Ancelotti Tops List of Highest-Paid National Team Coaches

Italian Carlo Ancelotti, the head coach of the Brazil national team, tops the list of the highest-paid national team coaches in the world, with an annual salary of around €10 million, according to the salary list circulating for coaches participating in the 2026 World Cup. Reports, including ESPN, confirmed that Ancelotti earns €10 million annually with the Brazilian national team.

German coach Julian Nagelsmann, leading the national team of Germany, ranks second with an annual salary of €7 million, followed by Argentine Mauricio Pochettino, coach of the United States, earning €6 million. Englishman Thomas Tuchel rounds out the list with a salary of approximately €5.8 million per year.

Italian Fabio Cannavaro, the head coach of Uzbekistan, ranks sixth on the list with an annual salary estimated at around €4 million, just behind Portuguese Roberto Martinez, who earns a similar amount. Some lists place Cannavaro and Martinez in fifth and sixth positions respectively, reflecting their equal salaries, which explains the differing rankings among various sources.

The salary rankings reflect the rising financial value of experienced coaches leading national teams, especially with the 2026 World Cup on the horizon. Ancelotti remains at the top of the list by a significant margin, while Cannavaro's presence among the top ranks is a notable surprise, particularly with Uzbekistan making its debut in the World Cup.