The life of a football manager in 2026 is an exercise in extreme volatility. One day you are the tactical visionary hailed as the “saviour” of a historic institution; the next, you are walking into a boardroom to collect a P45. The “poisoned chalice” has never been more lethal, and the shelf life of even the elite has plummeted. From boardroom power struggles and high-stakes transfer gambles to the sheer, crushing weight of expectation, the following 20 managers find themselves on the outside looking in.
Here is the definitive ranking of the top managerial free agents currently awaiting their next project, from the legendary icons to the fallen stars looking for redemption.
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20. Lucien Favre
Favre has been out of work since early 2023. While his tactical intelligence is undeniable, his “hit-and-miss” nature and recent struggles at Nice suggest he may be reaching the end of his time at the top level. Still, for a club needing an experienced hand to steady the ship, Favre remains a viable option.
19. Will Still
Once the “wonderkid” of management, Will Still’s stock has plummeted. After a poor end to his Reims tenure and a forgettable stint at Lens, his 16-game disaster at Southampton has left him struggling for suitors. At 33, time is on his side, but the hype has certainly cooled.
17. Thiago Motta
Motta’s managerial debut at Juventus was a nightmare, resulting in the club’s lowest win rate in a decade. It was a sharp fall for a man who had previously overachieved with Bologna. Motta may need to return to a “project” club to rebuild his reputation as a tactical innovator.
16. Laurent Blanc
Blanc’s recent Saudi Pro League title with Al-Ittihad proved he still has the “Midas touch,” making his subsequent dismissal after just one loss even more baffling. While often criticized for his stint with the French national team, his Ligue 1 record remains stellar.
15. Roger Schmidt
Schmidt’s dismissal from Benfica in early 2025 came after a period of thrilling, high-octane football that ultimately lacked consistency. Currently serving as a J.League advisor, Schmidt’s “heavy metal” style is always entertaining, and a return to European management seems inevitable for the German veteran.
14. Ange Postecoglou
“Big Ange” had a catastrophic 2025. After a brief and winless 39-day stint at Nottingham Forest, the Australian’s “all-out attack” philosophy has come under heavy scrutiny. He famously wins trophies in his second season, but his inability to survive long enough to reach that milestone at Forest has made owners nervous.
13. Erik ten Hag
Ten Hag’s post-United career took a disastrous turn at Bayer Leverkusen. Sacked in September 2025 after just three competitive matches, he set an unwanted record for the shortest tenure in Bundesliga history. While his confidence may be shaken, his previous success at Ajax suggests there is still a high-level coach underneath the recent scars.
12. Thomas Frank
The former Brentford miracle worker found life much harder at the top. His stint at Tottenham ended in disappointment as he struggled to replicate his “Bees” magic on a larger scale. However, Frank remains a highly respected coach whose tactical flexibility and media-savvy approach will surely land him another Premier League job soon.
11. Joachim Löw
Löw has been out of the game since 2021, and the further he gets from his 2014 World Cup triumph, the more he feels like a figure from a different era. Having not managed a club side since 2004, any move for Löw would be a massive gamble, but his experience at the absolute pinnacle of the sport is a rare commodity.
10. Sir Gareth Southgate
Southgate left the England post after Euro 2024 as one of the nation’s most successful, if divisive managers. Critics hammered his cautious tactics, but his ability to manage high-pressure environments and unite a dressing room is world-class. Whether he returns to club football remains to be seen, but a Premier League project could provide the perfect stage for his redemption.
9. Edin Terzić
A man of near misses, Terzić’s time at Borussia Dortmund was defined by the heartbreak of losing the Bundesliga on the final day and falling in the 2024 Champions League final. Despite the lack of silverware, his ability to coax maximum effort from his squad and his deep emotional intelligence make him a strong candidate for a mid-tier giant needing a culture reset.
8. Marco Rose
Rose’s most recent chapter at RB Leipzig ended during a difficult third season, but his stock remains relatively high. A specialist in developing young talent and implementing high-intensity pressing, Rose’s success at Salzburg and Gladbach proves he can lead a modern, data-driven project. He is the ideal candidate for a club looking to rebuild with a clear, aggressive identity.
7. Xavi Hernandez
Xavi’s time at Barcelona was a rollercoaster of pragmatic success and internal politics. He delivered a La Liga title against the odds but was eventually consumed by the club’s toxic atmosphere. While questions linger about his ability to manage outside the Camp Nou bubble, his tactical foundations are solid, and he remains one of the most promising “young” coaches on the market.
6. Enzo Maresca
Maresca’s time at Chelsea was a “chaotic” mixed bag. Despite some flashes of brilliance, his public fallouts with the hierarchy and inability to manage a billion-pound squad led to a sour exit. His refusal to speak to the media after his final game leaves a mark on his professional reputation.
5. Ruben Amorim
Amorim arrived at Manchester United as the chosen one but left as another casualty of the “Theatre of Dreams.” His insistence on a 3-4-2-1 system proved to be his undoing in the Premier League, and he was dismissed at the start of 2026 with the worst win percentage of any United manager in the modern era. While his reputation in England is tattered, his domestic dominance with Sporting CP suggests that in a different environment, Amorim is still a formidable coach.
4. Roberto De Zerbi
The Italian tactician’s departure from Marseille in February 2026 was as explosive as his football. Following a humiliating 5-0 loss to PSG, De Zerbi parted ways with the French giants by mutual consent. Known for his obsessive attention to detail and high-risk build-up play, he remains a darling of the “tactics board” community. While his stints at Brighton and Marseille ended with mixed results, his ability to transform a team’s identity overnight keeps him in high demand.
3. Xabi Alonso
Alonso’s rapid rise took a bruising hit in the Spanish capital. After making history with Bayer Leverkusen, his “homecoming” to Real Madrid lasted just seven months. Sacked in early 2026 following a Supercopa de España final defeat to Barcelona, Alonso learned that even legends aren’t safe from Florentino Pérez’s high standards. Despite the Madrid stumble, his tactical brilliance at Leverkusen ensures he is still viewed as a top-tier appointment for any club seeking modern, fluid football.
2. Jürgen Klopp
Klopp’s move to the Red Bull group as Head of Global Soccer in early 2025 was seen by many as a soft retirement, but the German’s competitive fire is hard to extinguish. After a legendary tenure at Liverpool where he conquered both England and Europe, he remains the gold standard for “heavy metal football.” While he claims to be enjoying his sabbatical from the touchline, any major club in crisis will inevitably have Klopp at the top of their wishlist.
1. Zinedine Zidane
The crown jewel of available managers remains a ghost in the dugout. Since his second departure from Real Madrid in 2021, “Zizou” has been the most sought-after name in global football, yet he remains remarkably selective. Many believe he is simply biding his time for the French National Team job, refusing to be lured back into the daily grind of club management unless the project is perfect. With three consecutive Champions League titles on his resume, his pedigree is undisputed, but his long absence leaves fans wondering if he’s still the same tactical enigma he once was.
