The most promising football coaches for the World Cup

The role of a coach in modern football cannot be overstated. While players pass and score on the pitch, coaches shape a team’s identity. They develop strategies, keep a team in balance and make decisions that determine victory or defeat in World Cups and national leagues. The most promising football coaches for the World Cup links the inspiring stories of the greatest football coaches of all time with a look at the most successful coaches of the present. The goal is to highlight the influence of historic greats on the tactics of today’s national coaches and to provide an outlook for the 2026 World Cup.

IMAGO puts images first: our articles combine narrative introductions, in-depth analyses and high-quality photos. Photos and captions provide orientation for the reader and add emotion to the content while at the same time increasing journalistic credibility. This article follows that style by focusing on a clearly structured, informative presentation with precise timelines and historical references, and by giving readers suggestions for selecting expressive images.

Legends Who Shaped the Game

Sir Alex Ferguson – the most successful club coach

When people speak of the greatest football coach of all time, Sir Alex Ferguson is mentioned first. The Scotsman shaped European club football like few others. His coaching career began with the Scottish clubs St Mirren and Aberdeen, with whom he won cups and the Scottish championship. In 1986 he took over Manchester United and stayed there for 27 years. Under his leadership, the traditional English club won 49 trophies, including 13 English league titles, five FA Cups and two Champions League titles. This impressive collection of titles made him the embodiment of consistency and success in club football.

Ferguson’s secret to success was not just his tactical flexibility but his ability to regenerate teams over generations. He formed teams around talents like Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes and Cristiano Ronaldo, rebuilt them and made them champions. His famous “Fergie Time,” which produced decisive goals in stoppage time, is symbolic of his mental strength and his unending motivation to win games until the very last second. Beyond statistics, he remains a role model for modern coaches in terms of personnel management and long-term thinking.

IMAGO / Sportimage / Neil Hanna / Edinburgh, Scotland, 28th February 2026. Sir Alex Ferguson arrives for the Hearts vs Aberdeen Scottish Premiership match at Tynecastle Park.

Pep Guardiola – the perfectionist of positional play

Pep Guardiola, currently coach of Manchester City, ranks among the most successful football managers and has influenced modern teams’ styles of play like few others. As coach of Barcelona he won the “treble” of league, cup and Champions League in his first season in 2008/09. After successful spells at FC Bayern Munich and Manchester City he collected numerous titles: the stats list 12 league titles, 16 national cup victories, three Champions League triumphs, four UEFA Super Cups and four FIFA Club World Cups. With Manchester City he won six Premier League titles in seven years and set another milestone with a historic “treble” in 2022/23.

Guardiola’s tactics are based on a sophisticated positional game. He has his team control the ball, applies pressing and uses flexible formations. His famous triangular play – in which players always have at least two passing options – is a continuation of Johan Cruyff’s “Total Football.” Backward-moving full-backs (inverted full-backs) and the high pressing of opponents are also distinctive elements of his style. Guardiola is considered a perfectionist who trains details such as the right timing for passes or the division of space to perfection. Modern national team coaches regard him as an inspiration for possession-oriented attacking football.

IMAGO / Sportimage / Andrew Yates / Manchester, England, 4th March 2026. Dejected Pep Guardiola, coach of Manchester City, during the Manchester City vs Nottingham Forest Premier League match at the Etihad Stadium.

Johan Cruyff – visionary of Total Football

Johan Cruyff was a pioneer both as a player and as a coach. As coach of Ajax (1985–1988) he won the Cup Winners’ Cup in 1987 before taking over FC Barcelona in 1988. There he led the “Dream Team” generation to four consecutive La Liga titles and to victory in the European Cup of Champions in 1992. Cruyff’s influence goes beyond trophies: he made “Total Football” popular – a style characterized by positional switching, ball possession and mobility. He stressed that football consists of “passing and ball control.”

His tactical ideas included a 3‑4‑3 system arranged in a diamond that formed triangles. Players were expected to always be in motion to create and occupy space. Cruyff taught that the ball is faster than any player – a philosophy that shaped FC Barcelona’s playing style and was later further developed by Guardiola. Many modern coaches incorporate elements of Cruyff’s philosophy into their teams, such as pushing up the defensive line or the constant shifting of midfielders.

Arrigo Sacchi – revolutionary of pressing

Arrigo Sacchi fundamentally changed Italian football. Previously, Italy was dominated by “Catenaccio” – a defensive style with man marking. Sacchi, who never played professionally himself, introduced a radical pressing system at AC Milan in the late 1980s. With players like Franco Baresi, Paolo Maldini and Ruud Gullit he won two consecutive European Cup titles (1989 and 1990). He preferred a 4‑4‑2 with zonal marking, in which the entire team pressed in unison to force the opponent into mistakes. In his autobiography he stresses that the key lies “in pressing the ball and in attacking and defending together.” Sacchi’s approach revolutionised defensive and offensive behaviour; many coaches still adopt his principles today.

