Mourinho 24th, Simeone 19th: Ranking of Europe's Best Coaches

Former Maccabi Haifa staffer Tor-Kristian Karlsen, who has served in recent years as a commentator for ESPN, has published his annual ranking of the 30 best club coaches in Europe. Luis Enrique maintained the top spot, ahead of Pep Guardiola and Mikel Arteta, while Jose Mourinho was ranked 24th and Ruben Amorim rounded out the list in 30th place.

Karlsen initially compiled a list of about 50 coaches, narrowing it down to 30 after receiving input from professionals across the football industry, including coaches, sporting directors, CEOs, and senior scouts. Coaches were graded on six metrics: coaching ability, style, player management, communication, history and achievements, and the "X-factor". The cumulative score determined their final position.

Only coaches who had managed a senior team for at least a full season were included, while national team coaches and those who had been out of work for a year or more were excluded. Karlsen assigned lower weight to history, achievements, and the "X-factor," with these two metrics scored out of 10 compared to 20 for the other four categories.

Regarding the European champion's coach, Karlsen wrote:

"It was another defining season for Luis Enrique. Paris Saint-Germain may not have been as dominant on the pitch as in the past, but they were more creative and mature. Thanks to what Luis Enrique has done, they remain the team to beat in world football."

30 Best Club Coaches in Europe