9. Mauricio Pochettino – Tottenham Hotspur ($7.1 million annual salary)
Mauricio Pochettino was Espanyol’s center-back in late 1990s and early 2000s. He ended his professional football career with the club in 2006. He waited three years before deciding to return to the football world as a manager. And Espanyol was the first club he managed.
He coached nine players who were his teammates. Perhaps, that was one of his secrets of success in saving Espanyol from La Liga relegation.
Then, three years ago, he decided to take on the English Premier League by signing a managerial deal with Southampton. One year later, he moved to Tottenham Hotspur, the club he is currently managing.
The Spurs offered him $7.1 million annual salary and a five-year contract. He brought the club to the Football League Cup final, only to be beaten by Chelsea. Tottenham Hotspur ended the season by finishing fifth. That is a pretty good achievement by the Argentinian coach.
