After new Marumo Gallants head coach Alexandre Lafitte became the youngest coach ever in the PSL at 28, Soccer Laduma highlights top ten youngest coaches to be appointed around the world.
10. Ruud Gullit (33 years at Chelsea)
Gullit was fast-tracked into coaching as a player-manager at Chelsea in 1996 after Glenn Hoddle was appointed manager of the England national team. The Dutch coach became the first black coach to win a British trophy, the FA Cup in the same season.
Read: Sello Unveils Alexandre: 'Were We Wrong Or Right With Folz?'
9. Andre Villas-Boas (33 years at Porto)
Villas-Boas was both 33 at Porto in the 2010/11 and 2011/12 at Chelsea when he succeeded Carlo Ancelotti.
The Portuguese coach was the youngest coach ever to win the Europa League with Porto.
8. Gianluca Vialli (33 years at Chelsea)
Vialli was also a player-coach at Chelsea as he replaced Gullit at the same age in 1998. Vialli was the first manager to qualify The Blues to the UEFA Champions League and won them a number of trophies.
7. Chris Coleman (32 at Fulham)
Coleman also assumed the role of manager at Fulham during the era of player-coaches in 2003, although he had announced his retirement six months prior.
6. Attilio Lombardo (32 at Crystal Palace)
The suitability of Italian coaches in the English Premier League was made popular by Vialli and Lombardo, the first two Italian coaches in England.
Lombardo followed Vialli in 2003 at Crystal Palace, also as a player-coach, becoming the youngest coach in the Premier League.
5. Romain Folz (31 at Township Rollers)
Folz previously held the record of the youngest ever coach in the PSL when he was also appointed at Gallants in 2022. Folz, however, was 31 when he became the head coach for the first time at Township Rollers.
4. Will Still (30 at Stade Reims)
A week ago Still was appointed Southampton manager at just 32, one of the youngest coaches in England top two divisions.
The Belgian coach was 30 when he first became a manager at French side Stade Reims.
8. Gianluca Vialli (33 years at Chelsea)
Vialli was also a player-coach at Chelsea as he replaced Gullit at the same age in 1998. Vialli was the first manager to qualify The Blues to the UEFA Champions League and won them a number of trophies.
7. Chris Coleman (32 at Fulham)
Coleman also assumed the role of manager at Fulham during the era of player-coaches in 2003, although he had announced his retirement six months prior.
6. Attilio Lombardo (32 at Crystal Palace)
The suitability of Italian coaches in the English Premier League was made popular by Vialli and Lombardo, the first two Italian coaches in England.
Lombardo followed Vialli in 2003 at Crystal Palace, also as a player-coach, becoming the youngest coach in the Premier League.
5. Romain Folz (31 at Township Rollers)
Folz previously held the record of the youngest ever coach in the PSL when he was also appointed at Gallants in 2022. Folz, however, was 31 when he became the head coach for the first time at Township Rollers.
4. Will Still (30 at Stade Reims)
A week ago Still was appointed Southampton manager at just 32, one of the youngest coaches in England top two divisions.
The Belgian coach was 30 when he first became a manager at French side Stade Reims.
Read: Could Ngobeni Be Heading To New Club?
3. Ryan Mason (29 at Tottenham Hotspur)
Mason became the youngest manager of a Premier League side in 2021 when he replaced Jose Mourinho, although he was only a caretaker coach.
2. Fabian Hurzeler (29 at St. Pauli)
At 31, Hurzeler became the youngest ever full-time manager of a Premier League team when he was appointed at Brighton and Hove Albion in June 2024.
The American coach, however, first became a manager at St. Pauli when he was 29.
1. Julian Nagelsmann (28 at Hoffenheim)
It's no surprise that Nagelsmann is one of the youngest coaches of a national team currently, at just 37 for Germany.
The German tactician made his name at Bayern Munich but he was 28 when he started out at Hoffenheim as a full-time manager.
3. Ryan Mason (29 at Tottenham Hotspur)
Mason became the youngest manager of a Premier League side in 2021 when he replaced Jose Mourinho, although he was only a caretaker coach.
2. Fabian Hurzeler (29 at St. Pauli)
At 31, Hurzeler became the youngest ever full-time manager of a Premier League team when he was appointed at Brighton and Hove Albion in June 2024.
The American coach, however, first became a manager at St. Pauli when he was 29.
1. Julian Nagelsmann (28 at Hoffenheim)
It's no surprise that Nagelsmann is one of the youngest coaches of a national team currently, at just 37 for Germany.
The German tactician made his name at Bayern Munich but he was 28 when he started out at Hoffenheim as a full-time manager.
