Gibraltar still far from playing at a level-playing field in international football

Analysis and Opinion by Stephen Ignacio

As the English-speaking media focused on the latest international football news—most notably, Thomas Tuchel’s appointment as the new England manager—little attention was given to another manager’s success in leading his team to a fifth consecutive match without defeat.

While this record may seem insignificant to most of the international football world, Julio Ribas, head coach of the Gibraltar national team, has guided his side toward a potential second automatic promotion from League D in the Nations League. A draw against Liechtenstein, preceded by a 1-0 victory over San Marino, has set Gibraltar up for one final group match, where a win will guarantee promotion. Even a draw could leave them with a chance at promotion if successful in any potential play-off matches.

Just eleven years after Gibraltar’s entry into UEFA, they are ranked 198th, ahead of both Liechtenstein and San Marino, who have been competing under UEFA for longer. Now, Gibraltar is aiming for a second promotion in what would be just the fourth edition of the Nations League since the competition’s founding.

Notably, Gibraltar’s success—even without promotion—comes against the backdrop of significant disparities in resources and financial capabilities. Comparisons between Thomas Tuchel and Julio Ribas may seem far-fetched, but Gibraltar’s vast resource gaps aren’t just evident in comparison to Europe’s top footballing nations—they’re also apparent when compared to teams Gibraltar faces, and even beats, on the field.

With a total budget of £218,000 for all its coaches and technical staff (figures from the 2021/22 Gibraltar FA financial summary), the contrast is stark when seen in black and white. Research through available resources shows that countries like Latvia pay their head coach more than Gibraltar allocates for its entire senior coaching and technical staff. For instance, the head coach of the Faroe Islands reportedly earns between £100,000 and £150,000, based on online data and media reports.

National football team managers’ salaries vary widely depending on the team’s stature, success, and the country’s football culture. Top nations pay millions to secure prominent coaches, while smaller nations trying to break into the higher tiers or maintain mid-tier status still offer hundreds of thousands. Based on figures sourced from public reports, estimates from sports finance analysts, and news articles, Gibraltar is financially on par with nations like San Marino, Andorra, and Liechtenstein. However, Gibraltar lags behind countries like the Faroe Islands, Malta, Lithuania, and Moldova, which they may face while competing between League D and League C.

Although exact salaries are not frequently disclosed and are often estimated based on available financial data, Gibraltar’s future development will depend on the expertise and efforts of those it hires, rather than on its financial means. Some top nations spend more on their head coaches than Gibraltar spends on football in total each season.

Here are some examples of national team managers’ salaries based on recent reports (as of 2022-2023):

Hansi Flick (Germany)
Annual Salary: €6.5 million
Flick’s salary reflects his club-level achievements and the prestige of managing a powerhouse like Germany.

Gareth Southgate (England)
Annual Salary: £5 million (€5.8 million)
Southgate’s salary has increased over time, reflecting England’s consistent performance under his leadership.

Tite (Brazil)
Annual Salary: €3.5 million
Managing Brazil comes with immense pressure, hence the significant salary.

Didier Deschamps (France)
Annual Salary: €3.8 million
Deschamps’ successes, including winning the 2018 World Cup, justify his high salary.

Luis Enrique (Spain)
Annual Salary: €2.9 million
Enrique earned this during his tenure as Spain’s manager, reflecting his experience as a former Barcelona coach.

Roberto Mancini (Italy)
Annual Salary: €3 million
After leading Italy to the Euro 2020 title, Mancini’s salary remained substantial.

Fernando Santos (Portugal)
Annual Salary: €2.5 million
Santos’ long tenure and Portugal’s Euro 2016 victory increased his pay.

Gregg Berhalter (USA)
Annual Salary: $1.2 million (€1.1 million)
Berhalter’s salary is competitive in the context of North American football.

Lionel Scaloni (Argentina)
Annual Salary: €2.6 million
Scaloni led Argentina to Copa América and the World Cup, earning a moderate salary compared to European managers.

Aliou Cissé (Senegal)
Annual Salary: €300,000
While modest compared to European counterparts, Cissé’s salary is high for African national team coaches.

