World Cup fashion: Ranking the dress sense of the 49 coaches

Forget formations, substitutions and results. The most important question at this World Cup is much, much simpler — what are the coaches wearing?

From Bond-villain gold chains and on-point tailoring to identity lanyards, gym teacher sneakers and enough technical polyester to clothe a small nation, the touchlines have produced triumphs… and several outfits that should never have cleared customs.

All 49 coaches — remember poor Sabri Lamouchi lasted one game with Tunisia — have been assessed on flair, footwear and general dugout aura. Tactics cannot save them here.

This is intended to spark healthy debate, we’re sure you won’t let us down in the comments…

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49: Sebastián Beccacece — Ecuador

No Sebastián, definitely not a thumbs up. Is he doing anything right?

The colors kind of work but that T-shirt is an abomination. Gray and black are not the most inspiring pairing, the pattern is enough to make you go dizzy and the sleeve collars round off a Marmite look.

But as Ecuador beat Germany in their final group game to qualify for the knockouts, the 45-year-old from Argentina opted for a baggy white T-shirt which was marginally better. At least he can coach.

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48: Rudi Garcia — Belgium

The 62-year-old Frenchman looks like the schoolboy who forgot his gym kit and has been made to watch the lesson in full uniform — on the hottest day of the year.

The white shirt and bright red tie suggest a lengthy wait outside the principal’s office. Then came the sprinkler incident against Egypt, when Garcia was caught during a hydration break and left completely soaked.

The break was intended to cool the players. Instead, FIFA conducted an unsolicited shirt-transparency test on the Belgium coach.

He went with a white shirt for their second game. Wise Rudi, wise.

47: Julian Nagelsmann — Germany

The youngest coach at the tournament, and he wants you to know it.

Known for taking fashion risks, Nagelsmann has taken it to a new level at this tournament.

This polo shirt was so bad even the 38-year-old knew it, ditching it during half-time of Germany’s opening match against Curacao for a plain navy T-shirt that looked equally out of place.

Nagelsmann has done the job for years. How can he be ranked near the top without the conviction to stick with the same outfit for longer than an hour?

46: Georgios Donis — Saudi Arabia

The former Greece winger, 56, looks as though he forgot to do his laundry and had to build an outfit from whatever remained available.

The suit trousers are too baggy, the jacket appears never to have met a tailor, and the black T-shirt and sneakers are unable to bring the various departments together.

Donis was appointed fewer than two months before the tournament, and his clothes suggest the call came while he was heading to the airport.

45: Sébastien Migné — Haiti

The button? Why? No.

One of many upcoming coaches choosing the blue-and-white match-up, completely undone by one error.

The suit looks crisp and the polo is lovely, but there are seven creases showing the stress on that button and the size of the pockets on the 53-year-old’s blazer is ridiculous.

The Frenchman’s glum look suggests he knows he has made a mistake, but whether that is due to tactical or fashion reasons, we will never know.

44: Bubista — Cape Verde

Bubista has chosen a plain white T-shirt, light-wash jeans, yes jeans, and sneakers that must have been borrowed from a gym teacher.

Cape Verde approached its first World Cup with composure, and the coach has dressed in the same spirit. There is no elaborate tailoring, no statement accessory and no interest in making the occasion more complicated than it needs to be.

43: Hugo Broos — South Africa

A 74-year-old in a tracksuit just doesn’t cut it, especially when it is only South Africa’s fourth World Cup.

The Belgian wore a suit regularly in his last international job managing Cameroon, but that was nearly a decade ago. These days Broos appears to have prioritised comfort over elegance.

He does pull it off well, let’s give him that, but tracksuits disrespect the magnitude and meaning of a World Cup.

42: Zlatko Dalić — Croatia

He has tried to split the difference between formal and casual, pairing his dark suit with a white T-shirt and sneakers. Either commit to the suit or abandon it.

Dalic, 59, has accumulated more than enough authority during his Croatia career — but that does not give him immunity from suit-and-sneaker offences.

