, leaving the team in fourth place.

5. Xavi

Xavi hasn’t been in the management game long, compared to some of the men on this list, but he’s already built a decent record. The Spaniard started his managerial career in Qatar with Al-Sadd, having ended his career at the club. It was at Al-Sadd that Xavi honed his skills, eventually making the much-expected switch to Barcelona in November 2021.

He took charge of a Barcelona side lacking any real identity and in his first season there were periods of struggle, but work was happening. It’s work that came to fruition in the second season as Xavi led Barcelona to the league title, his first full campaign as manager. It was a romp to the title too, as Barcelona finished 10 points clear. The third season wasn’t as good, but Xavi was dealing with injury issues and problems with the club off the pitch. He announced his intention to leave the club, was persuaded to stay and then sacked at the end of the season. When he’s ready, Xavi may be the free agent every club wants.

4. Thomas Tuchel

Thomas Tuchel has experienced success wherever he has been, but unhappiness has been increasing at each club. The most recent job was at Bayern Munich where Tuchel managed the club to their first trophy-less season in 11 years. The year before that, Bayern had won the league but it was more a case of Borussia Dortmund losing the title.

Nevertheless, this is a manager that has won three league titles, three domestic cups and the Champions League. Fans will never forget how he transformed a Chelsea team looking lost under Frank Lampard into Champions League winners, masterminding the 1-0 win over Manchester City in the final. But with Tuchel comes his attitude and an inability to gel with clubs’ hierarchies.

3. Mauricio Pochettino 

Who could have seen Mauricio Pochettino back in the free-agent market so soon after Chelsea finally got their man last summer? Life at Stamford Bridge started poorly for the Blues, with the team producing relegation form numbers at one point. However, the Argentine tactician changed the narrative, and Chelsea finished the season strongly.

Despite this, elusive silverware in English football eluded him, with heavy criticism directed at him after losing extra time against a weakened Liverpool team in the EFL Cup final.

Behind the scenes, it wasn’t a happy marriage. Pochettino had the foresight to leave before things eventually boiled over next season. His reputation, though, hasn’t been tarnished. Unless he opts for a sabbatical, Pochettino should be back on his feet quickly, with several European super clubs seeking managerial services this summer.

2. Jurgen Klopp

Jurgen Klopp probably won’t be available for a year. He announced his departure from Liverpool and football at the start of 2024, stating a loss of energy as the reason. And he isn’t currently looking for a new role.

“I have to start with the rest now and then we will see,” he said on departing Liverpool.

“But it’s not now that I feel already and [think about] maybe the next opportunity. You only have to look outside which clubs are obviously available and stuff like this.

“There will be opportunities, but I don’t sit here and think, ‘Maybe in a year’s time I take that’. At this moment, it’s see you later.”

Klopp has already been linked with new jobs, most notably the vacant United States and England roles. And of course it’s easy to see why. The German transformed Liverpool during his time at the club, having transformed Borussia Dortmund. The Reds were in danger of dropping into mid-table obscurity but slowly and surely he lifted them up the table, ending their long wait for a league title. Klopp’s football is exciting too and when he is ready, the German could get any job he wants.

1. Zinedine Zidane