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Nationality of managers who led their teams to European club tournaments’ quarter-finals

Written by Paul Kemp
Paul Kemp
Paul Kemp is an experienced sports writer covering Soccer, NBA and NHL. He also writes in depth reviews of sports betting sites based on his personal experience.
, | Updated: March 19, 2025

After the return legs of the European club tournaments’ last-16 phase last week, the quarter-finalists were decided, but we turned our focus to the coaches leading them and their national backgrounds. This week’s Sportingpedia report examines which nations produce the managers steering clubs deep into the Champions League, Europa League, and Europa Conference League — alongside legendary figures like Carlo Ancelotti and Unai Emery, who have once again reached the Champions League quarter-finals with Real Madrid and Aston Villa, respectively. Notably, both hail from the two most represented countries in this stage, Italy and Spain.

Our findings highlight that only four countries have multiple managers in the last-8 stage, with Spain and Italy setting the pace with five each. Germany and Portugal follow with three each, while there is no presence from England and France. Meanwhile, eight other nations — Australia, Belgium, Chile, Croatia, Finland, Norway, Poland, and Scotland — have one representative, showcasing a more diverse but thinner managerial spread across Europe’s club tournaments.

    Key Takeaways:

  • Spain and Italy lead the way with five managers still in the European club tournaments
  • Portugal and Germany are the only other countries with multiple representatives
  • England and France have no managers in the European quarter-finals
  • Chile and Australia are the only non-European nations with a manager at this stage
  • Only one of Spain’s five managers leads a Spanish club, while three of Italy’s five manage Serie A teams

Spain

Five Spanish managers have propelled their teams into the quarter-finals, cementing Spain’s leading role, particularly in the Champions League where they hold three of eight spots. However, only Ernesto Valverde leads a Spanish club, while Mikel Arteta and Unai Emery guide English sides, Luis Enrique manages the French champions PSG, and Albert Riera is at the helm of Slovenian side Celje. Arteta guided Arsenal to the Champions League quarter-finals with a commanding 9-3 aggregate victory over PSV in the round of 16. His deepest European run remains the Europa League semi-finals with Arsenal in the 2020/21 season. Luis Enrique led PSG into the Champions League quarter-finals with a narrow 1-0 win against Liverpool. His crowning achievement came in 2014/15, lifting the Champions League trophy with Barcelona. Unai Emery steered Aston Villa to the Champions League quarter-finals with a 6-1 rout of Club Brugge. Four Europa League titles define his legacy, the most recent with Villarreal in 2020/21. Ernesto Valverde took Athletic Bilbao into the Europa League quarter-finals with a 4-3 aggregate win over Roma. His standout moment was guiding Barcelona to the Champions League semi-finals in the 2018/19 season, falling short of the final after a dramatic collapse against Liverpool. Albert Riera helped Celje advance to the Conference League quarter-finals with a 3-2 result against Lugano. This quarter-final run marks his greatest European success to date.

Italy

Five Italian managers have kept their teams alive across all three competitions, matching Spain’s tally. Carlo Ancelotti and Enzo Maresca are the only ones managing abroad, while Simone Inzaghi, Marco Baroni, and Raffaele Palladino lead Italian clubs. Ancelotti guided Real Madrid to the Champions League quarter-finals with a 2-1 defeat of Atletico Madrid. Five Champions League triumphs crown his career, the latest coming with Real Madrid in 2024 against Borussia Dortmund, adding to his victories in 2003 and 2007 with AC Milan and 2014 and 2022 with Real Madrid. Simone Inzaghi led Inter to the Champions League quarter-finals with a 4-1 aggregate victory over Feyenoord. His best run saw Inter reach the competition’s final in 2022/23. Marco Baroni took Lazio into the Europa League quarter-finals with a 5-2 win over Viktoria Plzen. This quarter-final appearance stands as his most notable European success so far. Raffaele Palladino advanced Fiorentina to the Conference League quarter-finals with a 2-1 aggregate victory over Panathinaikos. This campaign represents his deepest European run to date. Enzo Maresca brought Chelsea into the Conference League quarter-finals with a 3-1 aggregate win over Copenhagen. Reaching this stage counts as his standout European achievement.

