Manager Madness: The Sideline Masterminds to Watch in the 2024 Euros

They kick things off for Group A and are set to welcome Scotland to Munich for their opening match at Allianz Arena. Everyone, from fans to punters alike anticipates a thrilling month filled with first-class football action. The UEFA European Championship, also known as the Euro Cup, is a major football tournament where the top 24 teams from across Europe compete.
As the tournament approaches, big names such as Harry Kane, Kylian Mbappe, Cristiano Ronaldo, Jude Bellingham and Olivier Giroud get most of the focus. But those managers who prepare these players and their teams for success also deserve more attention.
So, let's look at the men leading the title favorites and some underdog teams in this year's competition to see what makes them special and top managers in football. Keep reading if you want to know more about these sideline geniuses who will be key figures in the 2024 Euros.
Since Gareth Southgate was put at the helm, England have enjoyed success in three major tournaments, including the 2018 World Cup (losing in the semis to Croatia) and the 2022 World Cup (losing to France in the quarter-finals). In EURO 2020, the former Three Lions centre-back led his squad to the final where they ultimately lost 3-2 on penalties to Italy.
En route to the country’s first final appearance in over 50 years, Southgate steered England to a 2-0 victory over Germany—their first win against Deutschland in the knockout stage since 1966.
And now, boasting two of the top goalscorers in the world in Jude Bellingham (Ballon d'Or finalist), and Bayern Munich striker, Harry Kane, England is considered the favorites at +275 odds to be crowned champions. France has the second-best odds Euro 2024 at +350. Germany (+500), Spain (+800) and Portugal (+800) round out the top 5 nations expected to lift the trophy on 14 July at the Olympiastadion in Berlin.
Possible Tactic: Using a solid back-three and wing-backs who push forward. This could continue, with players like Bukayo Saka (11 goals in 33 caps) and Phil Foden (4 goals in 34 caps) causing problems on the flanks. According to Sky Sports analyst, Peter Smith, however, he expects Kyle Walker, John Stones, Marc Guehi and Kieran Trippier to lock down the back in their opening match against Serbia.
X-Factor: Jude Bellingham keeps getting better as box-to-box midfielder, and this can give new strength to England's attack. Since joining Real Madrid, the 20-year-old has scored an impressive 23 goals in just 40 matches. He recently led Los Blancos to a recond-extending 15th UEFA Champions League title. "To be given the opportunity to play for your country is massive," the young phenom was quoted saying about the opportunity ahead of him.
Group C Opponents: Slovenia, Denmark, Serbia
Just a week ahead of EURO 2024, Southgate sat down with UEFA.tv for an exclusive interview where he spoke about becoming a coach and the expectations for England to not only play well but to leave Germany as European Champions. Here’s what Southgate had to say about England drawing from recent experiences in big matches as they head to Germany as the established favorites:
“We now have experience of these really big knockout games which, I think, has helped us. Our players have got good experiences of winning at club level, so we are right in that mix of teams that genuinely feel we can win… We've been one kick away from being European champions, so we know it's possible. And I think, as a team, that's such a psychological breakthrough for you. But we have got one more step to take.”
In just seven games as the German national team coach, Julian Nagelsmann has found a winning formula. He's experimented with both 4-2-3-1 and 4-2-2-2 formations, even surprising everyone by trying Kai Havertz at left-back and wing-back positions. Now, Nagelsmann has seemed to settle on a standard 4-2-3-1 for his starting XI, with Havertz as striker.
In two recent statement wins against France and the Netherlands, the formation allowed generational talents Floria Wirtz and Jamal Musiala to flourish. The young coach is credited with convincing legend Toni Kroos to return from international retirement – a move already hailed as a success – and will look to leverage his tactical brilliance and bring home a championship for the host nation.
Possible Tactic: Nagelsmann is known for his flexible tactics, often using a 4-2-3-1 formation with variations depending on the opponent. He might utilize wing play with overlapping fullbacks to get the ball to the likes of Leroy Sane or Jamal Musiala.
X-Factor: The return of Toni Kroos could solidify the midfield and allow for a more possession-oriented approach with Kroos dictating play.
Group A Opponents: Scotland, Hungary, Switzerland
"Playing against Scotland will certainly be a very, very emotional opening match in Munich," Nagelsmann told UEFA.tv. "We are looking forward to it and we hope that it will go our way."
Hailing from the Basque region, Luis de la Fuente achieved glory in the Spanish Liga as a full-back with Athletic Club. As Spain's national team coach, he led his players to victory against fellow Group B rivals Italy and Croatia in the UEFA Nations League last summer. Now, de la Fuente hopes to inspire top performance from his star athletes following their successful seasons with their clubs.
Possible Tactics under Luis de la Fuente:
Group B Opponents: Croatia, Italy, Albania
Regarding the Group B rivals of Spain, this is what the manager from Spain said:
"We've already faced Italy and Croatia in the Nations League but they are such good national teams; you just need to take a look at their record, their history, or their players to realize it. But we can't forget Albania. Albania have really good players, they have developed a lot. I've known them through their Under-19 and U21 teams, and the matches against them were always really tough. Their coach is also really good. I rate him highly because he is a very brave and determined coach who has clear ideas. He has contributed a lot to Albanian football.
The first goal must always be to compete and be in a position to win. I am convinced we will have a chance to fight for the title. However, there can only be one winner and there are many good national teams who can win this trophy. I think we are ready and we still have time to keep growing and improving to get that great team we need to be able to fight for the title."
After leading Napoli to a historic Scudetto title, Spalletti took over from Roberto Mancini just last August. Runner-up to the 2023 Best FIFA Men's Coach award-winner Pep Guardiola, the well-traveled Tuscan's reign as Italy's coach brings a fresh tactical perspective to the Azzurri. Here's a breakdown of what we might see from Italy at EURO 2024:
Formation:
Playing Style:
Group B Opponents: Croatia, Spain, Albania
Here's what Spalletti had to say about the pressure on Italy to defend their title:
"Coming into the tournament as defending champions is an advantage. But we need to understand straight away that we need to behave like defending champions... We need to show that. We need to convince ourselves, not only the fans. In a way, we are facing ourselves, not the outside world. We need to show what we are made of, to show what we have inside."
Coming up on his twelfth year in charge of the French national team, Deschamps has a chance to become the first man to win the EUROs and the World Cup as both a player and a coach. The Les Bleus manager, described as a 'cool character' and a 'measured communicator', will make history if France wins the EURO this time around.
Possible Tactic: Deschamps favors a 4-3-3 with a strong emphasis on wingers like Kylian Mbappé and Kingsley Coman creating chances for Olivier Giroud.
Group D Opponents: Netherlands, Poland, Austria
Deschamps told reporters "The most important thing is what's in front of us... The human side of building a balanced group is fragile but exciting. It leads to a lot of reflections and discussions with my technical staff, but I like being alone and choosing. Whenever I make decisions, it is because I think at that moment it's not the best solution for me, but rather the best solution for the good of the French team."
This is just a tiny example, and many other skilled managers might shine in the 2024 Euros. It will be exciting to watch how these managers handle the tournament and see which ones can bring their teams to victory. One thing is sure, we will enjoy more than a month of Europe's top teams playing amazing football.