The three best current international managers in world football

International football may not come close to the excitement and frenzy of club football, but it has its own old-world charms. There is absolutely nothing better than seeing your country being crowned as champions of the world. The World Cup in Russia that concluded recently witnessed many exciting clashes, and the significance of managers who devise strategies and tweak with their squads in the limited time that is available, is very understated. We take a look at the three best international football managers currently. 

3. Roberto Martinez (Belgium)

Spaniard Roberto Martinez is the manager of the Belgium national team. He was instrumental in leading his team to the semifinals of this year's World Cup in Russia, which they lost to eventual winners France. Martinez had earlier managed English clubs Swansea City, Wigan Athletic and Everton. Belgium eventually finished third in the World Cup behind France and Croatia. Roberto Martinez has adopted a chivalrous brand of football, and that has been taken positively by the Belgian team as such. It is an attack-minded approach which also focuses a lot on possession-based football. 

2. Gareth Southgate (England)

Gareth Southgate steered the Three Lions to the semifinals of the tournament, which they lost 2-1 to Croatia. However, Southgate deserves his share of credits as he stunned critics with sound tactics and led a team devoid of superstars and charismatic personalities, all the way to the last four. A former England international himself (he was capped 57 times), Southgate played as a defender for Crystal Palace, Aston Villa and Middlesbrough. He had represented his country in the 1998 World Cup and also in the 1996 and 2000 Euros.

1. Didier Deschamps (France)

Didier Deschamps became only the third person after Mario Zagallo and Franz Beckenbauer to win the World Cup both as player and coach. Deschamps was the captain of the Les Bleus when they won the 1998 World Cup on home soil. He was a defensive midfielder who was excellent in possession and ball retention. Deschamps gave France absolute freedom to express themselves and this benefitted Paul Pogba to initiate attacks left, right and centre, with the defence and N’golo Kante doing their duties perfectly. As a result, Antoine Griezmann and Kylian Mbappe ran riot. Deschamps steered the French side to the finals of the 2016 European Championships also.