41: Marcelo Bielsa — Uruguay

He was never going to dress for the cameras. The Uruguay coach has remained loyal to his familiar technical kit — an oversized training top, tracksuit bottoms and an insistence that he is “not a model.” He didn’t even look at the cameras for the pre-tournament pictures.

Then there is the cooler box — or bucket, depending on the occasion — that has become his unofficial managerial throne.

The clothes alone would receive a lower mark, but the iconic cooler, now sponsored, of course, must count for something.

40: Sergej Barbarez — Bosnia & Herzegovina

The intent is there, but the execution isn’t.

Barbarez was a prolific goalscorer in his day, scoring 181 goals in a career mainly spent in Germany. The top half is great, with a lovely navy blazer matching his shoes and complemented by a white shirt, giving the 54-year-old real potential.

But the frankly, too-big trousers ruin it and make Barbarez look like he was left to his own devices to choose the outfit. He must never be trusted again.

39: Ronald Koeman — Netherlands

You can look stylish, but not every style is befitting of an international coach.

The 63-year-old looks dressed to be a pundit rather than on the touchline, and after the Netherlands’ opening 2-2 draw with Japan, some Dutch fans were hinting that should be the case.

But his side have woken up since, and the sockless theme continues. For a gray ensemble, the shade Koeman opted for is reasonably lively, but for a manager who has donned suits properly before, the T-shirt is disappointing.

38: Hossam Hassan — Egypt

Hossam Hassan has chosen a plain black cotton T-shirt, with “Egypt” across the back and the national crest on the front. It is functional. It is comfortable. It is giving us little to work with.

Hassan looks less like the coach of a World Cup team and more like a member of tournament security who has wandered into the technical area.

37: Hong Myung-bo — South Korea

Hong Myung-bo’s color mismatch is just wrong, right?

His outfit choice has potential. A well-fitted polo shirt, lovely trousers and the classic statement white sneakers, perfect for the North American heat.

But why choose a navy polo? The white buttons may match the shoes, but blended with the olive trousers they create a clash of dullness.

36: Vladimir Petković — Algeria

The 62-year-old from Bosnia has opted for dark teamwear, zipped up neatly and paired with matching pants.

Practical and perfectly presentable, but seems specifically designed to prevent anyone discussing it.

Algeria’s first World Cup appearance since 2014 receives all the sartorial drama of somebody conducting an inventory of the training cones. Mission accomplished.

35: Roberto Martínez — Portugal

The Spaniard, 52, remains committed to the dark suit and white shirt.

Managing Cristiano Ronaldo at 41 brings enough pressure without dressing like the spokesperson addressing a minor constitutional crisis.

34: Miroslav Koubek — Czech Republic

This isn’t too bad until you look at the shoes.

There is just something about a senior manager and sneakers, especially Puma ones with a strange beige tinge, that doesn’t sit right.

They stand out more because Koubek has decided not to add any flamboyance to the rest of his outfit, replicating the underwhelming performances his team have produced.

But the 74-year-old is new to international management after a career mostly spent in the Czech league, so we’ll cut him a little slack.

33: Julen Lopetegui — Qatar

He made sure you saw the watch.

To be fair, it is probably a good job because the rest of his oufit, much like his Qatar side, is far from inspiring.

The 59-year-old drew headlines for the wrong reasons during his previous international job — sacked by his native Spain two days before the 2018 World Cup opener in Russia for agreeing to become the new Real Madrid manager.

His all-blue look goes under the radar, so much so that he wore the same outfit for Qatar’s first two matches against Switzerland and Canada. Hopefully it was washed in between.

32: Sabri Lamouchi — Tunisia

Little did the Frenchman know he would only be picking out one matchday outfit.

The 54-year-old became the first coach in the tournament’s history to be fired after one game, and his plain outfit was nearly as uninspiring as the 5-1 defeat by Sweden that led to his dismissal.

He might have had something more imaginative up his sleeve for later down the line, but we will never know.

31: Steve Clarke — Scotland

We know who you are, Steve.

Yes, the U.S. may not be as into soccer as previous hosting nations and, yes, Scotland has not made it to a World Cup in 28 years, but is there a need to wear the identity lanyard pitchside?