Carlo Ancelotti – the flexible pragmatist

Carlo Ancelotti is one of the most decorated coaches ever. According to Transfermarkt he has won five Champions League titles (two with AC Milan, three with Real Madrid) and is the first coach to win league titles in Italy, England, Spain, Germany and France. He left Real Madrid in 2023 as the most successful coach in the club’s history with 15 titles and 249 wins in 352 games. His tactical philosophy is pragmatic: he adapts the system to the quality of the players. At Real Madrid he played a 4‑3‑3 with a creative midfield around Luka Modrić and Toni Kroos; at AC Milan he became famous for the diamond midfield with Andrea Pirlo. Ancelotti’s balance between attacking drive and defensive stability makes him a role model for national team coaches who have to integrate different types of players.

Carlo Ancelotti will also take over the Brazilian national team after his time in Madrid. As “The Guardian” reports, this makes him the first foreign coach of the Seleção and he is expected to lead the team to the 2026 World Cup after interim coach Fernando Diniz. Brazil is seen as a traditional pioneer of offensive systems, and appointing a European coach shows the desire to combine tactical variety with South American creativity.

IMAGO / Brazil Photo Press / WilliamxVolcov / Carlo Ancelotti, coach of the Brazilian national football team, speaks to journalists at the Ritz Hotel in Washington, D.C.

Legendary Football Tactics and Their Impact

Modern football is shaped by tactical trends that often originated decades ago. The legendary football tactics of the great coaches continue to influence the playing systems of national teams today.

1. Total football and positional play – The idea that all players act both offensively and defensively was developed by Cruyff and Rinus Michels. Guardiola refined this concept into a complex positional game in which players constantly form triangles. National coaches like Julian Nagelsmann apply similar mechanisms by deploying their teams in fluid 4‑2‑3‑1 or 3‑4‑2‑1 formations that combine ball possession and counter-pressing.
   

2. Pressing and counter-pressing – Sacchi’s Milan and later Jürgen Klopp at Borussia Dortmund and Liverpool emphasised ball-oriented pressing. Sacchi had his team shift in a compact block so that the ball-carrying opponent had no passing options. Modern coaches like Luis de la Fuente or Lionel Scaloni use immediate pressure after losing the ball. The counter-pressing approach means players have to be physically and mentally top fit.
   

3. Flexibility and hybrid systems – Ancelotti showed with Real Madrid that systems must be adapted to players. His approach of switching between 4‑3‑3, 4‑4‑2 or 4‑2‑3‑1 in different phases of the game is copied today by national coaches like Roberto Martínez or Marcelo Bielsa. Bielsa traditionally uses a highly attacking 3‑3‑3‑1 formation, but he adapts it in Uruguay to the available talents and plans to surprise at the 2026 World Cup with high pressing.
   

4. Man-management and long-term team leadership – Ferguson showed that success is not just about tactics. His handling of stars and young talents is a model for coaches planning across multiple tournaments. Didier Deschamps relies on a stable hierarchy and closeness to people in France, making them world champions in 2018 and runners-up in 2022. Such soft factors are often decisive when different generations and characters come together in a national team.
   
   

These tactical ideas form the background for considering the current national coaches and their chances at the 2026 World Cup.

The Current Contenders for the 2026 World Cup

The upcoming World Cup in the USA, Canada and Mexico will change the character of the global football stage. It will be the first tournament with 48 teams played across three countries. A look at the national coaches shows which personalities could shape the drama of the tournament.

Didier Deschamps (France)

Didier Deschamps has led the French national team since 2012 and was previously captain of the 1998 World Cup-winning team. Under his guidance France became world champions in 2018 and reached the final in 2022. The 55-year-old recently confirmed that he will step down after the 2026 World Cup to make way for a successor. His contract runs until the end of 2026 and the Fédération Française de Football has not yet appointed a successor. Deschamps’ style combines defensive stability with explosive attacking play. He relies on experienced players such as Antoine Griezmann, Kylian Mbappé and Aurélien Tchouaméni while also integrating young talents. His ability to balance stars and the collective makes France once again a title contender.

IMAGO / Buzzi / Didier Deschamps in a match between Olympique de Marseille vs Strasbourg (5-0), 1993.

