5 Managers to Keep an Eye on During the World Cup

The World Cup starts in less than a month and it's time to give respect and recognition to those who get it less - the coaches. Those who are always to blame for losses and don't necessarily get credit for victories. In this article, we will focus on 5 excellent but lesser-known coaches who will be able to prove themselves in the upcoming World Cup in Qatar.

In order to perform an in-depth analysis of the 5 coaches worthy of attention, we relied on the data of Bwin soccer which provides excellent predictions and attractive odds for its users.

1. Paulo Bento (South Korea)

Bento is a Portuguese coach who has been working with South Korea since 2018. During his time with the national team, he has managed to improve their FIFA ranking from 37th to 28th. In the World Cup qualifiers, his team managed to finish 2nd in a very difficult group, behind only Iran.

What makes Paulo Bento special is his attention to detail. He is known to be a very meticulous coach who likes to have complete control over his players and tactics. This level of dedication is sure to pay off in the World Cup as the South Korean team will be looking to make a surprise run.

Interesting point: Bento will face Ghana, Uruguay, and Portugal in the group stage. Facing Portugal will be a special game for him as he used to coach them from 2010 to 2014.

2. Carlos Queiroz (Iran)

Queiroz is a very experienced coach who has worked with some of the biggest teams in the world, including Real Madrid, Manchester United, Portugal, and the United Arab Emirates. He has been coaching Iran since 2011, with a 3-year break, and has managed to lead them to their second consecutive World Cup.

Under Queiroz, Iran has been very disciplined and organized. They are a tough team to beat and have only lost 2 out of their last 20 games. In the World Cup qualifiers, they only lost 1 game and conceded 2 goals in 8 games. This defensive solidity will be key in the World Cup as they will face the USA, England, and Wales in the group stage. To be honest, Iran's chances are no great, but with a coach like Queiroz, you never know.

3. Aliou Cissé (Senegal)

Cissé is a former Senegal international who captained the team to their historic quarter-final appearance in the 2002 World Cup and win over Zidane's France. He has been coaching Senegal since 2015 and has managed to lead them to their second consecutive World Cup.

Cissé is known for his attacking style of play. He likes his teams to play an attractive and offensive brand of football. This is evident in Senegal's results as they scored 2 or more goals in 7 out of their 8 World Cup qualifiers.

If they can continue this form in the World Cup, they will be a force to be reckoned with. Senegal will be playing against Netherlands, Qatar, and Ecuador in the group stage, and their chances look pretty good.

4. Felix Sanchez (Qatar)

Sanchez is a Spanish coach who has been working with Qatar since 2017. The 46-year-old led Qatar to their first-ever Asian Cup title in 2019, defeating Japan 3-1 in the final. This was a huge achievement as it was only Qatar's second appearance in the Asian Cup.

Sanchez is known for his discipline and organization. He likes his teams to be well-organized and compact, making it difficult for the opposition to break them down. This was evident in Qatar's run to the Asian Cup title as they only conceded 2 goals in 7 games.

In the World Cup qualifiers, they only conceded 1 goal in 8 games. Qatar will be playing against the Netherlands, Senegal, and Ecuador in the group stage. They will be looking to make a surprise run in the tournament and Sanchez is the right coach to lead them.

5. Murat Yakin (Switzerland)

Yakin is a Swiss coach who has been working with the national team since 2016. He has managed to lead Switzerland to their fourth consecutive World Cup. In the World Cup qualifiers, they finished 1th in their group, ahead of Italy and North Ireland.

Yakin is known for his disciplined and organized approach. He likes his teams to be compact and difficult to break down. This was evident in Switzerland's run to the World Cup as they only conceded 5 goals in 10 games. Switzerland will be playing against Brazil, Serbia, and Cameroon in the group stage. They will be looking to make it out of the group stage for the first time since 2006 but it's not going to be easy at all this time.