FILE - In this Thursday, Nov. 14, 2019 file photo, France's coach Didier Deschamps gives instructions to his players, during the Euro 2020 group H qualifying soccer match between France and Moldova at the Stade de France stadium, in Saint Denis, north of Paris. The last two World Cup winners (Joachim Loew of Germany and Didier Deschamps of France). The defending European champion (Fernando Santos of Portugal). And a World Cup finalist (Zlatko DaliÄ of Croatia). Not to mention a Champions League winner (Luis Enrique of Spain) and a Premier League champion (Roberto Mancini of Italy). There is no shortage of accomplished coaches at the European Championship.(AP Photo/Francois Mori, File)
The Associated Press
ROME (AP) - The last two World Cup winners, the defending European champion, and a World Cup finalist. Not to mention a Champions League winner and a Premier League champion. There is no shortage of accomplished coaches at the European Championship.
A brief look at six of the top coaches in the tournament:
JOACHIM LÖW (Germany)
Löw has coached more games at the European Championship (17 spread over three editions) and won more matches (11) than any coach in tournament history. While he can add to those numbers this year, Löw has already announced that he will step down after the tournament. Löw has been in charge for nearly 200 games - the most memorable being a 7-1 thrashing of Brazil in the 2014 World Cup semifinals. Germany then beat Argentina to win the World Cup. But Germany finished last in its group at the 2018 World Cup and Löw has since gone back on a decision to drop experienced players Thomas Müller and Mats Hummels. Expectations are low for this Germany time.
DIDIER DESCHAMPS (France)
Deschamps captained France to titles at the 1998 World Cup and 2000 European Championship and is now looking to complete a similar double as coach of Les Bleus after guiding the team to the 2018 World Cup title. Deschamps could have been chasing a third consecutive title if his team had not lost the 2016 European Championship final to Portugal. Deschamps, who took over France in 2012, previously coached Monaco, Juventus (in Serie B) and Marseille. France is a favorite for another title.
FERNANDO SANTOS (Portugal)
Santos coached Portugal to the European title in 2016 then also won the inaugural UEFA Nations League with a squad led by Cristiano Ronaldo. He's one of five coaches to have led two different teams at the European Championship after being in charge of Greece in 2012. His career as a club coach has also gone back and forth between Portugal and Greece with stints at Porto, AEK Athens, Panathinaikos, Sporting Lisbon, Benfica and PAOK. Portugal is not expected to repeat its 2016 success.
ZLATKO DALIĆ (Croatia)
Dalić is the rare European coach who made a name for himself in the Middle East. A former midfielder who never represented his country, Dalić coached Al-Hilal to the Saudi Crown Prince Cup then reached the Asian Champions League final with Al-Ain. Croatian soccer federation president Davor Šuker has acknowledged that it was a gamble hiring Dalić in 2017. But the gamble paid off immediately when Dalić guided Croatia to the 2018 World Cup final. Duplicating the success of 2018 would be a surprise.
LUIS ENRIQUE (Spain)
Having won just about everything as coach of Barcelona, including the Champions League, Luis Enrique is still looking to leave his mark with Spain. He left the Spain job for five months in 2019 to be with his 9-year-old daughter, Xana, who died of a type of bone cancer. Now he's attempting to make Spain the first four-time European champion and he's going to do it without any Real Madrid players - marking a first for Spain at a major tournament. 'œLucho,'ť as the coach is known, decided to drop Sergio Ramos following a season in which the veteran defender was plagued by injuries. Spain is considered an outside contender.
ROBERTO MANCINI (Italy)
A former star forward for Italy, a Serie A champion as both player and coach, and a Premier League winner as manager of Manchester City, Mancini guided Italy to a perfect 10 wins in 10 qualifying matches. He was tasked with reviving an Azzurri squad that failed to qualify for the 2018 World Cup and has already been given a contract extension through the 2026 World Cup. A four-time World Cup champion, Italy's lone European Championship title came in 1968. A title isn't expected of Italy this time.
