In the world of football, the glamour often falls on the players—the goal-scorers, the playmakers, and the defensive titans. But behind every successful team is a strategic mastermind, a coach whose decisions can make or break a season. As the 2025/26 La Liga season kicks off, we take a deep dive into the financial rewards of these tactical wizards. Who are the highest-paid managers in Spain's top flight, and what do their staggering salaries tell us about the state of modern football?
Here is an exclusive look at the top-earning managers in La Liga for 2025/26 season.
1. Diego Simeone (Atlético Madrid): The Reigning King
It comes as no surprise that the top spot belongs to a man who has not only dominated La Liga's managerial salary list for years but is also consistently ranked among the world's highest-paid coaches. Diego "El Cholo" Simeone, the fiery Argentine at the helm of Atlético Madrid, commands a salary that dwarfs the competition.
Sources from around the globe confirm that Simeone's yearly gross salary is in the range of €34 million. This phenomenal figure reflects more than just his tactical prowess; it's a testament to his decade-plus of unwavering commitment to the club. Since taking over in 2011, Simeone has transformed Atlético from a perennial underdog into a consistent title contender, breaking the duopoly of Real Madrid and Barcelona multiple times. His contract extension in late 2023, while rumored to have a slightly lower base salary, is packed with performance-based bonuses and loyalty incentives that keep his total compensation at an elite level. This is a salary that Atlético pays not just for results, but for the identity and fighting spirit that "Cholo" has instilled in the team.
2. Hansi Flick (FC Barcelona): The New Tactician
Coming in a clear second place, with a contract that reflects the immense pressure and expectations of the Camp Nou, is FC Barcelona’s new head coach, Hansi Flick. Following a mixed tenure under his predecessor, Flick was brought in to rebuild the squad and bring back the club's distinctive style of play.
His annual gross salary is reported to be between €9 million and €11 million, along with additional potential bonuses tied to winning titles like La Liga and the Champions League. This is a significant investment for a club that has faced well-documented financial challenges. However, it's a calculated move. Barcelona’s leadership hopes that Flick's experience, particularly his treble-winning season with Bayern Munich, will be the catalyst for renewed success. The financial package is a statement of intent, signaling that the club is prepared to pay for a top-tier manager to steer them back to glory.
3. Xabi Alonso (Real Madrid): The Prodigal Son Returns
The 2025/26 season marks a monumental homecoming for one of football's most exciting young managers. Xabi Alonso, after his spectacular title-winning season with Bayer Leverkusen, has returned to his former club, Real Madrid, to take the reins from Carlo Ancelotti. The pressure is immense, but so is the club's faith in his vision.
Alonso’s contract places his salary between €7 million and €9 million per season. While this is less than his counterparts at Barcelona and Atlético, it is a formidable salary for a manager still in the early stages of his career. Real Madrid's investment is in the future, trusting that Alonso's modern, dynamic approach to the game is the key to maintaining their dominance both in Spain and Europe for years to come. His salary, combined with a contract that runs until 2028, shows a clear long-term strategy from Florentino Pérez and the club.
Highest Paid La Liga Managers' 2025/26 Salaries
| Manager | Club | Annual Salary (in millions) | Net Worth (in millions) |
Diego Simeone | Atlético Madrid | €34 | €130 |
Hans-Dieter Flick | Barcelona | €10 | €50 |
Xabi Alonso | Real Madrid | €9 | €60 |
Manuel Pellegrini | Real Betis | €6 | €20 |
Manolo González | Espanyol | €5 | €10 |
Marcelino García | Villarreal | €5 | €9 |
Íñigo Pérez | Rayo Vallecano | €4 | €11 |
Imanol Alguacil | Real Sociedad | €4 | €9 |
Ernesto Valverde | Athletic Club | €4 | €16 |
Eduardo Coudet | Deportivo Alavés | €4 | €9 |
Veljko Paunovic | Real Oviedo | €4 | €8 |
Bordalás | Getafe | €2.5 | €8 |
Claudio Giráldez | Celta Vigo | €2.5 | €16 |
Jagoba Arrasate | Mallorca | €2.5 | €8 |
Míchel Sánchez | Girona | €3 | €8 |
The highest-paid football manager in La Liga is Diego Simeone of Atlético Madrid, who is also widely considered one of the highest-paid managers globally. With an annual salary of approximately €34 million, his earnings are significantly higher than those of the next highest-paid manager in Europe, Pep Guardiola, who reportedly earns around €22.5 million a year with Manchester City.
The Best of the Rest
While the top three salaries belong to the managers of La Liga's traditional powerhouses, there are other noteworthy managers in the league whose earnings reflect their experience and the importance of their roles.
Veterans like Manuel Pellegrini at Real Betis and Ernesto Valverde at Athletic Bilbao are on contracts that highlight their value to their respective clubs. Their salaries, while not at the level of the top three, are still substantial and demonstrate their importance in leading clubs with high ambitions. The financial gap between the top three and the rest of the league, however, remains a key storyline, both on the field and off of it.
The salary figures for La Liga’s top managers in 2025/26 paint a clear picture: experience and long-term success are rewarded handsomely, as seen with Diego Simeone. At the same time, top clubs are willing to make significant investments in promising new talent like Hansi Flick and Xabi Alonso in the hopes of securing future dominance. As the new season begins, these managers will be under intense scrutiny, tasked with justifying every euro of their contracts. The battles on the sideline promise to be just as compelling as those on the pitch.