Top 10 Managers who transformed their clubs in 2025
The job of a football manager or head coach is not just crucial but also very challenging. Taking charge at a new club is even tougher as they need to adapt to new players, unfamiliar surroundings and a different club culture. At elite clubs, the pressure intensifies as the expectations from the club and fans are such that they need to provide positive results from the outset and there’s little room or patience for failure.
Some managers exceed expectations and lead a team to success while others might end up making the situation even worse.
Here, we take a look at the Top 10 managers who transformed their clubs in 2025 –
10. Eder Sarabia (Elche CF)
Eder Sarabia has been a massive influence in getting Spanish club Elche CF promoted from the Segunda Division to the top-tier of Spanish Football – LaLiga.
Sarabia had been a part of Quique Setién’s coaching staff at UD Las Palmas, Real Betis and FC Barcelona. His first senior managerial position came in 2021 with FC Andorra.
After getting the sack by another Segunda Division club, Andorra in March 2024 after a poor run of form. He was appointed by Elche CF ahead of the 2024/25 season and just one year in management for the club, Eder Sarabia helped the club’s promotion to LaLiga, ending the season two points behind leaders Levante. His side was also the best defensive side in LaLiga 2, conceding the least number of goals in the league.
Their performances in LaLiga 2025/26 so far have taken everyone by surprise as they ended September unbeaten in seven games, earning Sarabia the ‘Manager of the Month’ award. Elche are currently sitting in 8th place in LaLiga ahead of popular clubs like Athletic Club, Sevilla and Real Sociedad.
It’s never easy for a new manager to take charge of a side in Tier-2 and not only get them promoted the very next season but also able to show their quality by competing with the very best – hence a transformational effort by the Spaniard head coach.
9. Régis Le Bris (AFC Sunderland)
Frenchman Régis Le Bris joined Sunderland as the head coach ahead of the 2024/25 season in English football’s Tier 2, the EFL Championship. Le Bris has since then led Sunderland to a fourth-place finish in the Championship from where they qualified for the play-offs. Though the Black Cats ended the Championship season with five losses in their last five league games, they ended up qualifying for the top-flight after a hiatus of eight years by winning the play-off final and becoming the third team along with Leeds United and Burnley to make it to the Premier League for the 2025/26 season.
Le Bris has overseen a massive influx of players ahead of their Premier League season to strengthen the squad and it has really been helpful for the Wearside club. After 9 PL games, Sunderland sits pretty in third place with 5 wins, 2 draws and 2 losses. They have impressed with their style of play and bravery even against top clubs in the league.
So far, Le Bris has shown that the Black Cats are here to stay and can compete with the top-tier teams in the PL and very deservedly finds a place in the managers who transformed their clubs in 2025.
8. Liam Rosenior (RC Strasbourg Alsace)
After getting the sack from Hull City for failing to take them into the Championship playoffs in May 2024, Liam Rosenior was appointed as the manager for Chelsea FC’s sister club RC Strasbourg who mutually parted ways with Patrick Viera after finishing in 13th place the previous season.
Since joining the club in the 2024/25 season, Rosenior has implemented his coaching philosophy on the team and his ability to work with young players and developing existing players resulted in Strasbourg ending the season in a respectable seventh position and helped them qualify for European football – The UEFA Conference League.
In the 2025/26 season as well, Strasbourg has started the season in an impressive manner, currently sitting two points behind league leaders Paris Saint-Germain in 4th place after 10 games. Rosenior’s style of management has impressed many in England so far and a move to a Premier League club could be on the cards next year if he does the unthinkable and gets Strasbourg into CL places next season.
7. Sébastien Pocognoli (Union Saint-Gilloise)
Though French Ligue 1 club AS Monaco has appointed Sébastien Pocognoli as their head coach in Oct 2025, it was his stint with Belgian champions Union Saint-Gilloise that puts him in this list of managers that transformed their clubs in 2025.
