Power Ranking the 2014 FIFA World Cup Managers

With the 2014 FIFA World Cup set to finally get underway in Brazil next month, we have power ranked the 32 head coaches hoping to get their hands on the trophy come the final at the legendary Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro on July 13.

And basing our results around only what the trainers have achieved while in charge of their respective nations, rather than during any of their other previous managerial roles, and using stats provided by respective website www.transfermarkt.co.uk, these are how the various coaches ranked.

Age: 48

In the job since: Oct 28, 2013

Matches in charge: 3

Points Per Match (PPM): 1.5

The 48-year-old faces a daunting prospect trying to navigate the Socceroos through a group containing the likes of Chile, Netherlands and holders Spain at this summer’s World Cup.

However, the Athens-born coach does come with a huge reputation from the three years he spent in charge of the Brisbane Roar, who he led to back-to-back A-League titles in 2011 and 2012 while playing an attractive brand of football.

Age: 42

In the job since: Oct 16, 2013

Matches in charge: 3

PPM: 1.67

Replaced the unpopular Igor Stimac in the role just before the play-offs last October, immediately guiding his country through to Brazil 2014 with a 2-0 aggregate win over Iceland.

However, despite having turned out for the likes of Bayern Munich during an impressive playing career, and representing his country 83 times, Kovac is a virtual novice when it comes to management.

Age: 46

In the job since: Oct 18, 2013

Matches in charge: 6

PPM: 2.33

Managed to see off New Zealand 9-3 on aggregate in a two-legged play-off late last year after incredibly becoming the Central American giants’ fourth coach in the space of just six weeks on the back of what, by Mexico’s standards, was a poor CONCACAF qualifying campaign.

Age: 45

In the job since: June 27, 2013

Matches in charge: 14

PPM: 1.29

The former South Korea international skipper, who captained his country all the way to the semi-finals of the 2002 World Cup on home soil, replaced Choi Kang-hee in the role at the end of the Asian qualifying campaign.

Age: 66

In the job since: May 24, 2013

Matches in charge: 7

PPM: 1.71

Highly experienced German trainer who has been coaching since 1975, with the 66-year-old immediately succeeding in safely steering the Indomitable Lions through to Brazil 2014, although he and his players face a tough challenge trying to qualify from the daunting-looking Group A.

Age: 61

In the job since: April 4, 2011

Matches in charge: 26

PPM: 2.08

The former Real Madrid and Portugal trainer has just seen his contract extended until after the tournament as a reward for having led his adopted nation to Brazil 2014, although Iran still needed to win their final three qualifiers, including their last contest in South Korea, to confirm their safe passage to the finals.

Age: 54

In the job since: March 15, 2011

Matches in charge: 46

PPM: 1.41

The Colombian managed to guide his adopted nation to the World Cup on the back of a third-place finish in their Central American qualifying section, which included impressive 2-1 wins against both the USA and Mexico along the way, the latter of which even came on the road.

And having also led Ecuador all the way to the last 16 in Japan and South Korea 12 years ago, the 54-year-old does bring with him previous experience of managing in the finals.

Age: 57

In the job since: Aug 10, 2010

Matches in charge: 40

PPM: 1.58

The Colombian caused a major surprise after guiding his adopted nation to Brazil 2014, with Ecuador securing the last remaining qualifying berth ahead of the likes of more fancied South American heavyweights such as Copa America champions Uruguay.

However, after taking Central American minnows Honduras to the last World Cup in South Africa, perhaps it was not that much of a shock after all.

Age: 61

In the job since: Sept 20, 2011

Matches in charge: 43

PPM: 1.63

This is the Colombian’s second spell in charge of the Central Americans, with the 61-year-old making a much better fist of things this time around after guiding Costa Rica to the tournament on the back of an impressive second-place finish in their qualifying campaign.

Age: 59

In the job since: Dec 29, 2009

Matches in charge: 39

PPM: 1.64

After taking over in the role from Miroslav Blazevic, the one-time Paris Saint-Germain forward came desperately close to leading Bosnia to Euro 2012, only to eventually lose to Portugal in the play-offs.

However, the 59-year-old has now gone one step better by becoming the first-ever coach to guide the Balkan nation to the finals of a major international tournament in Brazil this summer.

