Soccer
World Cup stories: Why the focus will be on the managers at this summer's World Cup as top jobs loom
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Major international tournaments have always been a shop window for emerging players – dazzling performances on the global stage often lead to big-money moves and breakout reputations.
But this year’s FIFA World Cup in 89 days time is shaping up to be just as important for a different kind of footballing star: the managers.
With clubs such as Real Madrid, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur all likely to delay permanent coaching appointments until the summer, the tournament in North America offers a rare and high-stakes proving ground for those hoping to land some of the biggest jobs in the club game.
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At the very top end of the spectrum are the established names whose international exploits could solidify their status as elite coaches ready for a return to club football. Carlo Ancelotti, currently at the helm of Brazil, is one such figure.
The Italian, with an unparalleled résumé that includes five UEFA Champions League titles and multiple league crowns across Europe, will guide the Selecao through a World Cup campaign that could further burnish his legacy before any summer move is negotiated.
His combination of tactical flexibility and big-game experience makes him a dream candidate for clubs looking for a safe pair of hands.
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Across the pond, Mauricio Pochettino will lead the United States Men’s National Team, but speculation has already sparked about a potential return to the Premier League.
Tottenham have been linked with their former boss for a summer switch, with Spurs reportedly considering him a priority candidate once the World Cup concludes. The emotional symmetry of a Pochettino homecoming – from North London to North America and back – plays well in the narrative of a coach whose club career has seen peaks and troughs in equal measure.
For Manchester United, the World Cup arrives amid continued uncertainty over their managerial future. Interim head coach Michael Carrick has endeared himself to Old Trafford with impressive early results, puting them on course for a return to the Champions League, but the hierarchy are widely expected to pursue a permanent appointment in the summer.
Names consistently floated include Julian Nagelsmann, the Germany coach whose stock remains high despite a turbulent spell at Bayern Munich, while other high-profile figures such as Pochettino, Ancelotti and Paris Saint-Germain’s Luis Enrique are also in the mix. United’s willingness to wait until after the tournament underscores just how crucial World Cup form could be in tipping the scales between world-class candidates.
Yet not all eyes are on the household names. The World Cup also presents a platform for less experienced but ambitious coaches to see their stock rise.
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The likes of Domenico Tedesco, who has built a reputation for tactical organisation at club level with teams like RB Leipzig and Fenerbahce, could find that a strong tournament performance propels him into conversations about top-tier jobs that were previously beyond reach.
Similarly, figures such as Aliou Cisse, the Senegal boss known for forging resilient and disciplined teams, might emerge as attractive dark horses for clubs looking to inject new ideas into their managerial appointments.
The allure of World Cup success extends beyond trophies; it is about narrative, credibility and the belief that a coach can thrive under intense pressure and with fractured squads. In a season where so many storied clubs are choosing to defer decisions until the summer, national team performances may be the defining metric by which the next generation of top club managers are judged.
Coaches who marry tactical acumen with inspirational leadership on football’s biggest stage could find themselves on the fast track to the dugouts of Real Madrid, Manchester United, Tottenham or beyond, illustrating once again that the World Cup is not just a showcase for players – it is a global audition for the leaders who will shape the club game’s next chapter.
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