The 2025-26 season is barely a month old, yet we`ve already witnessed several managerial sackings and at least one coach finding a new role. Legendary Portuguese manager Jose Mourinho swiftly joined Benfica after his departure from Fenerbahce, following their Champions League playoff elimination. This move marks the `Special One`s` return to his home country over two decades after he won the Champions League with Porto. Erik ten Hag, formerly of Manchester United, was dismissed by Bayer Leverkusen after just two Bundesliga matches; the German club subsequently appointed former Danish national team coach Kasper Hjulmand. Meanwhile, West Ham United fired Graham Potter after a particularly poor start to their season. As positions change hands, many skilled managers worldwide are still awaiting new teams. Here`s our ranking of the top ten.
10. Erik ten Hag
The former Manchester United coach endured a brief and disappointing tenure in Germany, where he was brought in this summer to succeed Xabi Alonso at Bayer Leverkusen. However, his time with the German team was short-lived, as he was sacked after only two Bundesliga matches. Kasper Hjulmand was then appointed during the first international break. Reports suggest that Ten Hag is already actively seeking a new club where he can replicate the success he achieved at Ajax, which included an unforgettable Champions League final appearance in the 2018-19 season.
9. Sergio Conceicao
The former Porto and AC Milan manager is currently seeking a new challenge after coaching in Italy`s Serie A. He led the Rossoneri last season from December to May, guiding them to the Coppa Italia final (where they lost to Bologna) and winning the Supercoppa Italiana against Inter in his very first week. After leaving Porto, where he managed from 2017 to 2024, he now desires another long-term project. Despite some summer interest, Conceicao remains available. His short stint in Milan further established his credentials, and despite the disappointing end to the season, he would be an excellent choice for clubs in need of a coach with his caliber.
8. Edin Terzic
The 2024 Champions League finalist departed Borussia Dortmund just one month after leading the German club to the final, which they lost 3-0 to Real Madrid at Wembley. Terzic attracted interest from clubs like AS Roma and AC Milan over the past year and also explored opportunities in the summer of 2025. He remains available and eager to demonstrate his ability to replicate the success he had at Dortmund when he first joined in December 2020, replacing Lucien Favre.
7. Thiago Motta
The former Juventus manager was dismissed by the Bianconeri last March and replaced by Igor Tudor on the Italian club`s bench. Motta, who previously guided Bologna to a historic Champions League qualification, was sacked after a disappointing period at Juventus where he struggled to replicate previous success or connect with the fanbase. Nevertheless, he is a proven coach capable of performing well across various European leagues. It`s noteworthy that Nasser Al-Khelaifi once considered him a potential candidate for the PSG job. Now, however, he must embark on a new chapter at a club where he can further develop and regain the level he demonstrated earlier in his coaching career at Bologna and Spezia.
6. Xavi
The former Barcelona legend is currently without a job after departing the Spanish giants at the end of the 2023-24 season, having managed the Blaugrana for two and a half seasons. Xavi has proven himself to be a talented coach, but predicting his next destination, especially in Europe, remains challenging, as his career has been closely tied to Barcelona before his move to Qatar, where he concluded his playing career and began coaching at Al-Sadd.
5. Nuno Espirito Santo
The Portuguese head coach was dismissed by Nottingham Forest during the international break and replaced by former Tottenham coach Ange Postecoglou, who returned to the Premier League months after winning the UEFA Europa League with Spurs. Espirito Santo is a manager who could undoubtedly benefit clubs looking to redefine their status both domestically and in Europe. His departure from Forest was primarily due to a strained working relationship with club owner Evangelos Marinakis.
4. Gareth Southgate
The former England manager is still seeking a new role after deciding to leave the Three Lions in the summer of 2024, following a second consecutive UEFA Euro final loss, this time against Spain. Southgate, who led England from 2016 to 2024, successfully restored a winning mentality to the team, reaching two successive Euro finals. However, despite a roster brimming with talent, he was unable to bring a major trophy back to England. It will be intriguing to observe how he performs should a club approach him in the coming months.
3. Roberto Mancini
One of the most seasoned managers in football is now looking for a new club. The Italian coach, who famously won the 2020 UEFA Euro final against England at Wembley, is now seeking a new challenge after a disappointing spell as Saudi Arabia manager, a role he took after leaving the Italian national team in the summer of 2023. His next coaching destination is uncertain; he might even opt to wait until after the 2026 World Cup to take charge of another national team.
2. Luciano Spalletti
After leading Napoli to the 2022-23 Scudetto, Spalletti was appointed by the Italian FA to coach the national team. However, his mission was unsuccessful, and following a disappointing 2024 UEFA Euro campaign and a 3-0 defeat against Norway in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, he was dismissed by the very federation that hired him two years prior. In an August interview with Italian public television, Spalletti spoke about his profound disappointment after losing the Italy job. “What happened doesn`t go away and never will. I am a man who does things based on feelings, not on interests. With the national team, I experienced the sensation of being in paradise. I gave it my all,” he stated.
1. Zinedine Zidane
Finally, Zinedine Zidane. The French managerial icon has exclusively coached Real Madrid in his career, first from 2016 to 2018, achieving the unprecedented feat of winning three consecutive Champions League titles, and again from 2019 to 2021. After nearly five years of patiently waiting for the right opportunity, his primary focus is set on the summer of 2026, when Didier Deschamps is expected to step down as head coach of the French national team after the World Cup. Zidane hopes to succeed him and take charge of the team he once captained, the same team with which he lifted the 1998 World Cup trophy.
