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China's coach Marcello Lippi watches the match against Wales at the 2018 China Cup. Wales won 6-0. Photo: AP
SportFootball

US$28 million a year China boss Marcello Lippi second only to Manchester United’s Jose Mourinho as best paid

France Football report shows Chinese Super League counts four of 20 best paid coaches and two of highest earning players in list topped by Leo Messi

Chinese Football Association (CFA)
Jonathan White
Jonathan White
Why you can trust SCMP
China national team manager Marcello Lippi is the second best paid manager in world football after Manchester United’s Jose Mourinho, according to figures published by France Football.

The French magazine reveals that World Cup winner Lippi, whose China side are ranked 73rd on the Fifa rankings, is paid US$28.1 million (177m yuan) behind only Mourinho’s US$31.8m per year.

The Portuguese manager tops the annual list – which takes into account gross wages, bonuses and commercial revenue – for the second year.
Barcelona's Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez. Photo: Reuters

This year’s top five is rounded out by Diego Simeone of Atletico Madrid (US$26.9m), Real Madrid’s Zinedine Zidane (US$25.7m) and Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola (US$24.5m).

The list also reveals the earnings of players and reports that Barcelona’s Leo Messi (US$154.1m) is the best paid player ahead of Cristiano Ronaldo on US$115m. Paris Saint Germain’s Neymar (US$100m), Real Madrid’s Gareth Bale (US$53.8m) and Barcelona’s Gerard Pique (US$35.4m) finish the top five.

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Shanghai SIPG midfielder Oscar is one of two Chinese Super League players on the list. The Brazilian is the 17th highest earning player in the game on US$27.1m while Hebei China Fortune’s Ezequiel Lavezzi is 12th on the list on US$30.9m per year.
FC Barcelona's Andres Iniesta lies on the pitch during the Spanish La Liga soccer match against Valencia. Photo: AP
Barcelona midfielder Andres Iniesta, who is expected to move to Chinese Super League side Chongqing Dangdai Lifan in the coming days, is the 11th best paid player on US$31.2m – earnings he is expected to dramatically increase in China.

France Football also apologised to the Spaniard for never awarding him the Ballon d’Or.

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Elsewhere on the list of highest paid managers were four from the Chinese Super League.

Guangzhou R&F boss Dragan Stojkovic on US$8.6m per year, Gregorio Manzano at Guizhou Hengfeng Zhicheng on US$9.8m per year and Guangzhou Evergrande boss Fabio Cannavaro on US$12.2m.

Guangzhou Evergrande coach Fabio Cannavaro gestures during the team's AFC Champions League group stage match against Buriram United. Photo: AFP

Hebei boss Manuel Pellegrini is the highest earning in the CSL, his US$12.8m making him the 13th best paid boss in the game.

Luciano Spaletti of Chinese-owned Inter Milan is 17th on the list on US$8.8m per year.

Chinese Football Association should stop papering over the cracks and replace Marcello Lippi with a young mainlander

Business Insider reported last October that Lippi was the best paid manager in the world on US$25.2m per year, with then Shanghai SIPG boss Andres Villas-Boas the fifth best paid on US$15.4m per year.

Based on that report, figures for Chinese Super League coach wages revealed earlier this year put Cannavaro as the fourth highest paid manager in the world.

The Italian was reported as earning US$14.7m per year as the league’s best paid boss, which put him behind only Lippi, Manchester City’s Pep Guardiola and Jose Mourinho on Business Insider’s earning list.

Cannavaro has struggled this season, with his side in third place in the CSL, five points behind leaders Shanghai SIPG after seven matches.

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