Ancelotti, Simeone, Inzaghi, Guardiola, Arteta and Mourinho: the highest paid coaches in the world

Carlo Ancelotti made his debut in charge of the Brazilian national team last Thursday (June 5), in a goalless draw against Ecuador, away from home, in the South American Qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup.

The match, held at the Monumental stadium in Guayaquil, marked the beginning of a new cycle for the national team and also coincided with the release of a list that highlights Ancelotti among the ten best-paid coaches in world football.

Discreet performance and adjustments in progress

In front of a stadium mostly filled with Ecuadorian fans, Brazil had a discreet performance. The team demonstrated a certain level of defensive organization, but struggled to create offense. Estêvão, who was a starter, had a low participation, and Vini Jr. only appeared at specific moments. As the match progressed, it became clear that the coach will have work to do to adjust the team, which had only had three training sessions under his command before the match against the Ecuadorians.

The 0-0 final score reflected the balance and technical limitations of both teams. Brazil created little and saw Alisson make important saves in the second half, preventing Ecuador from opening the scoring. Ancelotti made changes throughout the game, such as the introduction of Gabriel Martinelli and Matheus Cunha, but the changes had only a moderate effect.

Qualifiers Scenario

The draw took the team to 22 points, keeping them in fourth place. The next match will be on Tuesday (June 10), against Paraguay, at 8 pm (Brasília time), at Neo Química Arena. Depending on the result, the team could get closer to qualifying for the World Cup.

Top 10 highest paid technicians

Simultaneously with his debut, Ancelotti was named in a list published by the website Front Office Sports as the tenth highest-paid coach in the world. His annual salary is around US$11 million, equivalent to R$62 million. At the top of the list is Diego Simeone, from Atlético de Madrid, with US$33.5 million. Second place went to Simone Inzaghi, recently hired by Al-Hilal after leading Inter Milan to important titles. Inzaghi earns US$29 million a year and has turned down previous offers, including from Abel Ferreira, coach of Palmeiras , who could have entered the fourth place if he accepted a proposal of US$22.8 million.

The list of the ten highest paid technicians is as follows:

Diego Simeone (Atletico Madrid) — $33.5 million

Simone Inzaghi (Al-Hilal) — $29 million

Pep Guardiola (Manchester City) — $26.8 million

Mikel Arteta (Arsenal) — $20.2 million

Stefano Pioli (Al Nassr) — $20.03 million

David Moyes (Everton) — $16.2 million

Luis Enrique (Paris Saint-Germain) — $12.4 million

Matthias Jaissle (Al Ahli) — $12.4 million

Jose Mourinho (Fenerbahce) — $11.9 million

Carlo Ancelotti (Brazil) — US$11 million.

A start of a cycle with charges and visibility

Ancelotti's debut generated mixed reactions among fans, but it is undeniable that his presence as coach of the National Team also attracts international attention. After all, he is a multi-champion coach who has worked for some of the biggest clubs in the world. Although the initial result was modest, there is expectation that the team's performance will improve as the new job progresses.