Still, at least it provides something different to talk about, because the rest of Clarke’s attire is pretty standard. The lack of the blazer or the tartan tie the 62-year-old wore at Euro 2024 hints at a Scot not quite as well adjusted to the heat as some of his fully suited counterparts.

30: Vincenzo Montella — Turkey

Yep, another lanyard. Are football coaches really so unknown?

The Italian is not a popular figure in Turkey, with the 52-year-old’s side knocked out after two defeats, so it is surprising how eager he seems to show people who he is.

The former Roma striker is placed higher than Clarke because of the immaculate color coordination between his jumper and trousers, almost blending into a onesie. Or is it just sympathy?

29: Tony Popovic — Australia

The outfit of a man trying to shy away from the spotlight, but going a bit too all-in on the all-black look.

Born in Sydney to a Croatian family, the 52-year-old was part of the Australia side that made it to the 2006 World Cup in Germany, led by former Chelsea manager Guus Hiddink.

Hiddink regularly donned a shirt and bright tie on the touchline. But Popovic is opting for the opposite approach. Given the heat, all black is a bold choice, but being Australian, he is used to it.

28: Hervé Renard — Tunisia

The 57-year-old Frenchman was drafted in after Tunisia sacked Lamouchi following the 5-1 drubbing against Sweden, and you can tell.

There is nothing overwhelmingly wrong, but without the white sneakers he would look like he was in school uniform, and there is little about his outfit that commands authority, respect or knowledge.

But given his side lost the next game 4-0 to Japan, maybe no amount of experience or sartorial elegance could have saved Tunisia’s sinking ship, so Renard could have worn whatever.

27: Dick Advocaat — Curacao

A 78-year-old wearing loafers without socks. Does it work? We think so. Good on you, Dick.

Advocaat is into his 46th year as a manager, so we should trust his judgment. His suit fits well and there are no obvious clashes, but you know what is coming to mark him down.

Another lanyard, another outfit blemished.

26: Lionel Scaloni — Argentina

The World Cup-winning coach has gone with Argentina’s slate-blue Adidas training top, navy trousers and white sneakers.

At 48, he still looks more likely to be sent out for the warm-up than be giving the team talk. The gold detailing lifts it slightly, but this is still a training kit.

Winning the last World Cup may have earned Scaloni the right to dress exactly as he pleases, but it has not earned him more than mid-table here.

25: Jamal Sellami — Jordan

A white polo shirt, navy trousers and matching white sneakers — Jordan is appearing at its first World Cup and its coach has made no attempt to turn the occasion into his personal runway.

A historic debut might have justified some commemorative tailoring — but Sellami, the 55-year-old former Morocco midfielder, is wearing nothing to offend either.

24: Amir Ghalenoei — Iran

The 62-year-old has embraced an all-black look, pairing an unbranded zip-up jacket with a black button-up shirt.

It is smart, controlled and only a few details away from Diego Simeone territory.

The white buttons are one problem, change them to black and Ghalenoei could take charge of Atletico Madrid without anyone noticing the handover. And then there is the lanyard, and if any of the lanyarded managers prove just how ridiculous they look, it is Ghalenoei. At least put it on properly.

23: Mohamed Ouahbi — Morocco

Ouahbi was only appointed Morocco manager in March, and has scrubbed up remarkably well, despite the notepad and pen making the 49-year-old look more like a Chemistry teacher.

Much like Switzerland counterpart Murat Yakin, you cannot go wrong with the blue and white combination, but minus points for the skinny-framed glasses. They may look funky but they appear flimsy and brittle.

Yes, it’s the minute details.

22: Néstor Lorenzo — Colombia

The 60-year-old has gone bold with the red and black striped shirt, smart blazer and trousers… and a teenager’s shoes.

The Colombian pin on the jacket bumps him up the rankings for the detailing, but this is a true mid-table ensemble.

21: Ståle Solbakken — Norway

Norway waited 28 years to return to the World Cup. The coach was never going to risk the occasion on an experimental outfit and kept things sensible with a white T-shirt, dark trousers and matching white sneakers.

