🔝 The five best managers of 2020 | OneFootball

It’s been a year many of us would like to forget.

But in football terms, it’s been a year some people will always cherish.

Such as these guys … our five best managers of 2020.

5. Stefano Pioli

Many AC Milan fans were underwhelmed when Stefano Pioli was appointed as the successor Marco Giampaolo in October 2019. Some of them were downright angry.

But the 55-year-old thoroughly made a mockery of his doubters this year, including those inside his own club.

With the spectre of Ralf Rangnick looming over him, Pioli essentially had to audition for his own job but he passed with flying colours and the Rossoneri picked up more points than any Serie A club in 2020.

Milan are top of the table having gone unbeaten in their first 14 games of the season, and Pioli has outlasted the club’s eight previous managers.

The sleeping giant is wide awake.

4. Marcelo Bielsa

Many managers tried to guide Leeds United back to the promised land of the Premier League over the last 16 years, and many managers failed.

Marcelo Bielsa is not like many managers.

Having fallen short in his first season in charge at Elland Road, the Argentine stuck around for another crack at promotion and there was no sign of Bielsa-burnout in 2019/20 as the Whites cruised to the Championship title.

Their results since returning to the top flight perhaps haven’t been as consistent as Bielsa would like so far, but they look like part of the furniture already and have given the likes of Liverpool, Manchester City and Chelsea a real run for their money.

Oh, and his press conferences are still gold, too …

3. Julen Lopetegui

At the end of 2018, we compiled a list of the five biggest losers of the year, and Julen Lopetegui came second to Loris Karius.

Fast forward a couple of years, and the former Spain and Real Madrid boss has served us with a huge slice of humble paella.

Lopetegui was appointed by Sevilla in the summer of 2019 and not only did he guide them to a fourth-placed finish in LaLiga in his first season, he also won the Europa League – his first club honour as a manager.

After a dramatic 3-2 victory over Inter in the final, the Sevilla boss wept tears of joy mixed with relief on the pitch. Relief that his traumatic annus horriblis that was 2018 was finally behind him.

Sorry for doubting you, Julen. All is forgiven.

2. Jürgen Klopp

In 2019, there was some debate about whether Jürgen Klopp or Pep Guardiola had enjoyed the better year. In 2020, there was no doubt.

If Klopp wasn’t already a legend on Merseyside, he secured that status as Liverpool romped to their first league title in three decades this year.

Unfortunately the pandemic disrupted the Reds’ flow somewhat, meaning they finished with a paltry 99 points.

And while Klopp will regret not being able to celebrate the crowning achievement of his career so far with the people of Liverpool, there’s a good chance the club will retain their title again in 2021.

A double celebration will be in order if that happens. Book the whole week off. In fact, make it a month.

1. Hansi Flick

When Bayern Munich binned off Niko Kovač in November 2019, little was known about the caretaker manager put in charge to replace him.

But everyone knows about Hansi Flick now.

Winning the Bundesliga title isn’t much to shout about for Bayern these days and even winning the league and cup double is considered pretty unremarkable.

But completing the treble by winning the club’s first Champions League since 2013? That’s pretty impressive, and to do it all inside your first year as a head coach is the stuff of legend.

If you don’t agree with us, you might agree with another Bayern legend Jupp Heynckes who recently said: “Never before in football history has a coach had so much success within a year.

“I had to wait 34 years to win the treble. It took Hansi 10 months to win it.

“You cannot learn what he’s done. I take off my hat.”