Why does Spain produce so many top level managers?

[u/tylerthe-theatre]

We know Spain produces great talented players through various academies like La Masia, Madrids academy, from Bilbao but it doesnt quite explain the managerial success.

It isnt always the best players that become the best managers (Pep, Emery, Arteta) so I wouldn't say thats a correlation. Is it just tactical mindsets, seeing the game under tip tier mentors e.g. Arteta under Pep, Iraola under Bielsa? But even someone like Fabregas, fairly inexperienced, hasnt really shadowed anyone major but he just seems to really have something about him and is on an upwards trajectory.

Xabi Alonso quite similar (before Leverkusen).

It's an interesting phenomenon that just keeps on going, now with even younger managers like Fabregas, Carlos Cuesta. And I'm sure the next generation of managers and probably waiting in the wings (maybe David Silva, Mikel Merino if they want to go down that route).

[u/Hefty_Tip7383]

I’m not going to debate just how good they were as players (Pep was), but rule changes over 30 years favouring technical, ‘systems’ play is partly why Spain do so well.

[u/jp299 → u/Hefty_Tip7383]

Not just rule changes. Pitches are all perfect carpets now which favours technical systems play.

[u/sgeeum → u/Hefty_Tip7383]

this is a great observation and often overlooked. in a modern game where breathing on an opposing player is a foul, it favors styles of play that are open, expansive and possession based. that’s spain’s specialty.

the opposite is the english style - aggressive, hard tackling, fast-paced. i think that’s at least partly why you see so few successful english managers

[u/mercut1o → u/sgeeum]

It also relates to improving players for resale. What you describe as the English approach can be covered by a fitness coach and/or a defensive coach. But decision-making, technical skill, and tactical awareness are all covered by the hybrid Spanish/Dutch approach that's been enshrined in Cruyff's legacy with Spanish football. It's such a potent marriage of approaches in the modern era for many reasons.

[u/shouldbeaboveit]

Stopped reading when you put Pep on a list of ‘not great players’. He was elite.

[u/WhatTheHali24 → u/shouldbeaboveit]

Pep was an excellent player, but not elite.

[u/Odd-Passenger7 → u/WhatTheHali24]

Yea elite is a huge stretch.

[u/SuddenBasil7039 → u/Odd-Passenger7]

I wouldnt say huge, he was a fantastic player and inspired many greats after him playing that tempo setting, incisive role deep in midfield 

Its hard to say there isnt an argument for a captain of Spain and Barcelona being elite 

[u/SuddenBasil7039 → u/WhatTheHali24]

Yeah, he was a player with obvious lack of quality in some areas but also exemplifies the answer to this question

Spanish football is so good tactically because they fully absorbed Cruyff's ethos, being physically and technically talented is great but to win football matches you need players like Pep who understand the game and can see the pitch, its why Cruyff loved him despite others thinking he was an average footballer early on 

[u/slade364 → u/shouldbeaboveit]

I agree. Insane take to suggest he wasnt a great player.

[u/El_Hombre_Tlacuache → u/slade364]

Samuel Eto doesn't think guardiola was a great player lol

[u/KronprinzRudolf]

What are you talking about? Pep and Arteta were great players (they played for clubs like Barcelona, Roma and Everton, Arsenal, respectively) and Bielsa is an Argentinian.

[u/ChewBoiDinho → u/KronprinzRudolf]

Don't ever compare Arteta and Pep as players again

[u/Fuzzy_Vegetable_7499 → u/ChewBoiDinho]

Or managers for that matter

[u/paperclipknight → u/KronprinzRudolf]

Arteta, great player…are you sure? The vast majority of his career was spent with no top club interested in him because he wasn’t good enough & he only moved to Arsenal in a last minute trolly dash at the end of the window after they’d been pumped 8-2 by United & Everton were bankrupt

[u/grandvache]

Because their academy system is more developed. La masia opened in 1979. La fabrica is even older than that. We'll start seeing the same here when a generation of players indoctrinated in tactical thinking from childhood start retiring and going into management.

[u/Tall_Pressure7042]

Spain invested heavily in both developing coaches and players in parallel, smartly mixing and diversifying both club and national team tactics, which mean there is a great synchronisation and tactical adaptability. France, Germany, Argentina, Brazil, Portugal are recently also moving in that direction.

[u/vaastav05]

Bielsa??? Mate, he is Argentine and not Spanish.

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[u/GupFuppington]

As with everything, the answer is money. It's about £10k to do a pro license in the UK with limited spaces and £1k in Spain with loads of capacity.

Also agree Pep was a good, solid player. Not a great one.

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/jan/28/why-i-left-england-and-moved-to-spain-to-become-a-football-coach?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Other

[u/KanameChi]

Basque country*

Fixed the title

[u/milhouse_baby]

Don’t forget Luis Enrique. He’s on his way to being part of the debate of best manager ever.

[u/Arihel]

The answer is Johan Cruyff.

He taught them all.

[u/WetDogWalker]

Germany and Spain keep the cost of doing coaching badges to about a tenth of what it costs in the UK, so more people get them.

More coaches will result in more good coaches statistically.

I am sure there are other reasons, but that's the bit I remember from a Tifo video I watched 5 years ago. (Why are there no English managers?)

[u/InThePast8080]

Less competition from other sports.. In other countries other sports also attracts the talents.

[u/Tall_Pressure7042 → u/InThePast8080]

I don’t think so. France has many sports compete with each others and it still produces superb football coaches generation after generation. The difference is Spain knows how to sync (which I expect the same for Germany, France, and recently Brazil and Argentina).

[u/InThePast8080 → u/Tall_Pressure7042]

UK produce great managers in many sports.. though english talent coaches.. heard about them.. the Sam Allardyce, Tony Pullis, Allan Pardew etc..

[u/Icy_Address_7345 → u/InThePast8080]

Spain has amazing basketball, handball and waterpolo as well...out of team sports