Age: 52

In the job since: Nov 3, 2011

Matches in charge: 28

PPM: 1.86

The former Nigeria international defender guided his country to Brazil 2014 in impressive fashion, with the Super Eagles one of only two African nations, along with Ivory Coast, to have ended the qualifying campaign unbeaten, before then easily disposing of Ethiopia 4-1 in the play-offs.

Age: 59

In the job since: July 1, 2010

Matches in charge: 42

PPM: 2.02

The Portuguese was given the near-impossible task of succeeding Otto Rehhagel in the role four years ago after the latter had caused a huge sensation by winning Euro 2004.

However, the 59-year-old has proved himself to be a more-than-capable replacement for the German, with the Greeks managing to sneak through to the World Cup after beating Romania in the play-offs last November.

Age: 62

In the job since: June 22, 2011

Matches in charge: 24

PPM: 2.04

The wily Bosnian has huge managerial experience at both club and international level to fall back on, including guiding Ivory Coast to the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa on the back of a two-year unbeaten qualifying run, and so should be underestimated at one’s peril.

Age: 50

In the job since: Sept 10, 2010

Matches in charge: 51

PPM: 1.94

The experienced Italian trainer, who led AC Milan to the Serie A title in 1999, has been in charge of the Blue Samurai now for almost four years and became the first manager to qualify for Brazil 2014 back in June of last year.

Age: 65

In the job since: July 1, 2008

Matches in charge: 55

PPM: 1.75

The vastly experienced former Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund boss, who will bow out of management at the end of the World Cup, saw the Swiss through to Brazil 2014 with still a match to spare after an unbeaten qualifying campaign.

And with two UEFA Champions League titles to his name with those aforementioned clubs, there will be few coaches with a better CV on display at the tournament than the German’s.

Age: 53

In the job since: April 11, 2012

Matches in charge: 21

PPM: 2

The ex-Black Stars international skipper became the first Ghanaian to qualify his country for the World Cup finals after winning five of their six qualifiers to top their group, before then easily seeing off the challenge of Egypt in the play-offs.

Age: 49

In the job since: July 29, 2011

Matches in charge: 49

PPM: 1.63

The former Germany boss has proved himself to be a massive hit in his three years in charge of the US so far, including a record-breaking 12-match unbeaten run last year, with his bosses having recently extended his contract through until the next World Cup finals in Russia in 2018 as a result.

And after a shock loss to Honduras in their first qualifier on the road to Brazil 2014, Klinsmann’s side then cruised through to the competition after topping the CONCACAF section.

Age: 42

In the job since: May 28, 2012

Matches in charge: 19

PPM: 2.05

There were more than a few raised eyebrows when the former France and Inter Milan midfielder was given the role two years ago on account of it being the 42-year-old’s first-ever managerial job.

And while Lamouchi caused some controversy after dropping legendary striker Didier Drogba in the aftermath of a lacklustre Africa Cup of Nations in 2013, the Ivory Coast were one of only two sides along with Nigeria to end their qualification campaign unbeaten.

Age: 45

In the job since: July 8, 2012

Matches in charge: 20

PPM: 1.7

The man who captained Les Bleus to their maiden World Cup triumph on home soil in 1998 replaced another member of that victorious team, Laurent Blanc, at the helm following a poor showing at Euro 2012.

However, but for an incredible comeback in their play-off clash with Ukraine at the Stade de France in November, when the home side managed to overturn a 2-0 first-leg deficit, Deschamps and Co. would not even be in Brazil at all this summer.

Age: 44

In the job since: Sept 21, 2010

Matches in charge: 40

PPM: 1.95

Needed to overcome Sweden over two legs in the play-offs after finishing as runners-up behind eventual group winners Russia in the qualifiers.

However, the former Sporting Lisbon midfielder has managed to coax a number of eye-catching displays from FIFA Ballon d’Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo in his four years in charge, something many of his predecessors failed to do.

Age: 67

In the job since: July 16, 2012

Matches in charge: 17

PPM: 2.06

The former Three Lions boss took over in the immediate aftermath of what had been a limp Euro 2012 by Russia, and despite suffering consecutive losses to Portugal and Northern Ireland, they still managed to squeak through as group winners after finishing just a point clear of the former, with the Italian now looking to improve on his last-16 exit with England four years ago.

Age: 45

In the job since: May 14, 2012

Matches in charge: 21

PPM: 1.95

Having become the first manager to qualify the Low Countries nation for the finals of a major international tournament since 2002, the 45-year-old has now had his contract extended by the Belgium FA until 2018 as just reward.

