Top 10 youngest football coach in the world (2024)

Trainers in football are often reserved for strategic geniuses with many years of experience and considerable age. Notable examples include Sir Alex Ferguson, Pep Guardiola, Jose Mourinho, and Jürgen Klopp. However, as football becomes more modern, young, talented, and passionate coaches have gradually emerged. Who are they? In today’s article, let’s join Kingsoccertips admin to go through the top 10 youngest football coach in the world, updated as of 2024.

The best youngest football coach in the world

1. Will Still (31, Reims)

Born in Belgium to English parents, Still has captured global attention by being promoted to head coach at Reims following Óscar García’s departure in October last year, at just 30 years old. He rose through the ranks in football as a video analyst, with just 8 games as interim head coach in the Belgian second division at the age of 24.

However, Reims embarked on an impressive 17-game unbeaten streak in Ligue 1 (where the French club had to pay a €25,000 fine per match as Still lacked the mandatory coaching license). A year later, his team is flourishing in a commendable sixth place. Despite media attention, Still remains humble, expressing gratitude for being entrusted with such a responsibility at a young age.

2. Ryan Mason (32, Tottenham(interim)) – Youngest football coach

Mason spent most of his career, both as a player and manager, at Tottenham. He grew up in the club’s youth academy and made his Premier League debut in 2014. Pochettino used Mason quite regularly in his first 2 seasons in charge of Spurs. Although he is not yet 32 years old, this is the 2nd time Mason has been interim manager at Tottenham.

The first time was at the end of the 2020/2021 season after Jose Mourinho was sacked. President Levy decided to invite Mason to take over the first team in the last 6 games of the season and he holds the record for the youngest person ever to coach a team in the top division in England, at the age of 29.

3. Francesco Farioli (34, Nice)

At 34, Francesco Farioli (Italy) is considered “an exciting find” of Ligue 1 this 2023/24 season. Of all the coaches working in France’s top flight, Farioli is only “older” than Will Still, the head coach of Reims, 31. Too young and inexperienced in major tournaments, having only coached in Turkey for about 2 years, Farioli was a gamble of the Nice board last summer.

After 4 months, Le Gym is currently ranked 2nd in the Ligue 1 table. In the past 8 matches in this competition, Nice have not lost a match and have only conceded 4 goals. In a brief interview with L’Equipe published, Francesco Farioli opened up about his exciting journey.

4. Matthias Jaissle (35, Al Ahli) – Youngest football coach

Matthias Jaissle (born April 5, 1988) is a professional football coach from Germany and a former player, currently serving as the head coach of the Saudi Professional League club Al-Ahli. He served as assistant manager at Brøndby and in 2021 became the coach of Liefering. Then the Austrian Bundesliga team Red Bull Salzburg, where he most recently coached before joining Al-Ahli as head coach in 2023.

During his playing career, he primarily played as a center-back and was a member of the Hoffenheim 1899 team that secured promotion to the 2. Bundesliga as well as the Bundesliga in the following season. On 28 July 2023, the day before the start of the 2023–24 season, he was relieved of his duties, leaving the club without a manager. After his release from Salzburg, Jaissle joined Saudi Arabian club Al-Ahli on a 3-year contract.

5. Julian Nagelsmann (36, Germany)

Julian Nagelsmann has officially become the head coach of Germany. The 36-year-old has signed a contract that runs until July 31, 2024 and leads Germany to Euro 2024. The German team has endured a long period of poor performance since the 2018 World Cup.

Coach Nagelsmann will certainly be under enormous pressure from the German Football Federation. His task is to take Germany deep in Euro 2024 held on home soil. Nagelsmann took over as Germany head coach from his predecessor Hansi Flick, who was sacked after a disastrous defeat to Japan. Sandro Wagner and Benjamin Glück will be Nagelsmann’s assistants.

6. Domenico Tedesco (38, Belgium) – Youngest football coach

D. Tedesco, 37, was born in Italy, succeeding Roberto Martinez, who resigned after Belgium failed to qualify for the group stage at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. “His (Domenico Tedesco’s) task is to help Belgium qualify for EURO 2024 in Germany. The first qualifying match will be played on March 24 in Stockholm against Sweden,” the RBFA said.

Domenico, who has coached Schalke, Spartak Moscow and RB Leipzig, also made his debut to the press on February 8. “For me, it is an honour to be the new head coach of Belgium. I’m really looking forward to this mission and very motivated. I had a very good feeling from the first discussion,” coach Tedesco told the RBFA website.

7. Rúben Amorim (39, Sporting Lisbon)

Ruben Amorim was born on January 27, 1985, in Lisbon, Portugal. He is still relatively young (39 years old) and began his career as a first-team head coach in 2019. Amorim started coaching at Casa Pia in the Portuguese third division. However, the most notable highlight of his time at this club was a ban from coaching due to his involvement without the required coaching qualifications.

Opportunity came early for Amorim. Three months after coaching the reserve team, the head coach of Braga, Ricardo Pinto, was sacked, and Amorim was chosen to take over the first team. He made excellent use of his chance by leading Braga to win the League Cup and securing a spot in the next season’s Europa League. His impressive performance at Braga caught the attention of one of Portugal’s most traditional clubs, Sporting Lisbon.

8. Mikel Arteta (41, Arsenal) – Youngest football coach

Throughout his playing career, Mikel Arteta had to live in the shadow of the Spanish midfielders of his time. It was perhaps an ingenious arrangement of fate, as happened with Pep Guardiola, so that Arteta soon flourished in his career in charge and revived Arsenal.

Arsenal have also become more sluggish this season. Among the big teams of the Premier League, the “Gunners” are always considered the least brave. They are often psychologically affected before the moment of decision or difficulty. The win over Everton showed a different picture.

9. Xabier Alonso (42, Bayer Leverkusen)

Near the end of 2022 when Leverkusen approached Alonso it was a tumultuous time for the club. An unsuccessful start to the 2022-2023 season led to the departure of head coach Gerardo Seoane. Recent years have highlighted the stark difference between successful footballers and their coaching competence.

However, Alonso possesses an innate talent that can transfer from the pitch to coaching. Alonso turned Leverkusen into title contenders after helping the club bounce back from the ashes. After 12 rounds in the Bundesliga this season, Leverkusen are currently far ahead of Bayern in the title race.

10. Steven Gerrard (43, Al Ettifaq) – Youngest football coach

After Aston Villa, Steven Gerrard has agreed to sign a 2 year contract with a mid-level club in the Saudi Arabian league – Al Ettifaq. It is worth mentioning that in order to entice the former Liverpool legend, Al-Ettifaq leaders must pay Gerrard a salary of £15.2 million a year after tax.

Stevie’s salary in Saudi Arabia is almost the same amount Liverpool pay Jurgen Klopp (£16m a year). On the world level, Gerrard’s salary is only behind two other managers, Diego Simeone (£30m / year) and Pep Guardiola (£ 20 million/year). In his new environment, Gerrard hopes to convince his former teammate Jordan Henderson to join Al-Ettifaq. The England international agreed a salary of £700.00-a-week.

Conclusion

Above is a compilation of information about the top 10 youngest football coach in the world. All are assessed to become masters in leading top football teams in the future. One of the main factors contributing to their success is their mindset and courage, accepting significant responsibilities and immense pressure. We believe that in the near future, these names will continue to add excitement to the world of football.

See also: The 8 beautiful female football referee in the world