I always thought it was strange that managers were paid less than the stars that worked under them. The last decade or so has seen this change significantly but for a long time a head coach’s annual pay would be dwarfed by a team’s star player, even though the man in charge had an arguably more important role in the team’s success.
In business, CEO’s get paid more than their subordinates but the priorities in football have always been different. A manager can always been replaced at little expense if they are on a lower wage, and the short term thinking seemed to prevail over long term planning.
The emergence of superstar managers like Pep Guardiola and others however changed the nature of the game. Clubs competing for a select band of elite coaches pushed their market value up much higher, and combined with the bumper Premier League TV rights deals, English clubs have the most income to invest in the best management staff in the game. It is no coincidence that Pep, Antonio Conte, Jurgen Klopp and Jose Mourinho all ply their trade in this country.
Another one to add to that list now due to his stellar work with us is Mauricio Pochettino. The Argentinian has demonstrated his superb abilities whilst at the club. He was given £5.5m a year (£105,000 a week) when he signed his new contract in 2016, still less than Harry Kane (£110k according to the Sun).
Comparing what Poch has done for the club with what Harry has achieved would be difficult, and besides the point, but the fact is the Argentine has been so central to the club’s success, he deserved to be paid the same, if not more than his star player.
Now, if the Daily Telegraph are correct, he could see his wages rise to £8.5m a year (£163,000 a week) to make him the fourth highest paid manager in the country. He deserves every penny of that salary increase. With reported interest from PSG and Real Madrid, his value is skyrocketing. Securing the club’s star man would be great coup if he does indeed sign on the dotted line. I would go as far to say that he’s deserving of an even bigger contract, considering the rumoured £200,000 a week a certain no.10 maybe offered to stay soon. Considering the club’s latest record revenues, we can certainly afford it.