Age: 66

In the job since: May 1, 2012

Matches in charge: 25

PPM: 1.96

The experienced coach was helicoptered in to take charge of his country following the sudden departure of Fabio Capello just prior to Euro 2012, with the former Inter Milan trainer seeing the Three Lions lose to Italy on penalties at the quarter-final stage in Poland and Ukraine.

Age: 62

In the job since: Aug 1, 2012

Matches in charge: 20

PPM: 2

This is the soon-to-be Manchester United manager’s second spell in charge of the Oranje after the 62-year-old had failed to qualify for the 2002 World Cup finals.

However, the experienced and highly successful former Ajax, FC Barcelona and Bayern Munich boss did more than make up for that aberration by seeing the Dutch through to this summer’s tournament after winning nine of their 10 qualifiers.

Age: 54

In the job since: Nov 22, 2011

Matches in charge: 17

PPM: 2

Replaced Claudio Borghi halfway through the South American qualification process after a poor sequence of results, including four defeats in a row, had threatened the country’s participation at this summer’s finals.

However, the new man at the helm brought about an immediate reaction, with Chile going on to finish the campaign in third place in the CONMEBOL section after winning five of their final six fixtures.

Age: 59

In the job since: July 29, 2011

Matches in charge: 31

PPM: 2.1

There will be huge pressure on the shoulders of the former Sheffield United and Leeds United midfielder to at least ensure his country make it through to the latter stages of the World Cup.

However, the man who replaced Sergio Batista in the role in July 2011 has so far proved to be more than just a safe pair of hands, which given this is a coach who won the 2009 Copa Libertadores while in charge of Estudiantes should come as no great surprise.

Age: 56

In the job since: July 1, 2010

Matches in charge: 51

PPM: 1.71

The former Juventus midfielder has been a big success in the role since taking over from World Cup-winning coach Marcello Lippi four years ago in the aftermath of the Azzurri’s disastrous defence of the title they had won in 2006.

And after finishing as runners-up to Spain at Euro 2012, Italy then cruised through their qualifying campaign for this summer’s tournament by becoming the first European nation along with Netherlands to make it to Brazil 2014.

Age: 64

In the job since: Jan 6, 2012

Matches in charge: 21

PPM: 2.1

The highly rated Argentinian guided the Cafeteros to a second-place finish behind Argentina in the South American qualifying section, which included convincing wins over Uruguay and Chile in the process, as well as an impressive draw on the road against his fellow countrymen.

And with previous World Cup experience to call upon after the 64-year-old took Argentina to the quarter-finals eight years ago, Colombia could not be in safer hands in this tournament.

Age: 67

In the job since: Feb 13, 2006

Matches in charge: 87

PPM: 1.63

The hugely experienced coach, who is in his second spell in charge of his country after guiding them to Italia '90, needed the safety net of the play-offs to qualify this time around following a comfortable 5-0 aggregate win over Jordan last November.

And with both a Copa Libertadores and a Copa America title on his CV, the 67-year-old is one of the most respected trainers in the history of South American football.

Age: 65

In the job since: Nov 29, 2012

Matches in charge: 19

PPM: 2.26

Big Phil, as he is known in his homeland, has been there, done it and most definitely got the T-shirt too, with the 65-year-old having won two Copa Libertadores, the FIFA World Cup and the FIFA Confederations Cup in a trophy-laden 32-year managerial career to date.

However, a second World Cup triumph with the Selecao in July would make the Brazilian just the second coach after Italy’s Vittorio Pozzo to win the trophy twice.

Age: 54

In the job since: July 12, 2006

Matches in charge: 103

PPM: 2.21

One of the most experienced international coaches out there at present after taking on the role from Jurgen Klinsmann in the immediate aftermath of the 2006 World Cup in Germany.

And having come desperately close in all three tournaments he has competed in, while also seamlessly guiding his country through a trio of qualifying campaigns, the German FA recently decided to extend the 54-year-old’s contract until 2016.

Age: 63

In the job since: July 17, 2008

Matches in charge: 86

PPM: 2.56

The vastly experienced former Real Madrid coach guided the holders through a tricky-looking group that also contained France, and he will now be looking to make history by becoming the first-ever coach to win three major international tournaments in a row after leading La Roja to victory at both the 2010 World Cup and Euro 2012.

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