Not the most fashionable choice, but the 58-year-old’s shoes were built for 90 minutes of sideline pacing.

20: Emerse Faé — Ivory Coast

Cool, calm and collected. The 42-year-old is displaying his youth in a better way than Nagelsmann, his bold white shoes going nicely with the clean navy jumper and trouser combination.

Fae became Reading’s record signing as a player in 2007 but made only 11 appearances in England.

He knows how to dress.

19: Graham Potter — Sweden

Unfortunately, the cowboy hat has not made it to the touchline, but what has is solid.

Potter wears his strong tie well, with a silky suit and a grin completing the look after the 5-1 win over Tunisia. The Netherlands wiped that smile when they beat Potter’s team by the same scoreline.

He has learned his lesson from his last job, at West Ham United, where regular tracksuit wearing saw him sacked after five games of the last Premier League season.

18: Thomas Tuchel — England

The German, 52, has kept things simple in a navy cotton quarter-button top with matching trousers.

It is unfussy and lightweight for a tournament being played in punishing heat.

Away from matchdays, he has taken sun protection even more seriously, wearing a specialist silver Nike Dri-FIT hoodie with the hood pulled over his head during training. The garment is designed to filter ultraviolet rays and help keep its wearer cool.

While some of the England squad have been sunburnt, Tuchel looks like the only person who checked the weather forecast.

17: Pape Thiaw — Senegal

The brown polo shirt gives a strong silhouette, paired with simple black trousers.

In this case, pairing black and brown does not make us frown. It fits Thiaw, 45, well and the colors work.

There’s probably debate over whether it’s slightly too casual for a World Cup manager. More stylish assistant coach than commanding touchline authority perhaps?

16: Hajime Moriyasu — Japan

Very good. The best of the five lanyarded musketeers.

Everything fits and matches well. The shirt’s patterns are noticeable and yet subtle at the same time, and the pen storage pocket adds another useful dimension.

But yet again, the lanyard takes the attention off what would otherwise have been near perfection from the 57-year-old.

15: Ralf Rangnick — Austria

The gray tailoring and pale green shirt were among the unexpected highlights of Euro 2024, and the 67-year-old German has resisted the temptation to reinvent himself.

The pale green has become his calling card and, serious creasing aside, Rangnick has clearly identified his uniform.

14: Mauricio Pochettino — USA

It is unconventional and very different to what we have seen from the 54-year-old during his stints in European football, but you cannot help but like it.

Hugo Boss made two dedicated versions of the overshirt and trousers especially for the Argentine, although, sticking to soccer’s glorious superstitions, he has worn this navy version for the USMNT’s two winning opening games.

We’d still prefer a more formal look for someone managing a host nation, but this U.S. team are fun and fearless, so why not reflect that in the coach’s outfit?

13: Carlo Ancelotti — Brazil

He’s nicknamed ‘Don Carlo’ for a reason.

The authoritarian outfit choices only add to the endless number of reasons why Ancelotti would command the attention of any room he walked into. Nothing flashy or dramatic, just a clean and fitted look to match his calm touchline demeanour.

Slanted though his tie may be, the 67-year-old Italian’s outfits have always been smart in recent times (apart from his sweatsuit era as Everton manager), and his shoes are more evidence to rubbish the claim that black and blue cannot be worn together.

12: Jesse Marsch — Canada

For his touchline passion and buoyancy, we’re not going to lie, we were expecting something more outlandish. But this is how managers at major tournaments should dress.

We would have preferred smarter shoes to sneakers, but that appears to be the new norm, and the 52-year-old wears it well.

11: Murat Yakin — Switzerland

The stance, the gray highlights and the perfectly matching attire screams realtor more than it does manager.

His trousers could have probably done with an iron, but that aside, the blue and white contrast, complemented with exquisite grooming and those round-framed spectacles. The 51-year-old oozes class.

10: Darren Bazeley — New Zealand

This is proper Diego Simeone territory.

The former Watford full-back has combined a black shirt and black trousers with a black leather belt, finished by a silver clasp. All that is missing is the suit jacket and an extended disagreement with the fourth official.

