The most costly football league in the world is the English Premier League, which currently has 20 teams. Aside from the players, the managers have large contracts and are well-paid. In the Premier League 2025/26 season, Pep Guardiola was victorious in the contest for the biggest salary to date.
With clubs like Manchester United and Liverpool ushering in new leadership, this season signals a strategic reset across the Premier League. Gone are some of the stalwarts, and in their place step modern minds like Ruben Amorim and Arne Slot, who come with hefty price tags.
The Premier League, known as the most lucrative football league globally, is not shy about investing in leadership. This season, several clubs have broken the bank to secure managerial brilliance, reflecting the sky-high expectations that come with managing at the highest level.
Premier League Manager Salaries 2025/26 Season
|
MANAGER |
CLUB |
ANNUAL SALARY |
NET WORTH |
|
£20 million |
£50 million |
||
|
£8 million |
£18 million |
||
|
£5 million |
£8 million |
||
|
£5 million |
£6.9 million |
||
|
£7 million |
£9 million |
||
|
£3.5 million |
£5 million |
||
|
£3 million |
£6 million |
||
|
£2 million |
£5 million | ||
| Enzo Maresca |
£4.6 million |
£14 million |
|
|
£15 million |
£25 million |
||
|
£4.5 million |
£10 million |
||
|
£2 million |
£9 million |
||
|
£500,00 |
£4 million |
||
|
£4.5 million |
£20 million | ||
|
£3 million |
£8 million |
||
|
£ 1.5million |
£7 million |
||
|
£4 million |
£10 million |
||
|
£3 million |
£8 million |
||
|
£4 million |
£9 million |
||
|
£8 million |
£20 million |
Who Tops the Salary Charts in 2025/26?
Let’s break down the top earners among Premier League managers this season:
Pep Guardiola (Manchester City) – £20 million/year
The reigning king of the touchline, Guardiola commands the highest paycheck in the league. With multiple titles under his belt, his value to Manchester City is unquestionable. The club continues to invest heavily in maintaining dominance, and Pep’s paycheck reflects that.
Mikel Arteta (Arsenal) – £15 million/year
Arteta’s transformation of Arsenal from also-rans to title contenders has been nothing short of sensational. His new contract cements his status as one of the top-paid managers, a deserved raise for a man who’s brought identity and belief back to the Emirates.
Unai Emery (Aston Villa) – £8 million/year
One of the season's shock revelations—Villa qualifying for the Champions League—earned Emery a contract extension with a significant pay bump. His tactical masterclass and European pedigree make him one of the most valuable assets in England.
Arne Slot (Liverpool) – £8 million/year
Taking over from the legendary Jürgen Klopp is no small task. Liverpool have shown confidence in Slot, formerly of Feyenoord, by offering a deal that places him among the top earners. He’ll need every bit of tactical wit to meet Anfield’s sky-high standards.
Ruben Amorim (Manchester United) – £7 million/year
Manchester United's new managerial chapter begins with Amorim, plucked from Sporting CP. His innovative approach and flair for youth development come at a cost—his salary is over three times what he earned in Portugal.
Mid-Table and Rising: Smart Spenders
Ange Postecoglou (Tottenham) – £5 million/year
After guiding Spurs to a Europa League title, Postecoglou received a sizable bonus. Now with an improved base salary, he continues his rebuild in North London.
Sean Dyche (Everton) – £5 million/year
Steering Everton through stormy financial waters, Dyche has earned both trust and a well-compensated contract. His experience makes him a vital figure in Everton’s bid for stability.
Thomas Frank (Brentford) – £4.5 million/year
Consistent mid-table performances and an eye for talent keep Frank firmly entrenched at Brentford. The club’s wage structure reflects both loyalty and long-term planning.
Oliver Glasner (Crystal Palace) – £4.5 million/year
The Austrian tactician has been handed a decent salary package as he takes over at Selhurst Park. Expectations are modest but ambitious—Palace want more than just survival this time.
Enzo Maresca (Chelsea) – £4.2 million/year
A surprise pick for Chelsea, Maresca enters the hot seat with a relatively modest contract by Stamford Bridge standards. That said, performance-based bonuses could skyrocket his earnings if he delivers silverware.
Solid Investments in Experience
Managers like Marco Silva (Fulham) and Eddie Howe (Newcastle United) continue to earn competitive wages (£4 million/year each), reflecting their steady hands and tactical acumen. These clubs value stability, and the salaries show appreciation for consistent performance rather than flashy hires.
Who’s Climbing the Ranks?