Pocognoli was appointed the Union Saint-Gilloise senior team head coach ahead of the 2024 season after having impressed with their U21 team. What followed thereafter was stuff dreams are made of. He guided Union SG to a third-place finish in the league behind Genk and Club Brugge. His side then went unbeaten in the Championship- playoffs winning nine out of their ten games. Union SG secured the title in thrilling fashion with a famous 3-1 win against Genk on the final day. This was an incredible achievement for the club who became the Belgian Pro League champions after a hiatus of 90 years dethroning Club Brugge who had won four out of the last five titles. Pocognoli also guided Union SG to their first-ever UEFA Champions League qualification.
In the 2025/26 season as well, before leaving the Belgian club for Monaco, Pocognoli has left them in good stead with Union SG being top of the table after 12 league games. Though it remains to be seen how his attacking brand of football shapes a young and talented AS Monaco side, his transformation of Union SG was definitely one of the stories of the year.
6. Antonio Conte (SSC Napoli)
Antonio Conte is a highly experienced manager that has plied his trade at massive clubs like Juventus, Chelsea and Inter Milan earlier and is currently coaching Italian club SSC Napoli.
After an unsuccessful stint at Tottenham Hotspur, Conte left Spurs by mutual consent in March 2023. Having had previous success in the Italian Serie A, he was appointed by Napoli in June 2024 and led the club to their fourth Scudetto in his very first season. For this achievement, Conte was also nominated for the ‘Men’s Coach of the Year’ at the 2025 Ballon d’Or.
Conte isn’t an all-out attacking manager; he has a pragmatic approach to playing football with defensive solidity a hallmark of his style. During the last season, Conte has also improved a lot of players in his side – Scott McTominay being a prime example of that. From being unwanted at his former club Manchester United, the Scottish midfielder became the most valuable player in Conte’s title-winning side.
The title run-in with Inter was a thrilling affair that went down to the last day of the season and Napoli grabbed the Scudetto with consistent performances in the latter half of the season which also showed his ability to handle intense pressure. The start of the 2025/26 season has been great so far too with the Neapolitan club leading the way with 9 games being played.
Conte has definitely done a massive transformational job with a club that had ended the previous season in 10th place and to lead them to a league title in his very first season deserves a lot of praise and credit.
5. Enzo Maresca (Chelsea FC)
Enzo Maresca was hired by Chelsea ahead of the 2024/25 season after they witnessed his impressive stint with Leicester City whom he got promoted to the Premier League last season.
After coming on, Maresca took charge of a young and inexperienced squad but started to work his magic. The Italian manager guided Chelsea to their first Champions League qualification after three years and also won them two big trophies – the UEFA Conference League and the FIFA Club World Cup.
Maresca instilled a winning mentality in the Chelsea squad and made them a difficult team to play, with their attack causing opponents a lot of problems. For a team that had been struggling for identity in the previous few seasons and not able to qualify for Champions League football which was the bare minimum for a club of their stature, Maresca has not only gotten Chelsea to compete in the league but also enabled them to perform well in cup competitions and win silverware.
4. Vincent Kompany (FC Bayern Munich)
The former Manchester City legend, Vincent Kompany was a surprise choice for the coaching job at an elite club like Bayern Munich after his mixed stint at Burnley. He had helped Burnley to get promoted to the Premier League but couldn’t sustain the PL quality as they got relegated the very next season.
However, Kompany has done wonders with the Bavarian club, leading them back to the Bundesliga title yet again after missing out to Bayer Leverkusen the previous season. He also guided Bayern Munich to a UCL Quarter-final and a Club World Cup quarter-final as well.
Since coming on, Kompany has added more fluidity and control to their team. He has also made vital additions to his squad that have further enhanced their team’s performances.
While a lot of ex-players and football pundits questioned his appointment, Kompany has answered all his critics in the most potent way – by winning trophies. Bayern is also leading the Bundesliga table this season so far and looking dangerous in the UCL as well.