Germany

Three German head coaches have led their clubs to the last-8 phase of the European club tournaments, reflecting Germany’s steady presence, though only one of the three is at the helm of a Bundesliga team. Hansi Flick led Barcelona to the Champions League quarter-finals with a 3-1 victory over Benfica in the round of 16. He is aiming for a second triumph in the competition after leading Bayern Munich to glory during the 2019/20 season. Dino Toppmoller guided Eintracht Frankfurt into the Europa League quarter-finals with a 6-2 defeat of Ajax. This current quarter-final run is his most notable European achievement to date. Robert Klaus masterminded the progression of Austrian side Rapid to the Conference League quarter-finals with a 3-2 result against Borac. This stage stands as his biggest success on the European scene so far.

Portugal

Three Portuguese managers have helped their teams secure quarter-final spots, primarily in the Europa League where they hold two of eight slots, though none of them is leading a team from Portugal. Paulo Fonseca, at the helm of Lyon, crushed FCSB 7-1 in the Europa League round of 16. Fonseca’s best record is reaching the Europa League quarter-finals with Shakhtar Donetsk during the 2016/17 season. Despite struggles in the Premier League, Ruben Amorim took Manchester United into the Europa League quarter-finals with a 5-2 win over Real Sociedad. His best European run was leading Sporting CP to the Champions League round of 16 in the 2021/22 season. The third Portuguese representative, Feio Goncalo, helped Polish side Legia advance to the Conference League quarter-finals with a 4-2 victory over Molde. This quarter-final appearance is his most significant European success to date.

Australia

A solitary Australian makes waves in Europe. Ange Postecoglou guided Tottenham into the Europa League quarter-finals with a 4-2 victory over AZ Alkmaar. This current quarter-final run marks his most notable European achievement to date.

Belgium

Belgium edges into Europe’s spotlight with a single managerial presence. Vincent Kompany led Bayern Munich to the Champions League quarter-finals with a 3-0 win over Bayer Leverkusen. This quarter-final stage stands as his most notable European success to date.

Chile

From Chile comes a lone figure defying the European-heavy field. Manuel Pellegrini took Real Betis into the Conference League quarter-finals with a 3-2 victory over Vitoria SC. Pellegrini’s best achievement in European club tournaments came during the 2005/06 season when reaching the Champions League semi-finals with Villarreal.

Croatia

Croatia’s managerial hopes rest on one man carving a path through Europe’s elite competitions. Niko Kovac guided Borussia Dortmund to the Champions League quarter-finals with a 3-2 victory over Lille in the round of 16. His standout achievement arrived in 2021/22 when he lifted the Europa League trophy with Eintracht Frankfurt.

Finland

Finland breaks through with a single coach in Europe’s quarter-finals, a modest but proud entry. Jani Honkavaara advanced Djurgarden to the Conference League quarter-finals with a 3-2 win over Pafos. This current quarter-final run stands as his greatest European achievement to date.

Norway

Norwegian coaching stakes a claim in Europe with one tactician holding firm in the fray. Kjetil Knutsen led Bodo/Glimt into the Europa League quarter-finals with a 4-2 victory over Olympiacos. His notable European mark came in 2021/22 when he reached the Conference League quarter-finals with Bodo/Glimt.

Poland

Poland joins the European stage with one manager pushing forward. Adrian Siemieniec took Jagiellonia into the Conference League quarter-finals with a 2-1 victory over Cercle Brugge. Reaching this stage stands as his most significant European success.

Scotland

Scottish football hinges on a single leader to keep its European flame alive in 2025. At the helm of Rangers since February 2025, succeeding Philippe Clement whose efforts also laid groundwork for the team’s European progress, Barry Ferguson guided Rangers into the Europa League quarter-finals with a 3-3 aggregate result against Fenerbahce, advancing via a 3-2 penalty win. This phase stands as his most notable European achievement to date.

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 Author: Paul Kemp

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