Julian Nagelsmann (Germany)

At 38, Julian Nagelsmann is one of the youngest national coaches. After replacing Hansi Flick in September 2023 he led the German team to new successes in friendly matches. In April 2024 the German Football Association extended his contract until 2026. In a Reuters report Nagelsmann said he wanted to “continue to develop this team and excite the fans.” Nagelsmann is noted for flexible tactics and relies on a mix of experienced players like Ilkay Gündogan and talents like Jamal Musiala. The home Euro 2024 was an interim goal; the focus is on a strong World Cup performance in North America. His analytical style and openness to data analysis make him a modern coach.

IMAGO / Revierfoto / UEFA Nations League Netherlands – Germany on 10 September 2024 at the Johan Cruijff Arena in Amsterdam. Julian Nagelsmann (national team coach).

Luis de la Fuente (Spain)

Luis de la Fuente took charge of the Spanish national team at the end of 2022. After winning the Nations League in 2023 and the Euro 2024 he extended his contract until 2028. De la Fuente must guide Spain through the qualifying for the 2026 World Cup and favours possession football with quick changes of pace. In interviews he has stated that he always looks critically at his team and constantly wants to improve them. His long-term work with the generation around Pedri, Gavi and Nico Williams gives Spain great potential for the future.

Lionel Scaloni initially led Argentina as interim coach in 2018 into chaos – and then to triumph. In 2021 they won the Copa America, and in 2022 the country earned its second World Cup title. The Argentine Football Association confirmed his contract until 2026 and praised his gratitude towards the association and players. Scaloni mixes experienced stars like Lionel Messi (who is expected to play his last tournament) with young forces like Enzo Fernández and Julián Álvarez. He uses a compact 4‑4‑2 that becomes a 4‑3‑3 when in possession. Expectations in Argentina are high, but Scaloni has proven he can handle pressure.

Thomas Tuchel (England)

England’s football association took a new path in 2025 by appointing German Thomas Tuchel. The former coach of Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich is considered a brilliant tactician. In October 2024 the association confirmed his appointment as the third foreign coach to hold this prestigious role. Tuchel replaced Gareth Southgate and initially signed an 18-month contract for the 2026 World Cup. His previous collaboration with assistant Anthony Barry continues.

After England convincingly won all eight qualifying games without conceding a goal, the association extended Tuchel’s contract until 2028. The coach said he was “very happy and proud to continue coaching England.” This long-term plan is intended to provide continuity, especially since England will host the Euro 2028. Tuchel’s playing style combines controlled possession with quick transitions. He trusts players like Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham and Phil Foden and is known for his teams’ adaptability.

IMAGO / DeFodi / Training camp in Marbella of BV Borussia Dortmund, coach Thomas Tuchel with the team on 10.01.2017.

Roberto Martínez (Portugal)

Spanish coach Roberto Martínez, known for his time with Belgium’s “Golden Generation,” was presented in January 2023 as the successor to Fernando Santos. According to the Spanish magazine “AS” he signed a contract that binds him to Portugal until the 2026 World Cup, covering both the 2024 European Championship and the tournament in North America. After Portugal’s disappointing exit at Euro 2024 Martínez defends his work but emphasizes that criticism is part of high expectations. He relies on aggressive, ball-oriented systems and plans to build a team around Bernardo Silva, Bruno Fernandes and the young generation (including Gonçalo Ramos). His philosophy is based on possession football with greater vertical dynamism than under his predecessor.

Marcelo Bielsa (Uruguay)

Argentinian Marcelo Bielsa took over the Uruguayan national team in May 2023. The association confirmed that he signed a contract until 2026. Bielsa is famous for his attacking style and 3‑3‑3‑1 formation, demanding extreme running and intense physical effort. In Uruguay he finds a talented team with Darwin Núñez and Federico Valverde. Bielsa said at his introduction that the quality of the players convinced him. The goal is to lead Uruguay back to the top of South America and cause surprises in North America.

Luciano Spalletti (Italy)

Italian championship coach Luciano Spalletti took over as national coach in 2023 after Roberto Mancini unexpectedly stepped down. Although Italy was eliminated in the last 16 at Euro 2024, federation president Gabriele Gravina confirmed that Spalletti would remain in office as planned until 2026. The experienced coach led Napoli to their first scudetto in 33 years in 2023 and favours rapid wingers, ball possession and aggressive pressing. He builds the team around Jorginho, Nicolò Barella and young stars such as Federico Chiesa. Spalletti is expected to lead the Azzurri back onto the international stage after missing the 2018 World Cup and disappointing as European champions in 2022.

IMAGO / Giuseppe Maffia / AS Roma v Juventus FC - Serie A, Enilive Luciano Spalletti, Head Coach of Juventus FC, gestures during the serie.

