We are in between football seasons but the transfer market has been in overdrive, with several big names making major moves – mostly to the lucrative Saudi Pro League.
Portuguese star Cristiano Ronaldo's move to Saudi club Al Nassr at the end of 2022 ushered in a new pathway for top talent from across the globe, catapulting the kingdom to legitimate top-tier status.
With Karim Benzema, N'Golo Kante and many more completing their move to the kingdom, or in the process of finalising it, the football world is witnessing the rise of a new power in the game.
While fans track the salaries of top stars and the wage bills of their teams, one group routinely flies under the radar when it comes to pay discussions – managers.
Head coaches are undoubtedly central to any team's plans, and the best ones get paid accordingly.
Pep Guardiola is one of the best paid managers in the world, and for good reason. The Manchester City boss has made his club the undisputed leaders of the Premier League and this season, stamped his legacy by completing a treble by also winning the FA Cup and Champions League.
So where does Guardiola stand among the top earning managers of European football?
Highest paid managers in European football
1. Diego Simeone (Atletico Madrid): £30 million per year
2. Pep Guardiola (Manchester City): £20 million
3. Jurgen Klopp (Liverpool): £16 million
4. Thomas Tuchel (Bayern Munich): £10.5 million
5. Mauricio Pochettino (Chelsea): £10 million
6. Carlo Ancelotti (Real Madrid): £9.4 million
7. Erik ten Hag (Manchester United): £9 million
8. Mikel Arteta (Arsenal): £8.3 million
=9. Massimiliano Allegri (Juventus): £6 million
=9. Jose Mourinho (Roma): £6 million
Note: Data collected from reports and wageindicator.co.uk
Man City season ratings
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MANCHESTER CITY 2022-23 SEASON RATINGS: Ederson -7. No Golden Glove this year but remains vital to the way City build from the back. Getty -
Stefan Ortega - 7. Enjoyed great success in FA Cup conceding just a single goal in six matches. EPA -
Kyle Walker -7. Ended the season at the top of his form after a dip earlier in the campaign. Reuters -
Rico Lewis - 6. Teenager can be proud of first season at top level. Made 14 appearances and a big impression. PA -
John Stones - 9. Season of his life playing as a central defender, right back and midfielder. Class. Hard to fault. AFP -
Ruben Dias - 8. Missed a chunk of the season but was back to commanding best on the run in. Getty -
Aymeric Laporte - 5. Couldn’t force his way into the starting eleven often enough but dependable. Getty -
Manuel Akanji - 7.5. Turned out to be a bargain buy. His experience and class shone through in tough moments. Getty -
Nathan Ake - 8. Most improved player this season. Key to build up play down the left and reliable in the middle. Getty -
Joao Cancelo - 4. Never reached his brilliant best and left for Bayern Munich on loan mid-season. Future up in air. Getty -
Sergio Gomez - 5. Some glimpses of class going forward but like others before him found it hard in first season under Pep. Getty -
Rodri - 9. Probably the best holding midfielder in the world at present. Took his game to new heights. Getty -
Kalvin Phillips - 5. Did little wrong but struggled to make an impact with Rodri in such commanding form ahead of him. Getty -
Bernardo Silva - 7. If this was his last season at City, he went out in style. The chief architect of Real Madrid’s UCL exit. Getty -
Ilkay Gundogan - 9. The bigger the occasion the better he played. Captain was pivotal to all the big moments in the campaign. AFP -
Kevin De Bruyne - 8. Maintained his ridiculously high standards as one of the top playmakers the game has ever seen. EPA -
Phil Foden - 6.5. Stop-start season thanks to injuries but his class shone through when he got a run. Getty -
Riyad Mahrez - 6. His close control remains mesmerising and his goals played a vital part. EPA -
Jack Grealish - 8. Vying with Ake for the biggest leap of improvement. Fully earned Pep’s trust. PA -
Cole Palmer - 5. Just didn’t happen for the homegrown youngster who still has bags of potential and time on his side. Reuters -
Julian Alvarez - 7. Overshadowed at City by Haaland’s exploits but a fine season for the World Cup winner. Getty -
Erling Haaland - 9.5. Would have been 10 but Pep tends to improve players in their second season! Simply a goal-machine. PA -
Pep Guardiola - 9. Re-invented his tactics masterfully and turned the team into a winning machine with an incredible mentality. Getty
