Top five managers clubs should target after impressive FIFA World Cup 2022

These guardians lead their team from the front in the Qatar tournament

The FIFA World Cup 2022 is down to the business end of the tournament now and we are almost prepping up for the end game. The likes of renowned managers have been baffled by the tactics of the ones less recognized and saw their teams head out of the competition early. Though Tite, Roberto Martinez, Louis Van Gaal and Luis Enrique are the greats of the game and can be an easy pick for any clubs. We will be focusing on the ones who have turned the tide upside down in this quadrennial mega event.

Here’s look at the top five managers that many clubs around the world will be targeting just after this enormous tournament wraps up:

5. Herve Renard (Coach of Saudi Arabia, Nationality: French)

Hervé Jean-Marie Roger Renard is a French professional football coach and former player who is the manager of the Saudi Arabia national team.

In Saudi Arabia’s opening fixture of the 2022 FIFA World Cup. Renard pulled off the seemingly impossible as his side defeated the favourites Argentina (2-1). He deployed a strategy where his back four where almost at the edge of midfield and played a high line due to which the Argentinians were caught offside 9 times in that single match. The likes of Lionel Messi, Di Maria could not break through that defence as Saudi Arabia registered the most notable victory in the history of their footballing nation.

Renard has previously been the manager of Zambia national team, with whom he won the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations. He also won the competition in 2015 with the Ivory Coast, becoming the first coach to win two Africa Cup of Nations with different teams.

Though he was not able to carry Saudi Arabia out of the group stage. He has caught the eyes of many and can be a potential for many clubs.

4. Graham Arnold (Coach of Australia, Nationality: Australian)

What a fairy tale this has been for Australia! Making it out of a group amidst France, Denmark and Tunisia, Graham’s side not only did the unthinkable but gave us some beautiful football to witness. Throughout his coaching career, Arnold has often opted for a more attacking style of play that strongly relies on wide players.

They were humiliated by the French in their opening 2022 World Cup fixture but they came back strong as ever after they beat the Tunisians and shocked Denmark to their utter dismay.

Graham Arnold's stats and achievements with his teams reflect his genius tactics and mastermind. He is known for his attacking style of play. The tactician prefers using the 4-2-3-1 formation, which utilizes the wingers to create more goal-scoring opportunities. He has occasionally deployed defensive set-ups like the 4-5-1.

Though Australia lost to an Argentinian side full of potential in the Round of 16, this manager will be on the look out for many clubs in the near future.

3. Aliou Cisse (Coach of Senegal, Nationality: Senegal)

Cisse is best known for captaining the Senegal team which reached the 2002 Africa Cup of Nations Final and for being the first Senegal manager to win the tournament in 2022 after reaching the final in 2019.

Though he missed Sadio Mane badly in this World Cup, his Senegal side turned up the heat after they lost to Netherlands in their opening group stage fixture. Beating the hosts Qatar comfortably and running through Ecuador’s defence with a pragmatic approach, Cisse’s side dominated the Three Lions for a large period of the game in their Round of 16 fixture. Their juggernaut was shut down by Southgate’s men but his coaching style is often likened to that of Didier Deschamps – the France manager. The Senegalese manager often uses  4-2-3-1 formation which has been key to Senegal’s success. Atletico Madrid, isn’t it a fair resemblance?

2. Walid Regragui (Coach of Morocco, Nationality: French)

Remember that viral video from Mikel Arteta’s coaching lessons back in 2021? Yes, he was a part of that session where he was taking some advices. Look at him now! Morocco became the first ever African team to reach the semi final of the illustrious World Cup under his helm. Quite a feat in itself! Defeating the likes of Belgium, Spain and Portugal in a single campaign he has blown away the managerial world by storm.

A master at revolutionizing his players. Regragui prizes himself on his ability to motivate players and unite them all together against their opponents. Regragui, who led Wydad to the CAF Champions League crown this year has a fair amount of expertise in managing clubs too. The clubs will surely look out for him and raise their prices to get him onboarded if h is available.

1. Zlatko Dalic (Coach of Croatia, Nationality: Bosnia and Herzegovina)

A mammoth record of losing only two matches out of 13 in World Cup history. This man does not need an introduction. Leading them to a runners-up finish at the 2018 FIFA World Cup. He repeated the same feat again in the ongoing edition of the 2022 FIFA World Cup as his side lost to Argentina in the semi-final. Manager of the Croatia national team since 2017, he has a different strategy to his game overall.

Playing mostly through the centre of the midfield, he makes the most out of defensive midfielders who can drop deep down the line and string a few passes to tire down the opponents. He mostly centers his game around counter-attacking football and relishes on the opportunities when the opponents leave certain spaces higher up the pitch.

Though he has not been able to guide Croatia to the elusive World Cup triumph, he is a target for the top most European clubs.