Jaime Lozano (Mexico)

As a co-host of the 2026 World Cup Mexico is under particular pressure. Jaime Lozano, who took over on an interim basis in 2023, was confirmed as head coach by the federation. Reuters reports that the Federación Mexicana de Fútbol extended his tenure until 2026. Lozano said before Copa America 2024 that the tournament would be the best preparation for the World Cup because they would face world-class teams. Despite criticism after defeats to the USA and Uruguay he tries to integrate young talents like Santiago Giménez and Edson Álvarez. His goal is to take Mexico to the knockout phase – an ambitious undertaking in front of home crowds.

Ronald Koeman (Netherlands)

After Louis van Gaal’s departure Ronald Koeman returned as Dutch national coach in 2023. The KNVB announced in April 2022 that Koeman had signed a contract until 2026, which means he will oversee Euro 2024 and the 2026 World Cup. Expectations for “Oranje” remain high, and Koeman said before World Cup qualifying that the Netherlands are obliged to win their group. He relies on a mix of experienced defence around Virgil van Dijk and young attacking players such as Xavi Simons. His preferred system is a 4‑3‑3 that enables rapid wing attacks.

Gregg Berhalter (USA)

The USA, also co-hosts, are likewise banking on continuity. Gregg Berhalter was reappointed coach in June 2023 after a six-month hiatus to lead the team to the 2026 World Cup. Berhalter had previously clashed with the federation over a private incident, but returned and emphasizes the focus on team culture and player development. He uses a 4‑3‑3 with high pressing and wants to forge players like Christian Pulisic, Weston McKennie and Giovanni Reyna into a formidable unit. For the USA the tournament is an opportunity to boost international prestige and nurture a generation of talents.

IMAGO / Icon Sportswire / Nick Tre. Smith / United States head coach Gregg Berhalter directs his players during the Group A match between the United States and Uruguay on Monday July 1, 2024 at Arrowhead stadium in Kansas City.

What Modern Coaches Can Learn from the Legends

The journey of national coaches to the 2026 World Cup reflects how tactical concepts from the past merge with modern approaches. Some observations:

• Long-term planning and adaptability: Sir Alex Ferguson showed that consistent winning is only possible if a coach seeks out talent early and carries out radical rebuilds. National coaches like Deschamps and Scaloni adopt this long-term thinking: they rely on continuity but also on regular generational change.
  

• Combining positional play and pressing: Guardiola and Cruyff laid the foundation for possession football. Only when mixed with Sacchi’s pressing does it create the modern style used by Nagelsmann or Spalletti. The quick transition after losing the ball is an essential element that makes modern national teams successful.
  

• Psychological leadership: Ferguson, Deschamps and Ancelotti are characterised by empathetic leadership. Dealing with stars requires people skills, clear communication and discipline. Tuchel is considered demanding, yet he works closely with his team and emphasises the importance of trust.
  

• Flexibility instead of rigid systems: Sacchi showed that pressing only works if all players act together. Bielsa, in turn, uses an extreme 3‑3‑3‑1, which is rare in modern football but is tailored to Uruguay’s talent. Ancelotti adapts his system depending on the squad. Modern national coaches must adapt their philosophy to the reality of their team instead of holding rigidly to one idea.
  

• Use of data and technology: Newer coaches like Nagelsmann or de la Fuente increasingly use data analysis to identify patterns and make decisions. They combine these “Moneyball” elements with classic coaching principles. The analyses help identify weaknesses and plan training sessions in a targeted way.

  
  

The Importance of Images in Football Journalism

Images often tell stories faster than words and play a central role in conveying emotions. For an article about football managers, this means:

• Choose original photos: Show managers in characteristic situations – giving an emotional address, gesturing during a game or interacting with players. Such shots underscore the personality of the coach.
  

• Contextualised captions: Image titles should include names, location and date, such as “Pep Guardiola celebrates during the 2023 Champions League final in Istanbul”. This precision increases credibility and makes images easier to find.
  

• Integrate keywords into file names: For SEO optimisation, file names should include terms like “best-football-manager-of-all-time” or “legendary-football-tactics”. This helps search engines categorise images.
  

• Use visual language: Use image sequences to show the progression of a career – for example Sir Alex Ferguson with young players in the 1990s and later winning his last championship. Tactical graphics (Cruyff’s 3‑4‑3 or Sacchi’s 4‑4‑2) can help explain complex content.

  
  

Licensing Images Correctly

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• Rights Managed (RM): This licence is suitable for clearly defined, one-off uses, such as a single article, a specific social media publication or a defined print run. Duration, territory and medium can be precisely specified.
  

• Royalty Free Classic (RF Classic): This model allows repeated use of an image without needing to report each use separately. Depending on the variant (Standard or Extended), different ranges apply.
  

• Royalty Free Premium (RF Premium): This licence offers particularly flexible options for larger projects such as print campaigns, packaging or merchandising.
  
  

We advise you on the right images for tennis and other sports – including customised media packages.

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