Story byWhat is the hardest coaching job in world sport?The Athletic StaffSun, February 15, 2026 at 5:16 AM UTC·23 min readWhat is the hardest coaching job in world sport?We are talking about the ‘poisoned chalice’ roles — mostly big teams where standards are high, fans’ expectations are higher and where coaches also have to contend with the weight of a glorious history. AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementWe asked our writers across all sports for their nominations for the title, from Manchester United to the USWNT via Ferrari team principal (among others). In each case, reporters were asked to focus on those teams’ wider historical context rather than simply this current season. At the end of the article, you can vote for the job you think is the hardest in world sport. This list is far from definitive, so please do make your own suggestions in the comments below if you feel we have missed any roles out. England (men’s international football)Coaching the England men’s team is such a peculiar role that it even has a name attached: ‘An Impossible Job’.