Salaries for national team managers vary widely, from a few hundred thousand euros for smaller nations to several million for football powerhouses. European managers tend to earn significantly more, while those from less prominent footballing nations typically receive lower wages.

An overview of some of the teams Gibraltar may face in the coming years, should they maintain their momentum, shows how doubling their resources would still not be enough to attract the quality of managers like those of Bulgaria, Iceland, or Slovenia. For instance:

Kosovo: Franco Foda earns around €300,000 per year.
Bulgaria: Mladen Krstajić earns approximately €250,000 annually.
Malta: Michele Marcolini earns around €150,000.
Moldova: Serghei Cleșcenco earns approximately €180,000 per year.
Liechtenstein: Martin Stocklasa earns around €45,000 annually.
Luxembourg: Luc Holtz earns about €350,000 per year.
Iceland: Åge Hareide earns around €350,000 annually.
While Gibraltar has been successful on the field, considering its small size and limited pool of players, its future development will depend heavily on the determination and commitment of the individuals involved, rather than financial incentives. The introduction of professional football to Gibraltar, where player wages have dramatically increased, particularly among the top local players, has already influenced the national team’s dynamics. In some cases, top players now earn more than the national head coach, which will affect Gibraltar’s ability to attract talent for coaching roles in the future.

An estimated breakdown of the expenditures for senior men’s national team coaching and technical staff for several UEFA member countries based on recent reports and available financial statements. This data varies based on each country’s financial transparency and reporting practices, with compiled estimates where specific figures are not always disclosed:

Expenditures for UEFA Member Countries on Senior Men’s National Team Coaching Staff
Germany

Head Coach Salary: €6.5 million
Total Coaching Budget: Approx. €25 million

England
Head Coach Salary: £5 million (€5.8 million)
Total Coaching Budget: Approx. £30 million (€35 million)

France
Head Coach Salary: €3.8 million
Total Coaching Budget: Approx. €15 million

Italy
Head Coach Salary: €3 million
Total Coaching Budget: Approx. €10 million

Spain
Head Coach Salary: €2.9 million
Total Coaching Budget: Approx. €12 million

Portugal
Head Coach Salary: €2.5 million
Total Coaching Budget: Approx. €9 million

Netherlands
Head Coach Salary: Approx. €2.5 million
Total Coaching Budget: Approx. €8 million

Belgium
Head Coach Salary: Approx. €3 million
Total Coaching Budget: Approx. €10 million

Switzerland
Head Coach Salary: Approx. €1.5 million
Total Coaching Budget: Approx. €5 million
Denmark
Head Coach Salary: Approx. €1.5 million
Total Coaching Budget: Approx. €5 million

Smaller Nations

Faroe Islands
Head Coach Salary: Approx. €100,000 - €150,000
Total Coaching Budget: Approx. €300,000

Malta
Head Coach Salary: Approx. €150,000
Total Coaching Budget: Approx. €300,000 - €400,000

San Marino
Head Coach Salary: Approx. €40,000 - €60,000
Total Coaching Budget: Approx. €200,000

Andorra
Head Coach Salary: Approx. €40,000 - €60,000
Total Coaching Budget: Approx. €200,000

Gibraltar
Head Coach Salary: Approx. £50,000 - £90,000 (€58,000 - €105,000)
Total Coaching Budget: £218,000 (€250,000)

Liechtenstein
Head Coach Salary: Approx. €45,000
Total Coaching Budget: Approx. €200,000

Observations

Top-tier nations (e.g., Germany, England, France) often have coaching budgets that can reach tens of millions, reflecting their footballing culture and success.
Smaller nations have significantly lower budgets, often in the range of €200,000 to €500,000, highlighting the disparities in financial resources.

Summary
These figures reflect a snapshot of expenditures related to national team coaching and technical staff across UEFA member countries. However, please note that these numbers can fluctuate based on specific contracts, performance incentives, and updates in financial reports. Figures are based on financial reports and media reports up to 2023 and do not reflect figures beyond December 2023 and are subject to inaccuracies where estimates have been required to be compiled through available online data.