Qatar 2022 is nearly here, so HITC Football has looked at where all 32 World Cup managers were during the last edition. England coach Gareth Southgate is one of 10 in the same job.
Southgate oversaw the Three Lions’ efforts in Russia four years ago as England reached the semi-finals. Now, he will guide his country at the first of the quadrennial FIFA tournaments held in the Middle East. All four managers from the 2018 semi-finalists will return in 2022.
Didier Deschamps can join an exclusive group if he can guide France to win the World Cup again. Only Italy (1934, 1938) and Brazil (1958, 1962) have ever defended the title over the previous 21 editions. Only Vittorio Pozzo for Italy has also managed back-to-back winners.
Group A: Qatar manager Sanchez was also the Maroon’s U23 boss four years ago
The Qatar Football Association hired Felix Sanchez Bas as its head coach in July 2017. The 46-year-old has been a part of the QFA set-up since 2013 after first joining the Maroon as the U19 boss (2013-15). He also went on to work as the U20 (14-17) and U23 (17-20) boss.
Group A: Netherlands boss Van Gaal was out of work during the last World Cup
Louis van Gaal returned as The Netherlands’ manager for the third time in August 2021. He previously stood at the helm between 2000 to 2001 and 2012 to 2014. The 71-year-old left the role eight years ago after the Brazil World Cup and took charge of Manchester United.
But the Amsterdam native only lasted two years and 103 games at Old Trafford before the Red Devils sacked him. Van Gaal then opted to remain out of work following his departure in 2016 before agreeing to take over The Netherlands on a contract up to December 2022.
Group A: Ecuador coach Alfaro was in charge of Huracan in Buenos Aires in 2018
Gustavo Alfaro was the boss of Argentinean side Club Atletico Huracan from 2017 to 2018. He left his role in Buenos Aires to take over Boca Juniors, but only lasted a year at the club. Ecuador hired the 60-year-old in August 2020 after Jordi Cruyff resigned without a fixture.
Group A: Senegal crashed out of the 2018 World Cup in the group stage under Cisse
Senegal return to the World Cup in 2022 under the same manager in Aliou Cisse who took charge at Russia 2018. The 46-year-old has been in Lions of Teranga’s hot seat since March 2015. But they crashed out of the last World Cup after the group stage following one win.
Group B: England reached the 2018 World Cup semi-finals under Southgate
Southgate will lead England’s efforts at a second World Cup at Qatar 2022. The Three Lions reached the semi-finals at Russia 2018 under him. It marked the furthest that England had made since Italia 90. The 52-year-old has stood at the helm since 2016 and for 76 fixtures.
Group B: Wales gaffer Page was Cymru’s U21 boss from 2017 to 2019
The Football Association of Wales (FAW) first hired Rob Page as its U17 manager in March 2017. He has since gone on to be the U19 (2017) and U21 (17-19) coach before becoming Ryan Giggs’ assistant. Page is now the full-time boss after becoming the caretaker in 2020.
Group B: USA coach Berhalter stood at the Columbus Crew helm four years ago
Gregg Berhalter took over the United States Men’s National Team in December 2018 after they failed to qualify for the Russia World Cup. The 49-year-old from New Jersey joined the USA fold following five years in charge of Major League Soccer franchise Columbus Crew.
Group B: Queiroz has returned to manage Iran after his spell from 2011 to 2019
Carlos Queiroz has returned to manage Iran at the 2022 Qatar World Cup. The 69-year-old took up his old position in September after coaching Colombia (2019-20) and Egypt (21-22) after leaving Team Melli. He was Iran’s boss from 2011 until 2019 and at two World Cups.
Group C: Argentina boss Scaloni was Sampaoli’s assistant at the 2018 World Cup
Argentina appointed Lionel Scaloni as their new manager in August 2018 after losing in the last 16 at the World Cup. The 44-year-old was with La Albiceleste as boss Jorge Sampaoli’s assistant in Russia. Scaloni also briefly stood in as Argentina’s U20 head coach in 2018.
Group C: Saudi Arabia boss Renard’s Morocco exited the 2018 edition without a win
Saudi Arabia will play at the 2022 Qatar World Cup under Herve Renard, who orchestrated Morocco’s efforts in Russia. The 54-year-old took charge of the Saudi set-up in 2019 after leaving Morocco following three years. His team exited the 2018 World Cup without a win.
