Arrived on the big stage: meet the coaching newcomers of 2025 | OneFootball

Coaches often have to wait even longer than players for their big breakthrough. While Julian Nagelsmann, Fabian Hürzeler, and others conquered the big football stage in their early 30s, some coaches have to be patient for decades.

Some were handsomely rewarded for this in 2025. Here are the biggest coaching newcomers of the year.

Miron Muslic

Anyone familiar with German football can't avoid the name Miron Muslic these days. The 43-year-old is currently working on a royal blue miracle.

When he took over Schalke 04 this summer, the former Bundesliga giant seemed to have hit rock bottom. One foot in the third division, no concept, and a fading S04 mentality. Half a year later, the world feels completely different.

📸 Christof Koepsel - 2025 Getty Images

Muslic has turned Schalke into a defensive powerhouse, embodies the Schalke spirit like no other, and sits at the top of the table with S04 at the winter break. Impressive.

Régis Le Bris

The work of Régis Le Bris in the Premier League is also undoubtedly impressive. The 50-year-old was promoted to the English top flight with AFC Sunderland this summer and has been dominating the league ever since.

After 17 matchdays, the promoted side sits in sixth place. If it stays that way, Sunderland will play internationally next year. Unbelievable, considering that in the past two Premier League seasons, all three promoted teams were relegated immediately.

Merlin Polzin

He arrived as a real no-name and achieved what seven coaches before him had failed to do. Merlin Polzin led Hamburger SV back to the Bundesliga after seven years.

Now in the top flight, the 32-year-old has coached the Red Shorts to 13th place after 15 matchdays and sits four points clear of the relegation playoff spot at the winter break. Another success. Many had previously doubted the traditional club's Bundesliga credentials.

Christian Ilzer

Even before the season had started, it felt like Christian Ilzer had already lost his job.

After taking over TSG Hoffenheim in November 2024, he crashed out of the cup, exited the Europa League group stage, and finished the season with the worst points average of any Hoffenheim coach.

Nevertheless, Ilzer was allowed to stay. In hindsight, absolutely the right decision. With the Sinsheimers, Ilzer is having a phenomenal first half of the season, culminating in fifth place after 15 matchdays, just two points off a Champions League spot.

Vincenzo Italiano

Vincenzo Italiano also reached the summit last season. The coach of FC Bologna won the Italian Cup with the Rossoblù in May 2025 for the first time in 26 years.

📸 ALBERTO PIZZOLI - AFP or licensors

In the final, Bologna beat AC Milan 1-0 and Italiano – yes, that's really his name – secured hero status in the heart of northern Italy.

What do you think: Which of these newcomers will we soon see at an even bigger club? Let us know in the comments!

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇩🇪 here.

📸 Matt McNulty - 2025 Getty Images