The new European football season brings fresh optimism for those sides that have appointed different managers throughout the offseason. Whether they are looking to compete in Europe, challenge for league titles, or build a new side and prove the football betting odds wrong, the managerial merry-go-round has seen plenty of new faces in respective dugouts across the continent.
Between the influx of matches, international breaks, and the new format of the Champions League, the pressure will be on each manager to balance expectations with results, with games coming thick and fast in the 2024/25 season, and results will be needed.
With that in mind, we examine some of the biggest managerial appointments across Europe and assess their chances of a successful campaign in their debut year.
Arne Slot – Feyenoord To Liverpool
Jürgen Klopp’s departure from Liverpool left many wondering how the Reds replace a figure with such a legacy at Anfield. After weeks of uncertainty, Arne Slot was officially announced as the newest boss of the Reds by Klopp on his final game in charge.
Having climbed up the ranks in the Eredivisie, the Dutch manager’s career highlights include the 2022/23 league title with Feyenoord, where he achieved 95 points ahead of Ajax and PSV Eindhoven.
Slot has made it clear he won’t change too much from the side that finished third behind Manchester City and Arsenal last season, but his slight tweaks will give Liverpool a degree of controlled chaos rather than the heavy metal football they previously played.
Vincent Kompany – Burnley To Bayern Munich
Not many managers can say they were able to swap Burnley for Bavaria, but despite relegation from the Premier League, Vincent Kompany was appointed as the new manager of Bayern Munich following Thomas Tuchel’s departure from the Allianz Arena.
Kompany was something of an outsider for the role, with many expecting a more experienced coach to take the helm in Munich. However, the Belgian’s philosophy of playing exciting, possession-based football – inherited from his time at City with Pep Guardiola – must have won over the Bayern hierarchy, who offered him a three-year contract.
The 38-year-old has wasted no time establishing his squad, with Michael Olise and João Palhinha arriving from Crystal Palace and Fulham, while Jonathan Tah is set to join from reigning Bundesliga champions Bayer Leverkusen, as Bayern look to gain their stranglehold back on German football.
Thiago Motta – Bologna To Juventus
One of the best up-and-coming managers in the game, Thiago Motta’s forward-thinking approach at Bologna secured the Petroniani Champions League football after a fifth-place finish in Serie A last term.
The Italian, whose attacking style was the figure of ridicule when he proposed a 2-7-2 formation during his playing days at Paris Saint-Germain, helped Bologna enjoy a fairytale season, albeit with a slightly more controlled system that has seen the likes of Joshua Zirkzee and Riccardo Calafiori flourish.
That success didn’t go unnoticed, with Juventus securing a deal for Motta to trade the Emilia-Romagn for Turin, as The Old Lady pursue their first league title since 2019.
His task will be to dislodge both Milan sides, as well as Atalanta, who were a surprise package last season as they finished third while also winning the Europa League. There is also the challenge of finding a suitable replacement for Federico Chiesa, who looks set to leave Juve after four years at the Allianz Stadium.