Group C: Mexico manager Martino was Atlanta United’s boss four years ago
Gerardo Martino was Atlanta United’s manager for the 2017 and 2018 MLS terms. The 59-year-old moved to America after he lost his job as Argentina’s boss in 2016 but returned to the international stage in 2019 with Mexico. He has since won 40 of 61 matches with El Tri.
Group C: Michniewicz took charge of Poland in January until after the World Cup
Poland hired Czeslaw Michniewicz in January but only gave the 52-year-old a contract until after the 2022 World Cup. His first formal task was to secure their qualification for Qatar in the UEFA Path B play-offs against Sweden. The Bialo-Czerwoni claimed a 2-0 win in March.
Group D: Deschamps will strive to guide France to back-to-back World Cup titles
Deschamps will strive to guide France to back-to-back World Cup titles when Les Bleus fly to Qatar as the defending champions. The 54-year-old also celebrated one decade as their head coach this July. He took over in 2012 and has overseen 84 wins in 132 fixtures so far.
Group D: Arnold became Australia’s manager in 2018 after their group stage exit
Graham Arnold became Australia’s manager in July 2018 but Football Australia hired him to replace Bert van Marwijk before the last World Cup. Arnold agreed to leave Sydney FC in March 2018. Yet Van Marwijk then went to Russia and oversaw their group stage exit.
Group D: Denmark boss Hjulmand was Nordsjaelland’s head coach in 2018
Denmark coach Kasper Hjulmand was Nordsjaelland’s head coach from 2016 to 2019. But the 50-year-old left his role and became an advisor for the rest of that year. He later took over the Rod-Hvide hot seat in August 2020 and secured their qualification for Qatar 2022.
Group D: Tunisia hired from within as Kadri stepped up in January
Tunisia hired from within when looking for their new head coach in January. The Tunisian Football Federation (FTF) promoted Jalel Kadri to the top job after six months as Mondher Kebaier’s number two. He was CA Bizertin’s boss at the start of the last World Cup in 2018.
Group E: Spain re-appointed Enrique in 2019, five months after he quit
Spain re-appointed Luis Enrique in November 2019, just five months after he had quit the position for personal reasons. The 52-year-old originally took charge in July 2018 after La Roja lost to Russia in the last 16 at the World Cup under interim manager Fernando Hierro.
Hierro stepped in only for the 2018 World Cup after the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) sacked Julen Lopetegui. The RFEF opted to fire the 56-year-old just two days before the World Cup started after Real Madrid announced him as their manager behind its back.
Group E: Germany hired Flick as Low’s successor in August 2021
Germany moved on from 2014 World Cup-winning coach Joachim Low after 15 years after losing in the last 16 at Euro 2020. Hansi Flick left his role at Bayern Munich after 18 months for the Mannschaft position. He was a director at Hoffenheim from 2017 to February 2018.
Group E: Costa Rica hired former Ecuador World Cup boss Suarez in June 2021
The Costa Rican Football Federation (FCRF) hired Luis Fernando Suarez in June 2021 as its head coach. He is under contract with Los Ticos until 2026 and had previously managed at two World Cups. He was Ecuador’s head coach for the 2006 tournament held in Germany.
Suarez also orchestrated Honduras’ efforts at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. But after going home winless in Group E, the 62-year-old lost his job before returning to club management at five teams – including CD La Equidad from 2017 to 2018 – before taking over Costa Rica.
Group E: Moriyasu stepped up and took over the Japan side in August 2018
Hajime Moriyasu took over the Japan side in August 2018 after the Samurai Blue exited the World Cup in the last 16. He was Akira Nishino’s assistant in Russia and had served as their U21 and Olympics coach. The 54-year-old has taken 39 wins in 57 games as their manager.
Group F: Martinez took Belgium to third place at the 2018 World Cup
Roberto Martinez managed Belgium during the 2018 World Cup and beat England to finish third in Russia. The Spaniard took over the Red Devils’ hot seat in August 2016 – just three months after Everton sacked him. He has since overseen 55 wins in 75 games at the helm.
