When you think of where some of the best managers in the world come from, there might be a few nations that come to mind.
Italy has always had a good history of producing elite coaches and some have gone on to become world-class managers (Carlo Ancelotti, Fabio Capello, Arrigo Sacchi).
Meanwhile, Germany’s coaching school is considered one of the toughest programs on the continent and is something that’s reaping its rewards as some of the best coaches in the current game are German (Jürgen Klopp, Thomas Tuchel, Julian Nagelsmann).
However, what if the the best managers weren’t necessarily coming from a country or even a region, but a province of that country?
That’s the case of Gipuzkoa, the Spanish province in the Basque region that’s become a factory of producing elite coaches.
Take a look at the managers who are not only coaching, but thriving in some of the best leagues in the world.
La Liga
Imanol Alguacil – Real Sociedad
Since taking over in 2018, Real Sociedad went from mid-table positions to playing in the Europa League and even took part in the Champions League for the first time since the 2013/2014 season (finished first in their group ahead of Inter Milan).
He would also help the club win their first Copa del Rey title since 1987 when they beat arch-rivals, Athletic Bilbao, in the final 1-0.
Bundesliga
Xabi Alonso – Bayer Leverkusen
Took over Real Sociedad B in 2019 when they were in the third tier and promoted them to the second division.
He signed with Bayer Leverkusen in the middle of the 2022/2023 season and led them from the relegation positions to an impressive sixth-place finish and the semifinals of the Europa League.
Next season, Bayer Leverkusen would win their first Bundesliga title and became the first club to go unbeaten in a Bundesliga season.
Premier League
Unai Emery – Aston Villa
A Europa League winner with Sevilla (won 3 in a row) and Villarreal, he would also take the “Yellow Submarines” to the semifinals of the Champions League in 2022.
Took Aston Villa from the relegation zone to Conference League qualification after signing in the middle of the season.
In his first full season in charge, he led the team to the Conference League semifinals and qualified for the Champions League for the first time since 1983.
Andoni Iraola – Bournemouth
CD Mirandés: Kept them away from relegation and also took them to the semifinals of the Copa del Rey (beating Celta, Sevilla, and Villarreal along the way).
Rayo Vallecano: Promoted them back to the first division and led them to comfortable mid-table finishes in the following two seasons. All while having one of the lowest wage bills in the league.
Bournemouth: Despite a bad start, he turned things around in his first season and led the team to its highest points tally (48 points) in the club’s Premier League history.
Mikel Arteta – Arsenal
Since taking over in 2019, the Gunners won the FA Cup and he has constructed a team that has taken Arsenal back to the Champions League and even challenged Manchester City for the league title in the last few seasons.
Julen Lopetegui – Previously at Wolverhampton Wanderers
He took over Sevilla in 2019 and helped the Andalusians win yet another Europa League title. Along with this, Sevilla qualified for the Champions League for three consecutive seasons and even challenged for the league title under Lopetegui’s guidance.
At Wolverhampton Wanderers, the team went from being in last place to staving off relegation without any sort of issues.
Even though he left Wolverhampton before the start of the season, his stock has remained high, and is expected to make a return to the Premier League next season.
Along with this, one of Spanish football’s greatest managers is also from Gipuzkoa: Javier Irureta. A manager who led teams, such as Real Oviedo and RC Celta de Vigo to the UEFA Cup competition.
However, it’s at Deportivo de La Coruña where he’s more fondly remembered after helping them win their first La Liga title in 2000, the Copa del Rey in 2002, and reach the semifinals of the Champions League in 2004.
A remarkable a achievement for a region that’s the country’s smallest province with around 700,000 people making up its population. It’s difficult to pinpoint the main reason behind Gipuzkoa’s methods in producing quality coaches.
Some would argue that a lot has to do with the Basque culture and their approach to football, which has always put an emphasis on teamwork led by a manager (Real Sociedad is a reflection of that).
While the Basque Country has also produced some of Spanish football’s best managers (Javier Clemente, Mané, José Luis Mendilibar), it still doesn’t explain how Gipuzkoa has been able to produce so many high-level managers.
Whatever their methods are, you can expect to see more managers from Gipuzkoa not only appearing in La Liga but also across the best leagues in the world.