He has undone only one shirt button, which shows remarkable discipline in the heat. Most managers would have reached three by half-time.

New Zealand have waited since 2010 to return to the World Cup and the manager arrived dressed for business. He’s even doing the decent thing and carrying his lanyard.

9: Graham Arnold — Iraq

The 62-year-old has chosen a traditional charcoal suit and white shirt. Classic. Timeless. Crisp.

Iraq’s first World Cup appearance since 1986 demanded a degree of ceremony, and the Australian has provided it.

Much of the managerial wardrobe planning has focused on surviving the heat but nobody yet appears to have considered the summer showers.

8: Sébastien Desabre — DR Congo

The DR Congo delegation landed in custom black “Moniama” suits designed by Alvin Mak, with leopard-print detailing, silver leopard brooches and star-shaped bags.

Made using silk crepe and inspired partly by La Sape — the Congolese tradition of elegance and self-expression — the outfits represented considerably more than a standard team suit.

On matchdays, the 49-year-old Frenchman has returned to a white shirt and dark trousers. Sensible, but the leopard suit is doing most of the scoring here.

7: Fabio Cannavaro — Uzbekistan

The World Cup-winning captain, now leading debutants Uzbekistan, has paired a fitted black T-shirt with dark trousers and white sneakers.

This is exactly the casual combination that works in a technical area and — as always — the Italian, 52, makes it look good.

6: Thomas Christiansen — Panama

The 53-year-old from Denmark has gone for a classic black suit, but the striking blue Panama crest embroidered onto the chest prevents it from becoming another anonymous piece of technical-area tailoring.

The dark red tie completes a subtle national color scheme, with both shades appearing on Panama’s flag.

The embroidery is the crucial detail. Without it, Christiansen could be attending almost any formal event. With it, he looks unmistakably like Panama’s manager.

It is a smart way of representing the country without dressing like the flag.

5: Luis de la Fuente — Spain

The 65-year-old has committed to what may be the tournament’s first genuine two-outfit system. He starts matches sharply, dressed in a tailored blazer, crisp shirt and tie, then gradually sheds the formality as the evening wears on.

Against Saudi Arabia, he emerged after half-time in a navy polo beneath the same jacket, explaining that the heat had made sportswear more comfortable.

Managers are allowed five substitutions. There is no reason their clothes should be restricted to one.

4: Didier Deschamps — France

The 57-year-old is helping to preserve the endangered species that is the properly suited manager.

His signature look is a sharply tailored navy Francesco Smalto suit, worn with a light-blue shirt and no tie. It is formal without becoming rigid, and relaxed without surrendering to the quarter-zip.

This is Deschamps’ fourth and final World Cup as France coach, which gives the whole thing the quality of an elegant farewell tour.

3: Javier Aguirre — Mexico

For a manager leading his nation in a home World Cup, this is exactly what we expect to see.

Aguirre, into his third stint in charge of Mexico, has seen it all, and the 67-year-old dresses perfectly for every occasion.

In training, he dons a tracksuit and shorts. In press conferences, he wears a bright green retro Adidas zip-up.

On the touchline he’s been known to go for a more casual look, but in this World Cup, from the subtle green tie to the brown Oxford shoes, his attire has blended style and sophistication. And he’s a manager who sensibly dresses his age.

2: Carlos Queiroz — Ghana

The 73-year-old has gone almost entirely navy, with a zip-front jacket, dark trousers and black sneakers.

The gold chain makes him look like a James Bond villain.

Appointed only 72 days before the tournament, Queiroz has reached his fifth World Cup as a manager looking as though he has been planning the operation for years.

Very cool.

1: Gustavo Alfaro — Paraguay

Oh, yes.

It’s the suit. It’s the tie. It’s the belt. It’s everything, just glorious.

The Argentinian, 63, is into his third consecutive international job, and he clearly knows what is what.

Even the little things, like the badge of the Paraguayan Football Association (APF), or his watch hiding away from taking centre stage, are perfect.

Paraguay are through to the last 32 and that’s a good thing, we will see more of the dapper Alfaro.