3. Arne Slot (Liverpool FC)
When Jurgen Klopp decided to part ways with Liverpool in Jan 2024, the club had a massive task to fill the huge boots of the mighty German in the summer. To everyone’s surprise Liverpool decided on Feyenoord boss, Dutchman Arne Slot to replace Klopp.
Having come off the back of winning an Eredivisie title with Feyenoord, the Dutch manager didn’t make wholesale changes to the Liverpool squad and decided to work with the personnel that Klopp left. Slot brought a lot of control to the Liverpool team with a different possession-based football to Klopp’s heavy metal style and in his very first season, he led Liverpool to their 20th League title. Liverpool also topped the UCL Group Stage and reached the Carabao Cup final in his first season. Liverpool also strolled to the title in style with four games to go as the challengers Arsenal and Manchester City couldn’t cope with their consistency.
Though the current season has been a transitional one with many new faces coming in, Liverpool is going through a blip in form but there is great belief around Anfield that Slot can definitely turn this around and get them back to their best.
Absolutely no one expected Slot to have the kind of instant impact that he did and at a club of the stature of Liverpool and in the toughest league in the world, hence it was a transformational job second to none.
2. Hansi Flick (FC Barcelona)
After moving away from Bayern Munich, Hansi Flick felt like a surprise appointment at LaLiga giants Barcelona ahead of the 2024/25 season. However, the German coach introduced an exciting brand of football that made Barca an absolute joy to watch. Though Barcelona didn’t look in control defensively, their attacking players led the way, winning games by big margins. The Blaugrana cruised to the LaLiga title in style with rivals Real Madrid and Atletico de Madrid not able to cope with their intensity and attacking prowess.
Flick not only led Barca to a league title but also effectively utilised young La Masia players into his squad guiding them to a domestic treble that included the League title, Copa del Rey and the Spanish Super Cup. Barcelona also did well in the Champions League reaching the Semi-Finals as well.
In the current season too, Barcelona started the season well but faltered slightly due to massive injury issues and are currently in third place, 8 points behind leaders Real Madrid with a game in hand. However, Flick is a superb tactician and with a lot of the season still left to play, Barcelona will definitely challenge Real Madrid for the LaLiga title.
What makes his achievements unbelievable is that even though he wasn’t able to get many new players in due to financial restrictions at Barca, he still managed to utilise the existing squad and young La Masia talent and win the LaLiga giants silverware this year. Contrary to popular belief where even Barcelona fans weren’t sure if he would fit in, Flick has answered all his critics in a fitting manner and he certainly deserves to be in the top two of this illustrious list.
1.Luis Enrique (Paris Saint-Germain FC)
The coach of the year who has done a massive transformation is none other than Luis Enrique at Paris Saint-Germain.
Enrique was appointed the PSG manager in the summer of 2023. Since coming on as the manager, Enrique’s first job was to get rid of the superstar syndrome from the team and make them play as a collective. PSG were anyways dominating the league every year, it was the UCL where they couldn’t compete with Europe’s elite. changed all that as Le Parisians went on to have an unprecedented season – winning a continental treble which included their first UCL trophy. He also led them to the final of the FIFA Club World Cup which they lost to Chelsea.
In the current season too, PSG are dominating in the league and blowing oppositions apart in the UCL. They are currently the team to beat in all of Europe.
Enrique not only instilled his own style of attacking football in this PSG side but also improved and developed talented players into world beaters. From a PSG side that struggled to compete with Europe’s elite teams in UCL, having reached the final only once before, the Spaniard has transformed them into one of the most lethal units that can destroy even the best of oppositions. The most refreshing fact about him is that barring a few players, he doesn’t believe in acquiring big names but brought in players who didn’t really come in with a lot of reputation but are slowly becoming the absolute best in their positions. Nuno Mendes, Achraf Hakimi, Vitinha and Joao Neves are big examples of his ability to develop and improve players.
Not only did he win silverware with PSG, for his achievements this year, he was unanimously awarded the ‘Coach of the Year’ award at the Ballon d’Or – definitely deserving to top the list of the managers that had the most successful transformational effect on his team in 2025.