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FILE - In thisTuesday May 18, 2021 file photo, France's head coach Didier Deschamps announces France's squad list for the UEFA Euro 2020 soccer tournament, in Boulogne Billancourt, outside Paris. France coach Didier Deschamps recalled forward Karim Benzema after nearly six years out for his alleged part in a "sex tape" scandal, including the Real Madrid star in his squad for the European Championship. The last two World Cup winners (Joachim Loew of Germany and Didier Deschamps of France). The defending European champion (Fernando Santos of Portugal). And a World Cup finalist (Zlatko DaliÄ of Croatia). Not to mention a Champions League winner (Luis Enrique of Spain) and a Premier League champion (Roberto Mancini of Italy). There is no shortage of accomplished coaches at the European Championship. (Franck Fife, Pool via AP)
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FILE - In this Sunday, March 24, 2019 file photo, Germany's Joachim Loew stands prior to the start of the Euro 2020 group C qualifying soccer match between Netherlands and Germany at the Johan Cruyff ArenA in Amsterdam. The last two World Cup winners (Joachim Loew of Germany and Didier Deschamps of France). The defending European champion (Fernando Santos of Portugal). And a World Cup finalist (Zlatko DaliÄ of Croatia). Not to mention a Champions League winner (Luis Enrique of Spain) and a Premier League champion (Roberto Mancini of Italy). There is no shortage of accomplished coaches at the European Championship. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong, File)
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FILE - In this Monday, Sept. 9, 2019 file photo, Germany coach Joachim Loew gestures during the Euro 2020 group C qualifying soccer match between Northern Ireland and Germany at Windsor Park, Belfast, Northern Ireland. The last two World Cup winners (Joachim Löw of Germany and Didier Deschamps of France). The defending European champion (Fernando Santos of Portugal). And a World Cup finalist (Zlatko DaliÄ of Croatia). Not to mention a Champions League winner (Luis Enrique of Spain) and a Premier League champion (Roberto Mancini of Italy). There is no shortage of accomplished coaches at the European Championship.(AP Photo/Peter Morrison, File)
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FILE - In this Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019 file photo, Portugal coach Fernando Santos looks on prior to the Euro 2020 group B qualifying soccer match between Serbia and Portugal, on the stadium Rajko Mitic in Belgrade, Serbia. The last two World Cup winners (Joachim Loew of Germany and Didier Deschamps of France). The defending European champion (Fernando Santos of Portugal). And a World Cup finalist (Zlatko DaliÄ of Croatia). Not to mention a Champions League winner (Luis Enrique of Spain) and a Premier League champion (Roberto Mancini of Italy). There is no shortage of accomplished coaches at the European Championship. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic, File)
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FILE - In this Saturday, June 8, 2019 file photo, Italy coach Roberto Mancini sings the national anthem of Italy ahead of the Euro 2020 Group J qualifying soccer match against Greece at Olympic stadium in Athens. The last two World Cup winners (Joachim Loew of Germany and Didier Deschamps of France). The defending European champion (Fernando Santos of Portugal). And a World Cup finalist (Zlatko DaliÄ of Croatia). Not to mention a Champions League winner (Luis Enrique of Spain) and a Premier League champion (Roberto Mancini of Italy). There is no shortage of accomplished coaches at the European Championship.(AP Photo/Yorgos Karahalis, File)
The Associated Press
FILE - In this Saturday, Nov. 16, 2019 file photo, Croatia coach Zlatko Dalic looks at the field prior to the Euro 2020 group E qualifying soccer match between Croatia and Slovakia at the Rujevica stadium in Rijeka, Croatia. The last two World Cup winners (Joachim Loew of Germany and Didier Deschamps of France). The defending European champion (Fernando Santos of Portugal). And a World Cup finalist (Zlatko DaliÄ of Croatia). Not to mention a Champions League winner (Luis Enrique of Spain) and a Premier League champion (Roberto Mancini of Italy). There is no shortage of accomplished coaches at the European Championship. (AP Photo/Daniel Kasap, File)
The Associated Press
FILE - In this Thursday, March 21, 2019 file photo, Portugal coach Fernando Santos directs a training session during a training session of the Portuguese soccer team at the Luz stadium in Lisbon. The last two World Cup winners (Joachim Loew of Germany and Didier Deschamps of France). The defending European champion (Fernando Santos of Portugal). And a World Cup finalist (Zlatko DaliÄ of Croatia). Not to mention a Champions League winner (Luis Enrique of Spain) and a Premier League champion (Roberto Mancini of Italy). There is no shortage of accomplished coaches at the European Championship. (AP Photo/Armando Franca, File)
The Associated Press
FILE - In this Saturday, Oct. 10, 2020 file photo, Spain coach Luis Enrique gestures to his players from the side lines during the UEFA Nations League soccer match between Spain and Switzerland in Madrid, Spain. The last two World Cup winners (Joachim Löw of Germany and Didier Deschamps of France). The defending European champion (Fernando Santos of Portugal). And a World Cup finalist (Zlatko DaliÄ of Croatia). Not to mention a Champions League winner (Luis Enrique of Spain) and a Premier League champion (Roberto Mancini of Italy). There is no shortage of accomplished coaches at the European Championship. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez, File)
The Associated Press
FILE - In this Saturday, Nov. 16, 2019 file photo, Croatia coach Zlatko Dalic gestures during the Euro 2020 group E qualifying soccer match between Croatia and Slovakia at the Rujevica stadium in Rijeka, Croatia. The last two World Cup winners (Joachim Löw of Germany and Didier Deschamps of France). The defending European champion (Fernando Santos of Portugal). And a World Cup finalist (Zlatko DaliÄ of Croatia). Not to mention a Champions League winner (Luis Enrique of Spain) and a Premier League champion (Roberto Mancini of Italy). There is no shortage of accomplished coaches at the European Championship. (AP Photo/Daniel Kasap, File)
The Associated Press
FILE - In this Saturday, March 23, 2019 file photo, Spain's Luis Enrique sits prior to the start of the Euro 2020 group F qualifying soccer match between Spain and Norway at the Mestalla stadium in Valencia, Spain. The last two World Cup winners (Joachim Loew of Germany and Didier Deschamps of France). The defending European champion (Fernando Santos of Portugal). And a World Cup finalist (Zlatko DaliÄ of Croatia). Not to mention a Champions League winner (Luis Enrique of Spain) and a Premier League champion (Roberto Mancini of Italy). There is no shortage of accomplished coaches at the European Championship. (AP Photo/Alberto Saiz, File)
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