The 2026/27 UEFA Nations League will kick off with eight top-flight national teams in League A under new managers. Notable coaches taking charge include Jürgen Klopp with Germany, Xavi Hernández with the Netherlands, and Zinédine Zidane with France. Other new managers are Roberto Mancini with Italy, Mark van Bommel with Belgium, Jorge Jesus with Portugal, Slaven Bilić with Croatia, and Santi Denia with Czechia.
Jürgen Klopp begins his Germany adventure against the Netherlands in Amsterdam on September 24. This match also marks Xavi's competitive debut as Netherlands coach. Klopp, a highly experienced manager, won league titles with Borussia Dortmund and Liverpool, as well as the UEFA Champions League with Liverpool in 2019. His appointment is one of the most closely watched changes in international management.
Xavi arrives with an exceptional playing pedigree and significant coaching experience. He won the 2022/23 La Liga title with Barcelona before leaving the club in 2024. Xavi has already made a notable selection decision, leaving out Memphis Depay from his first Netherlands squad while retaining veteran captain Virgil van Dijk. His first competitive examination comes against Klopp's Germany.
Zinédine Zidane returns to management with France, succeeding Didier Deschamps as head coach. Zidane guided Real Madrid to three consecutive Champions League titles between 2016 and 2018 and also won La Liga during his second spell at the Spanish club. His first match as France coach is against Türkiye on September 25.
Roberto Mancini makes his comeback as Italy coach, having previously managed Italy between 2018 and 2023. He guided the Azzurri to victory at Euro 2020 and two third-place finishes in the Nations League. Mancini's second spell begins with a difficult Group A1 meeting against Belgium on September 25, under new coach Mark van Bommel.
Portugal, the reigning Nations League champions, will defend their title under Jorge Jesus. Jesus has won major honours in Portugal, Brazil, and Saudi Arabia, including league titles with Benfica and Al Hilal, as well as the Copa Libertadores with Flamengo in 2019. His first Nations League match is against Wales on September 24.
The managerial changes have added another layer of intrigue to an already competitive League A. Several high-profile managerial battles are set to unfold, including Klopp vs Xavi, Zidane's debut against Türkiye, and Mancini vs Van Bommel. The new era of Nations League A will provide the first indication of how quickly the new managers can impose their ideas.
Key points
- Eight top European teams start UEFA Nations League with new coaches.
- Jürgen Klopp and Xavi Hernández face each other immediately in their competitive debuts.
- The new era of Nations League A features several high-profile managerial battles.
