Best of 2013: Top 5 football managers of 2013
5. Antonio Conte
Conte is doing a great job as Juventus manager
The former Juventus player won a truckload of trophies with the club as a player and is now doing it once again as a manager. The 44-year-old has completely turned Juventus’s fortunes around and has made them Italy’s number 1 club once again. The Old Lady had not won a single Serie A since the Calciopoli Scandal but Conte brought the glory days back to the club once more. The Italian has won two Serie A titles since his appointment along with back to back Supercoppa Italiana titles. Conte has an impressive 65.29% win rate with the club and its only a matter of time before he starts to work his magic in the Champions League.
4. Diego Simeone
Simeone is one the La Liga’s best managers
Simeone is another manager who is having a successful spell at the helm of his former club. The Madrid club is currently having their most successful spell in years under the Argentine’s leadership and are currently sitting at second place in the La Liga. The 43-year-old has won 3 trophies in under 2 years with the Spanish club, 1 of which includes the Copa Del Ray which they snatched from local rivals Real Madrid’s grasp on 17th May this year. Simeone proved that he is no pushover when he bested Real Madrid for the second time on September 29 and has already won critical acclaim for his teams work in the Champions League. Simeone has a superb win rate of 66.67% and it won’t be a shock if he wins the La Liga next year.
3. Jürgen Klopp
Klopp is emerging as one of Europe’s best managers
The German is one of Europe’s most highly appreciate managers and is on the road to becoming one of the best the game has ever seen. The 46-year-old has had an incredible year and it it unfortunate a chance at Champions League glory was taken away from him, it would be a perfect reward for his selfless services to the club. Klopp built Dortmund on a shoe-string budget, successfully ending Bayern Munich’s dominance in Germany along the way after successfully besting them in all their encounters in the 2011-2012 season. The manager led Dortmund to two successive Bundesliga titles in 2011 and 2012 and deservedly won the German Manager of the Year twice for his skills. Klopp has a major task of rebuilding the club after key players like Shinji Kagawa, Mario Gotze leaving the club plus the imminent departure of star striker Robert Lewandowski but the brilliant manager is sure to come good once again.
2. Jupp Heynckes
Heynckes left the club this year after a successful Treble
Every manager dreams of retiring after winning a treble and Heynckes did just that with Bayern Munich in 2013. The 68-year-old started the 2012-2013 with 8 victories in a row and went into the festive season with a 9 point lead in the Bundesliga. The manager then begun the new year with 14 consecutive victories and dropping just 2 points before being declared Bundesliga champions. Heynckes continued his success in the Champions League and hammered Barcelona 7-0 on aggregate in the semi-finals of the competitions. The Bayern boss then led his team to a 2-1 victory over rivals Borussia Dortumund in the finals of the competition becoming only the 4th manager to win the Champions League with two different clubs, ending his career on the highest possible note.
1. Sir Alex Ferguson
Legendary Manchester United manager Sir ALex Ferguson called time on his career this year
Only one manager could possibly lead this least and that manager is the legendary Scot. Sir Alex left Manchester United on the highest possible note after winning 38 trophies in a successful 26 and a half year spell. The 72-year-old managed to best Liverpool in all their encounters in the 2012-2013 season and successful snatched back the Premier League trophy from cross town rivals Manchester City. Sir Alex amassed a 59.67% win rate at the time of his retirement after 1500 games in charge of the Red Devils. The Glasgow born manager successfully emulated the achievements of Sir Matt Busby and left a lasting impression on Manchester United supporters. The legendary Scot will be remembered for centuries by the Old Trafford faithful and will go down as one of the greatest managers to ever take charge of Manchester United.