Top 10 Highest-Paid Soccer Coaches Worldwide as Mikel Arteta Extends Arsenal Deal

Top Salaries for Soccer Managers in 2026

The gap between the wealthiest soccer clubs and others keeps growing, reflected clearly in the rising paychecks of top-tier managers. Clubs are eager to either retain their standout coaches or attract high-profile names from rivals by offering hefty contracts.

Simone Inzaghi currently leads as the highest-paid manager globally, earning €26 million annually (£22.3m / $29.8m) at Al Hilal. His contract with the Saudi club lured him away from Inter Milan, where he was already well compensated.

Atletico Madrid’s Diego Simeone, who had long topped these salary charts before accepting a pay reduction in 2023 to ease the club's finances, is now the second highest earner. Having spent 13 years at Atletico, Simeone has won eight trophies, including two La Liga titles and reached two UEFA Champions League finals.

PSG's Luis Enrique ranks third after signing a lucrative new deal earlier this month that substantially increased his earnings.

Top 10 Soccer Manager Salaries

• Rank: 1
• Manager: Simone Inzaghi
• Club: Al Hilal
• Salary (gross): £22.3m / $29.8m
• Contract until: July 2027

• Rank: 2
• Manager: Diego Simeone
• Club: Atletico Madrid
• Salary (gross): £20.1m / $26.8m
• Contract until: July 2027

• Rank: 3
• Manager: Luis Enrique
• Club: PSG
• Salary (gross): £17.2m / $22.9m
• Contract until: July 2030

• Rank: 4
• Manager: Mikel Arteta
• Club: Arsenal
• Salary (gross): £15m / $20m*
• Contract until: July 2030*

• Rank: 5
• Manager: Oliver Glasner
• Club: Nottingham Forest
• Salary (gross): £13m / $17.4m
• Contract until: July 2029

• Rank: 6
• Manager: Jose Mourinho
• Club: Real Madrid
• Salary (gross): £12m / $16m
• Contract until: July 2029

• Rank: 7
• Manager: Ange Postecoglou
• Club: Al Nassr
• Salary (gross): £11.7m / $15.6m
• Contract until: July 2028

• Rank: 8
• Manager: Xabi Alonso
• Club: Chelsea
• Salary (gross): £11.5m / $15.4m
• Contract until: July 2030

• Rank: 9
• Manager: Luciano Spalletti
• Club: Juventus
• Salary (gross): £11.2m / $14.9m
• Contract until: July 2028

• Rank: 10
• Manager: Enzo Maresca
• Club: Man City
• Salary (gross): £10m / $13.3m
• Contract until: July 2029

*Mikel Arteta's actual salary likely exceeds previous figures, though exact details and contract length remain undisclosed.

Mikel Arteta’s New Arsenal Contract

On September 22, 2026, Mikel Arteta signed a new deal with Arsenal. While specific terms weren’t initially public, reports hint the contract extends at least through the 2029/30 season, marking nearly a decade at the club since his arrival in December 2019.

Although exact compensation is unconfirmed, sources indicate Arteta received a sharp raise from his prior £10 million annual salary plus an extra £5 million in bonuses. This would place him among the world’s top-paid coaches, potentially fourth or even third in overall rankings.