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23. Niko Kovac, 54, Borussia Dortmund
Coaching acumen: 13/20
Style: 13/20
People management: 13/20
Communication: 13/20
History/achievements: 3/10
X factor: 6/10
TOTAL: 61/100
Zusammenfassung
Kovac’s managerial career has been full of highs and lows. It includes winning the double of German Bundesliga and German Cup at Bayern Munich in 2018-19, as well as a miserable two-year reign at VfL Wolfsburg between 2022-2024 that ended in him being sacked amid an 11-game winless run.
Last season was a redemption of sorts for Kovac. Having rescued a struggling Dortmund side after taking over in January 2025, he steered them to a second-place finish behind Bayern, and a look at his tactics shows his growth as a manager. Having previously been a proponent of an orthodox back four in defense, Kovac has reinvented himself at Dortmund with a compact back three. His 3-4-2-1 system is defined by being tough to score against and quick on the counterattack; while he has also given his wingbacks license to attack.
Kovac has also shown an ability to develop young players, having already brought through Luka Jovic, Aurélien Tchouaméni and Felix Nmecha during his career. Last season, he handed regular starts to 20-year-old Jobe Bellingham and gave debuts to academy prospects Samuele Inácio and Luca Reggiani.
19. Sebastian Hoeness, 44, VfB Stuttgart
Coaching acumen: 12/20
Style: 14/20
People management: 14/20
Communication: 13/20
History/achievements: 3/10
X factor: 7/10
TOTAL: 63/100
Zusammenfassung
Hoeness impressed early in his managerial career when he led Bayern Munich’s reserves to a maiden third-division title, before taking over at Hoffenheim whom he twice guided to midtable finishes in the German Bundesliga. In April 2023, he was appointed manager at Stuttgart, who were bottom of the table and deep in a relegation battle. But he saved them from dropping to the second tier and even managed to guide them to qualify for the Champions League the following season by finishing second – the club’s best finish since 2007 – before sealing another Champions League campaign with a fourth-place finish last season.
Hoeness is often praised by his players for building a harmonious, ego-free dressing room. He tends to set up Stuttgart in a fluid system that can feature four or three defenders, and he encourages his players to swing in lots of crosses – his wide defenders push high up the pitch to join attacks, resulting in his teams invariably ranking among the Bundesliga’s top teams for crosses attempted.
Out of possession, his sides engage in an aggressive man-to-man press, led by two attackers that look to cut out passes from the opposition defense. It is an energetic and attractive playing style that has won him plenty of admirers.
9. Vincent Kompany, 40, Bayern Munich
Coaching acumen: 13/20
Style: 15/20
People management: 15/20
Communication: 14/20
History/achievements: 4/10
X factor: 7/10
TOTAL: 68/100
Zusammenfassung
It was a huge shock when Bayern took a gamble on Kompany after two-year spells at Anderlecht and Burnley, but they have been rewarded. Having restored stability to the team and reclaimed the German Bundesliga title in his first season, the second was a year of further development. Though Kompany kept his aggressive principles, his Bayern side became more flexible in possession, with star striker Harry Kane dropping deeper, the fullbacks moving inside to a greater extent, and the attacking players given more freedom to interchange. The result was a fluid and efficient side that scored a record 122 league goals, collected 89 points, and lost only once on their way to the domestic double.
Importantly, Kompany also appeared more comfortable managing Bayern’s hierarchy. He rotated established players without hesitation, showed faith in his younger players like Lennart Karl and handled sensitive decisions expertly in his trademark low drama style of communicating. One sign of the maturity in his leadership and the collective belief that he has instilled was how often Bayern turned games effortlessly and calmly having gone a goal (or two) down.
One minor quibble from an almost perfect season is that their aggressive positioning could still leave space in transition, particularly against top opponents capable of playing through the initial pressure. Even so, Kompany’s second season removed any doubt as to whether he was cut out for such a huge job.
Top 10+:
1- Luis Enrique
2- Pep Guardiola
3- Mikel Arteta
4- Hansi Flick
5- Unai Emery
6- Gianpiero Gasperini
7- Xabi Alonso
8- Arne Slot
9- Vincent Kompany
10- Christian Chivu
11- Oliver Glasner
16- Fabian Hürzeler
19- Sebastian Hoeneß
23- Nico Kovac
24- Jose Mourinho