10 Managers Under 40
Arsenal has had a relatively quiet summer transfer window, with no significant incoming or outgoing transfers confirmed yet. However, they recently experienced a notable departure, as assistant manager Carlos Cuesta has taken the managerial position at Serie A club Parma, making history as the youngest manager in Europe’s top-five leagues at just 29 years old. Cuesta joined Mikel Arteta’s coaching staff in August 2020, having previously worked in youth programs at Atlético Madrid and Juventus.
Cuesta is highly regarded as one of the most promising young coaches in football, playing a crucial role in Arsenal’s development under Arteta. He began his coaching career at Atlético Madrid at the young age of 14. Last season, he was rumored to be a target for Norwich and has piqued the interest of numerous clubs in the Championship and other leagues. Now, he steps into the role at Parma, a historic club that finished 16th in Serie A last season, tasked with guiding them back to the upper half of the Italian league. Cuesta will turn 30 at the end of July, but for now, he remains the only manager in the top-five leagues under 30. Which other managers make the list of the top 10 youngest in Europe’s most prestigious leagues?
The Top 10 Youngest Managers in Europe’s Top-Five Leagues
Cuesta is at the forefront, leading the pack by a significant margin. At age 29, he is three years younger than the next manager on the list, Brighton’s Fabian Hürzeler, a 32-year-old and the sole Premier League manager among the top 10. In third place is Merlin Polzin, the 34-year-old manager of HSV, who achieved promotion to the Bundesliga with the club last season. Fourth is Celta Vigo’s Claudio Giráldez, who is 37, followed by Iñigo Pérez of Rayo Vallecano, also 37.
In sixth place is Augsburg’s Sandro Wagner, aged 37, who will be the new manager for the upcoming 2025/26 season. Seventh is Cesc Fàbregas from Como FC, who made a strong impact last season, leading the promoted team to a 10th place finish in Serie A. Eighth is Didier Digard, manager of Le Havre, who is 38. Bayern Munich’s Vincent Kompany is in ninth place at 39, while Cagliari’s Fabio Pisacane rounds out the top 10, also aged 39.