How Much Do Soccer Coaches Make in 2025?

When asking how much do soccer coaches make, the answer varies significantly depending on the level of coaching. Top European clubs like those in the Premier League, La Liga, and the Champions League offer coach salaries in the millions, with head coaches like Pep Guardiola and Jürgen Klopp earning over $15 million annually.

However, most coaches at smaller clubs or in lower leagues earn far less, with base salaries significantly lower than their high-profile counterparts. This means that, just as with professional players, only the top 1% of coaches make the millions while the rest do not make nearly as much.

The factors that influence a coach’s pay include the club’s revenue, the size of the team, and their role within the club’s broader operations, including managing scouting, player performance, and the business side of the sport. One thing to note is that this financial power doesn’t only emerge from ticket sales or matchday revenue. It flows through broadcasting rights, brand merchandising, and even adjacent financial ecosystems like online betting.

In this blog post, I will explain how much soccer coaches make in 2025.

How Much Do Soccer Coaches Make Around the World?

The salary of a soccer coach varies significantly based on several factors, such as the league, the club’s financial standing, and the coach’s experience and success. At the top European clubs, such as those in the Premier League or La Liga, head coaches can earn millions of dollars annually.

For example, top-tier coaches like Pep Guardiola and Jürgen Klopp make over $15 million a year, benefiting from lucrative deals driven by high revenue from ticket sales, TV broadcasting rights, and sponsorships. However, the majority of coaches, especially those in smaller clubs and lower leagues, earn much less.

Most coaches at these clubs have a base salary that can range from modest, around $30,000, to average, around $50,000, compared to their high-profile counterparts. Many coaches in these leagues tend to earn significantly less, with their pay often affected by the club’s limited revenue, which may not be supported by big TV deals or sponsorships.

At the college level, coaches in the U.S. also experience pay disparities. College soccer coaches, especially those at well-funded programs, can earn a decent salary, but it is far from the millions earned by European head coaches. The base salary for most coaches in lower amateur leagues, professional divisions, or smaller schools is often much lower, and many coaches must supplement their income with side gigs or consulting work.

Factors that Determine how Much a Soccer Coach Gets Paid

When it comes to a soccer coach’s salary, there are many factors that determine how much they will get paid.

• Club Size and Reputation: Larger, top-tier clubs offer higher salaries due to greater revenue.
• Team Success: Winning titles or maintaining good performance leads to higher pay, often with bonuses.
• Club Revenue: A club’s financial health (ticket sales, sponsorships) directly impacts coach salaries.
• Experience and Reputation: Experienced, successful coaches at big clubs can command higher salaries.
• Contract Length: Long-term contracts often come with higher pay and job security.
• Coaching Role: Head coaches earn more than assistants or youth team coaches.
• Location: Coaches in wealthier regions or top leagues generally earn more.
• Market Demand: High-demand positions, like top-tier clubs, tend to offer better pay.
• Gender and League: Men’s football coaches, especially in major leagues, typically earn more than women’s football coaches.

Summary

To summarize, the salary for a soccer coach varies around the world and it is highly affected by various factors including club size and reputation, the coach’s experience, contract length, and much more. In this blog post, I briefly went over how much money a soccer coach makes around the world and the factors that determine how much they get paid in the first place.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do some coaches earn more than players in certain leagues?

Because coaching at the highest level involves far more than tactics—it’s a mix of brand management, media control, and corporate politics. In some markets, the head coach becomes the face of the entire institution.

Why do most coaches earn so little if soccer generates so much money?

Because revenue stays concentrated. Top clubs absorb most of it. Lower-tier teams struggle to pay staff, and systemic redistribution doesn’t exist. Most coaches aren’t in stadiums with TV deals—they’re working out of public parks.

How long does the average coaching job last?

In top European leagues? Sometimes less than a year. Turnover is brutal. One bad season—or even one bad month—can mean immediate dismissal. However, if a manager does a good job they can stay with one team for 3-5 or more years.

Do women coaches get the same chances as men?

No, not even close. In women’s leagues, most head coaching jobs still go to men. Female coaches face fewer opportunities, less funding, and constant scrutiny when they do get hired.

What makes coaching such an unstable career?

Results are everything. Coaches are judged weekly. A good month brings praise, but a losing streak brings dismissal—often without warning.