Scottish boss named among most promising managers in world football
Former Hearts and Hibs men make top 23 list of managers to watch
A Scotsman has been listed among the most promising managers in world football by a respected publication.
World Soccer Magazine, which is produced monthly, is the oldest continually published football magazine in the United Kingdom having been on the go since 1960. Its April 2026 edition focuses on up-and-coming head coaches and includes a list of the top 23 managers to watch across the globe.
Some of the names to feature include the likes of Cesc Febregas, who has turned Italian outfit Como from a Serie B side into top-flight European contenders, and Filipe Luis, who won the Brazilian title and Copa Libertadores with Flamengo last year.
Also on the list is Ian Cathro, the former Hearts manager, who is now making a name for himself in Portugal as manager of Estoril. The Dundonian may have flopped at Tynecastle, where he lasted just seven months in charge before he was sacked in August 2017 after failing to qualify from the League Cup group stages, but he has transformed Estoril into a top half Primera Liga side who at one stage were threatening the European places before a recent dip in form.
The 39-year-old, who claimed the league's manager of the month award for January, has been praised for his perseverance of playing attacking football, no matter who the opposition may be.
Despite his relative-youth, Cathro already has a wealth of experience in various coaching roles. While his only permanent positions have been at Hearts and Estoril, he has also worked under Steve McClaren and Rafa Benitez and Newcastle United, as well as Nuno Espirito Santo at Wolves and Spurs.
Another name on the list with a Scottish connection is Mark Milligan, who spent the 2018-19 Premiership season at Hibs towards the end of his playing career.
Milligan was appointed Newcastle Jets boss last year and steered his side to an Australian Cup victory. The former Socceroo has continued his success into this season with Jets now sitting pretty at the top of the A-League table. It’s only the 40-year old’s second ever permanent role in management.
Other names on the list include Pellegrino Matarazzo, Michael Bradley, Rafael Marquez, Matt Wells and Rulani Mokwena.
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