Group F: An Englishman stands at the Canada helm in Consett native Herdman
An Englishman will stand at the Canada helm at the 2022 World Cup in John Herdman. The 47-year-old from Consett never played professionally. But the ex-New Zealand women’s coach (07-11) joined the Maple Leafs in January 2018 for his first role in men’s football.
Group F: Dalic took Croatia to the World Cup final at Russia 2018
Zlatko Dalic took Croatia to the World Cup final in 2018 and will return to the global stage with Vatreni at Qatar 2022. The Croatian Football Federation (HNS) hired the 56-year-old in October 2017. He has since won 33 of 62 fixtures in charge but lost to France in Russia.
Group F: Morocco hired Regragui in August for the 2022 World Cup
The Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) hired Walid Regragui in August as its third manager since Renard resigned after the 2018 World Cup. Regragui was with FUS Rabat at the time. Houcine Ammouta (2019) and Vahid Halilhodzic (19-22) also led the Atlas Lions.
Group G: Brazil boss Tite will manage the Selecao at back-to-back World Cups
Tite will manage Brazil at back-to-back World Cups after succeeding Dunga in June 2016. The record five-time champions reached the quarter-finals in Russia for a fourth-straight final-eight appearance. They have not reached the final since winning the 2002 edition.
Group G: Song will hope Cameroon sing in Qatar after taking charge in March
Rigobert Song will hope Cameroon sing in Qatar after the former Liverpool and West Ham United centre-half took charge in March. He returned to the top job after guiding Les Lions Indomptables briefly in early 2018. He also served as their U23s boss from 2018 until 2022.
Group G: Stojkovic returned to Europe as Serbia’s manager in March 2021
Dragan Stojkovic returned to Europe as Serbia’s manager in March 2021 after 12 years in Asia. He led Japanese side Nagoya Grampus’ efforts from 2008 to 2014 before moving to China in 2015 with Guangzhou R&F until 2020. He has 13 wins from 20 games with Serbia.
Group G: Switzerland boss Yakin was out of work during the 2018 World Cup
Murat Yakin took over Switzerland in 2021 but was out of work over the 2018 World Cup. The 48-year-old left Grasshoppers in April 2018 before joining FC Sion that September. He only lasted until June 2019 before joining FC Schaffhausen from July 2019 to August 2021.
Group H: Santos is set for a decade as Portugal’s manager if he lasts to 2024
Fernando Santos is set to enjoy a decade as Portugal’s manager if he remains in charge to July 2024. The 68-year-old took over the Selecao in September 2014 after leaving Greece that June. He will also hope to improve on Portugal’s Round of 16 exit during Russia 2018.
Group H: Otto Addo could quit as Ghana’s manager after the 2022 World Cup
Otto Addo is set to manage Ghana at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. But the 47-year-old has hinted he could walk away after the tournament to focus on his role as a coach at Borussia Dortmund. He has held a coaching role at the Bundesliga outfit off-and-on since July 2019.
BVB hired Addo as a trainer after two years in a similar role at Borussia Monchengladbach. Dortmund chiefs also named him as a first-team assistant boss during Edin Terzic’s interim spell in 2021. Addo then returned to his coaching position and doubles duties with Ghana.
Group H: Alonso took over Uruguay in January for his first international role
Diego Alonso took over Uruguay this January for his first role as an international manager. He has been a head coach since 2011 when Bella Vista gave their academy product his first job. The former Valencia star was Monterrey manager from June 2018 to September 2019.
Inter Miami also made Alonso their manager in December 2019 ahead of the club’s debut season in MLS. He oversaw 24 games but only claimed seven wins. Alonso then spent one year out of work before Uruguay hired the 47-year-old on a contract until December 2025.
Group H: South Korea hired Bento after moving on from Shin in August 2018
South Korea parted company with manager Tae-Yong Shin following their group stage exit at the 2018 World Cup. The Taegeuk Warriors had also failed to advance beyond the first round in 2014. But they head to Qatar under Paulo Bento for a 10th-straight appearance.
Bento was the manager of defunct Chinese side Chongqing Liangjiang Athletic over the last World Cup. He was there from December 2017 to July 2018 and joining South Korea after spells at Sporting Lisbon (05-09), Portugal (10-14), Cruzeiro (2016) and Olympiacos (16-17).
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