Newcomers and promoted side bosses have also made their mark:
Julen Lopetegui (West Ham) – £2.7 million/year
Nuno Espírito Santo (Nottingham Forest) – £2.5 million/year
Chris Wilder (Sheffield United) – £2.7 million/year
Fabian Hürzeler (Brighton) – £2 million/year
Russell Martin (Southampton) – £2 million/year
Steve Cooper (Leicester City) – £3 million/year
Kieran McKenna (Ipswich Town) – £1.3 million/year
Andoni Iraola (Bournemouth) – £1 million/year
These salaries are respectable considering the budgets and objectives of their clubs. For managers like Hürzeler, the youngest in the division, the focus is on building reputation rather than the bank balance—yet.
Final Thoughts: Salaries Reflect Ambition
In the Premier League, money talks—and in 2025/26, it’s speaking louder than ever on the touchline. Clubs are investing heavily in the men pulling the strings, hoping that strategic brains can lead to trophies and Champions League windfalls.
With pressure comes pay, and with pay comes responsibility. For some of these managers, this season could define their legacy—or write a whole new one.
The Business Behind the Benches
Manager salaries are not just about prestige—they're strategic investments. In today’s Premier League, where billions are at stake through TV rights, sponsorships, and global branding, clubs are increasingly recognizing the manager’s role as pivotal to the financial ecosystem. A manager's influence extends far beyond tactics: they shape transfer strategies, foster player development, navigate media relations, and set the cultural tone within the squad.
When clubs decide to invest £8–20 million annually on a manager, they’re effectively betting that leadership off the pitch will translate into results on it—and profits in the boardroom. Just look at what Pep Guardiola has done for Manchester City: countless trophies, a global fanbase surge, and a brand that now rivals any in sport.
Bonuses, Buyouts, and Hidden Clauses
It's not just about flat annual salaries. Many Premier League managers earn substantial bonuses for hitting performance targets. These include:
Champions League qualification
Trophy wins (domestic or European)
Avoiding relegation
Player development (especially promoting academy graduates)
For example, Ange Postecoglou pocketed over £4 million in bonuses after guiding Tottenham to Europa League glory. Likewise, some contracts contain lucrative clauses tied to transfer budgets, influence on sporting director roles, or contract extension triggers based on seasonal performance.
On the flip side, clubs often insert buyout clauses or severance conditions that allow them to part ways if targets aren’t met—without breaking the bank entirely. This is crucial in a league where manager turnover is notoriously high. One bad run of results can cost a club millions, so contingency planning is part of the negotiation process.
The Global Benchmark
With these 2025/26 figures, Premier League managers now rank among the highest paid in world sport. To put it in perspective:
Top NFL coaches (e.g., Bill Belichick): ~$20 million/year
Top NBA coaches (e.g., Gregg Popovich): ~$13 million/year
Top MLB managers: ~$5 million/year
Only top-tier managers in Saudi Arabia or China come close in terms of annual pay, but without the same media prestige or competitive edge. The Premier League remains the pinnacle for coaching salaries, and it continues to widen the gap.
What It Means for Football’s Future
The high salaries signal a seismic shift in how clubs view managerial talent. Gone are the days when a manager’s wage was a footnote in the club’s annual financial report. Today, it’s headline news—and for good reason.
With rising expectations, global pressure, and the ever-volatile nature of modern football, clubs want the best minds leading their projects. And like any elite industry, that means paying a premium for top-tier expertise.
If these investments pay off, clubs could reap enormous rewards. But if they backfire? Fans, owners, and boardrooms alike will be quick to call for change. That’s the dual-edged sword of life in the Premier League.
Looking Ahead: Managers to Watch
Here are three new or returning managers whose impact could reshape their club’s trajectory:
Ruben Amorim (Manchester United)
A bold, modern thinker with a progressive playing style. United have bet big on Amorim to restore their dominance. His work at Sporting CP suggests he has the tactical acumen and leadership skills to meet the club's sky-high ambitions.
Arne Slot (Liverpool)
Replacing Klopp was never going to be easy, but Slot has the man-management qualities and attacking philosophy that Liverpool crave. If he finds the right balance quickly, he could be a long-term success.
Fabian Hürzeler (Brighton)
At just 31, he’s the youngest manager in Premier League history. Brighton have taken a calculated risk on a rising star, and if he delivers, he could become a symbol of the next generation of coaches in Europe.
The Premier League's Million-Pound Minds
The 2025/26 season isn’t just about who scores the goals—it’s also about who calls the shots from the sidelines. With clubs spending as much on managers as they do on marquee signings, the message is clear: tactical genius is just as valuable as goal-scoring brilliance.
As the season unfolds, these managers will face relentless pressure, constant media scrutiny, and some of the most demanding fanbases in world football. But they’ll do it with the backing of their boards—and their bank balances.
Who will rise? Who will fall? One thing is certain: the drama on the touchline this season will be just as captivating as the action on the pitch.
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