Brazil manager and former Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti has become the highest-paid international coach in the world, according to a list of the top 10 best-paid from La Gazzetta dello Sport. It would require a lot of success on 18+ online casinos for the average person to make a similar amount of money as Don Carlo, but where do his colleagues fall on the same list?
Ancelotti's move to Brazil was backed by one of the most lucrative contracts ever awarded to an international manager. According to a global salary ranking published by Italian outlet La Gazzetta dello Sport, Ancelotti reportedly earns €9.5 million per year, making him the highest-paid international coach. His contract runs through the end of the 2026 World Cup.
In addition to his impressive salary, Ancelotti enjoys several high-end perks. He has access to a private jet for family visits in Europe, and the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) covers the rent for his residence in Rio de Janeiro, ensuring optimal conditions for one of the game's most decorated coaches.
While Ancelotti tops the list, the positions of Roberto Martínez and Lionel Scaloni are also noteworthy. Despite their significant contributions to their respective teams, both coaches lag far, far behind Ancelotti in terms of financial compensation.
Roberto Martínez, known for leading Belgium to a historic run and currently guiding Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal to another World Cup campaign, ranks fifth on the list. His annual salary is €4 million. Martínez signed his contract in 2023, which runs through the conclusion of the 2026 World Cup.
Quite shocking is the revelation that 2006 World Cup winner and new Uzbekistan manager Fabio Cannavaro is earning the same amount as Martinez. Despite playing no role in their qualifying campaign, the Italian will lead the Uzbeks to their first-ever World Cup in 2026. He is being handsomely rewarded in the hope that he can produce something special with a historic group of players for the Central Asian nation, after being appointed just one week ago.
Lionel Scaloni, the architect behind Argentina's golden era and Lionel Messi's cathartic World Cup victory, ranks a shocking tenth on the list. Despite winning back-to-back Copa Américas and the 2022 World Cup, Scaloni earns a modest €2.3 million per year. He took over the national team in 2018 and signed a new deal in February 2023 following his World Cup triumph in Qatar.
According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, the top 10 highest-paid international coaches are:
- Carlo Ancelotti (Brazil) – €9.5M
- Thomas Tuchel (England) – €5.9M
- Julian Nagelsmann (Germany) – €4.9M
- Fabio Cannavaro (Uzbekistan) – €4M
- Roberto Martínez (Portugal) – €4M
- Didier Deschamps (France) – €3.8M
- Marcelo Bielsa (Uruguay) – €3.5M
- Ronaldo Koeman (Netherlands) – €3M
- Gustavo Alfaro (Paraguay) – €2.5M
- Lionel Scaloni (Argentina) – €2.3M
While the financial compensation of international coaches varies significantly, it's clear that success on the field doesn't always translate into financial rewards.
As the highest-paid international coach, Ancelotti's contract sets a new benchmark in the world of international football, raising questions about the financial recognition of other successful coaches like Martínez and Scaloni.
