In modern football, where managers are often dismissed after a string of poor results, a group of managers have managed to navigate the volatility of elite football without ever being sacked.
Whether through strategic career choices, sustained success or impeccable timing, these coaches have left roles on their own terms.
1. Pep Guardiola
Widely regarded as one of the greatest managers of all time, Guardiola has never been sacked despite coaching at Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Manchester City. Every departure, from Barça in 2012 and Bayern in 2016, came at the end of his contract or by personal decision.
2. Zinedine Zidane
Zidane’s managerial career has been closely tied to Real Madrid, where he won three consecutive Champions League titles. On both occasions he left the club, it was by resignation rather than dismissal — even amid difficult spells.
3. Luis Enrique
Luis Enrique has managed Barcelona B, Roma, Celta Vigo, and the Spanish national team over the course of his career. His most notable success came at Barcelona, where he guided the club to a historic treble in 2015, capped by a UEFA Champions League triumph. Throughout his managerial journey, he has stepped away from roles by choice rather than being forced out.
4. Jurgen Klopp
Jürgen Klopp has built an illustrious managerial career with Mainz 05, Borussia Dortmund, and Liverpool, establishing himself as one of football’s most respected coaches. His greatest achievements came with Dortmund, where he won back-to-back Bundesliga titles, and with Liverpool, securing the Premier League, Champions League, and other major trophies. Remarkably, Klopp has never been dismissed from a managerial role, choosing instead to leave positions on his own terms.
5. Didier Deschamps
Deschamps, a World Cup-winning coach and captain, is well-liked in France for his leadership. He led Monaco to a UEFA Champions League final in the start of his career. Later, he helped Olympique de Marseille succeed and got Juventus back into Serie A.
He began coaching the French national team in 2012 and won the FIFA World Cup in 2018. He has announced he will voluntarily step down after the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
