A total of 216 players from Germany’s top football league, the Bundesliga, were surveyed to identify the best manager in European football.
The annual poll, conducted by German sports publication KICKER, invites Bundesliga players to express their views on major football topics.
In this year’s edition, Bayern Munich’s Joao Palhinha was named the biggest disappointment of the season, while Bayer Leverkusen’s Florian Wirtz was recognized as the most outstanding outfield player. Meanwhile, Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal earned the title of the best attacking player in Europe.
Besides evaluating players, the participants also voted on Europe’s top manager. Several prominent names received votes, including Luis Enrique, Xabi Alonso, Pep Guardiola, Arne Slot, Mikel Arteta, Carlo Ancelotti, and Simone Inzaghi. However, Barcelona head coach Hansi Flick emerged as the clear winner, securing 31.9% of the vote.
Despite guiding Paris Saint-Germain to a Champions League victory, Luis Enrique finished second with 16.7%. The rest of the top five included Leverkusen’s Xabi Alonso (11.6%), Manchester City’s Pep Guardiola (9.3%), and Liverpool’s Arne Slot (8.8%).
Flick had an exceptional season with Barcelona, clinching a treble that included the La Liga title, Copa del Rey, and Supercopa de España.
Commenting on Enrique’s Champions League success, Guardiola said, “Those of us who are close to him are very happy—he deserves it and he’s exceptional. When we lost 4-2 to PSG in the Champions League, I felt their strength in every aspect. They knocked out Liverpool and Arsenal, both teams I know well. They were outstanding in the final, and we’re very happy for him and his family.”
Guardiola also spoke about Barcelona’s impressive campaign under Flick, noting: “It’s been a remarkable year, with nearly flawless results. Scoring an average of three goals per game, they’ve performed exceptionally well, and we hope this form continues.”
On rising star Lamine Yamal, he added, “He’s in the ideal environment for development. Flick has brought new dimensions to Barcelona. In 10 to 15 years, we’ll see how far he goes. Given his talent, the signs are promising. Let him grow at his own pace—then we can evaluate whether he belongs among the greats, like Messi.”