Becoming a top soccer manager is no easy feat. It’s a journey filled with dedication, learning, and relentless hard work.
The rewards can be immensely fulfilling if you have a deep love for the beautiful game and an unwavering commitment. Whether you dream of managing in the English Premier League, La Liga, or even leading your national team to World Cup glory, the top requires patience and persistence.
This guide will walk you through the steps to becoming a professional soccer manager, from gaining foundational knowledge to climbing the ranks and eventually making your mark in the world of football.
Step 1: Understand the Game Inside Out
Before you can lead a team, you need to master the intricacies of soccer. That means playing, watching, analyzing, and even studying the sport in great detail.
Play the Game
Even if you don’t aspire to be a professional player, experiencing the game firsthand will give you a better understanding of tactics, formations, and player psychology.
Join a recreational league, a youth club, or even just play pick-up games regularly. The objective is to develop a deep, firsthand knowledge of how the game flows.
Watch and Analyze Soccer Regularly
Top managers are always students of the game. Watch soccer matches from different leagues worldwide, focusing not just on the goals but on team formations, pressing strategies, substitutions, and tactical changes made by managers.
Some key questions to ask while watching:
- Why did the manager choose this formation?
- How does the team adjust defensively and offensively?
- What tactical changes are made when the team is losing?
- How are substitutions used to impact the game?
Read Books and Study Coaching Philosophy
Great soccer managers like Pep Guardiola, Jürgen Klopp, and Carlo Ancelotti have written or been the subject of books that explore their tactics and philosophies.
Reading these will help you understand different coaching methodologies, from possession-based play to counter-pressing strategies.
Some recommended books:
- Inverting the Pyramid by Jonathan Wilson
- Pep Confidential by Martí Perarnau
- The Mixer by Michael Cox
- The Manager: Inside the Minds of Football’s Leaders by Mike Carson
Get a Formal Education in Sports Management
A degree in sports management, coaching, or physical education can be a great asset.
Many universities offer specialized programs that cover the business, psychology, and tactical aspects of sports leadership.
SEE ALSO | Difference Between a Soccer Coach and a Manager
Step 2: Get Certified as a Coach
Why Coaching Certification is Essential
If you want to become a professional soccer manager, getting certified is a non-negotiable step.
Every country has its licensing system governed by national federations, typically following guidelines set by FIFA and UEFA.
Levels of Coaching Certification
- Entry-Level Certification: Basic coaching courses for grassroots or youth teams.
- Intermediate Certification: Required for coaching at competitive levels such as amateur leagues and academies.
- Advanced Certification (UEFA A & Pro License): Mandatory for managing professional clubs and national teams.
If you’re in Europe, the UEFA Coaching Pathway is the gold standard. In the U.S., you can pursue U.S. Soccer’s coaching licenses, and in other countries, the process is overseen by national football associations.
Start with entry-level certification and gradually progress as you gain experience.
Step 3: Gain Experience at the Youth and Amateur Levels
Start by Coaching Youth Teams
Volunteer or apply for coaching positions at local youth academies or schools. This will allow you to:
- Develop your coaching style.
- Learn how to manage players of different skill levels.
- Gain practical experience in organizing training sessions and match strategies.
Work as an Assistant Coach
Many successful managers started as assistants. Working under an experienced head coach will give you valuable insight into managing a team at higher levels.
Take on Management Roles in Lower Leagues
Start coaching in semi-professional or lower-tier leagues.
These positions help build your managerial resume, test your tactical knowledge, and prepare you for bigger challenges.
SEE ALSO | 10 Greatest Premier League Managers in History (So Far)
Step 4: Develop Your Tactical and Leadership Skills
Master Tactical Formations and Strategies
A great soccer manager understands various playing styles and adapts tactics based on the strengths of their squad. Some popular formations and systems include:
- 4-3-3 (Possession-Based Play) – Used by Barcelona and Manchester City.
- 4-2-3-1 (Balanced & Flexible) – A favorite of many modern teams.
- 3-5-2 (Defensive Solidity with Wingbacks) – Seen with teams like Inter Milan.
- Gegenpressing (High-Intensity Pressing) – Popularized by Jürgen Klopp.
Develop Strong Communication Skills
Managing a soccer team Is not just about tactics, but about people. You are working with players from various backgrounds, with various personalities and motivations.
Your role is to bring out the best in them — and you can’t do that without trust.
Provide regular and clear communication. Tell your players the truth, even when it’s difficult. If someone is not performing, let them know — but also offer help and guidance.
Recognize their wins and support them to learn from defeat.
But remember, you aren’t just their manager; you are their leader.” Set the tone for the team. Arrive early, outwork others and lead from the front.
Teach your players to work hard, if they see that you care, they are going to continue.
As a manager, you will always be on the wind — from the press, the fans, the club hierarchy. With one poor run of results, you could find yourself out of a job. That’s why mental toughness is so important.
Focus on remaining calm under pressure.
Don’t let the highs become too high or the lows become too low. Keep your attention on what you can manage: your preparation, the tactics you use, your mindset.
Lean on a support system—your coaching staff, that’s your family, that’s friends, whatever that looks like—to make sure you don’t get too high.
Begin Small and Build Up From There
If you’re not a former superstar player, you’re not going to get a top job immediately.
And that’s okay. Start small. Get a job at a lower-league team, a youth academy, or overseas. Learn, fail, and grow, and just allow it to be an opportunity.
You’ll learn from every experience — both the good and the bad. Perhaps you’ll figure out how to stretch a thin budget. Perhaps you’ll learn how to inspire an lagging team. And these lessons build long-term better management habit.
Be Resilient
You’re going to have things that hone you. You’ll lose games. You’ll get criticized. You might even get fired. But that’s the process. The most effective managers refuse to be defined by failure.
They learn from it and get stronger and come back stronger.
So when times get hard, never lose heart. Continue to learn, grow, and trust in you. Resilience is what sets apart the good managers from the great ones.
Stay Updated with Modern Football Trends
Modern soccer is as much data as passion. Elite clubs employ analytics to dissect individual player performances, scout opposing teams, and make tactical decisions.
This is something you must embrace as a manager. Utilize tools such as Wyscout, Opta or Hudl to analyse games and players.
But don’t rely on data alone. Use it to augment your instincts and experience. Soccer is a human game, and numbers don’t tell the whole story.
Football is constantly evolving. Stay updated on:
- Data analytics and player performance tracking.
- Sports psychology to improve player mindset.
- Advances in fitness and nutrition for better player conditioning.
SEE ALSO | 10 Greatest Football Managers Of All Time
Step 5: Work Your Way Up to a Professional Club
Apply for Semi-Pro and Professional Roles
Once you have enough experience, start applying for professional managerial roles in lower-division clubs. Many managers work their way up from second-division teams before landing big opportunities.
Network Like Crazy
(Soccer, a bit like high school, isn’t only about what you know — it’s also about who you know.)
Networking is key to both getting jobs and advancing your career. Be present at coaching conferences, webinars, and physical or online forums, and network with coaches or industry professionals. Don’t hesitate to contact people you respect.
The bulk are generous with advice or insights.
And when you finally get a job, work it. Form relationships with every single person at the club—from the kit man to the chief executive. You never know who will be able to assist you later on.
