Robert Lewandowski builds dream coach from managers he has played under at Bayern Munich, Barcelona and Borussia Dortmund - but who misses out?
Updated 15/09/2025 at 15:10 GMT+1
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During a stellar career, Robert Lewandowski has played for some of the best clubs in the world, under some of the best managers in the world. But which of these star names does he see as the best at the various facets of management? The Pole, for the second time, is currently playing under Hansi Flick, at Barcelona - but there was one Blaugrana coach who was missing from his list.
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Who does Robert Lewandowski consider the best tactical manager he has played under? And what about man management?
After a glittering career playing for some of the world's top clubs, the decorated Pole has worked under some of the best footballing minds the game has ever had to offer.
Following 12 years in Germany - four with Borussia Dortmund and eight with Bayern Munich - Lewandowski is now into his fourth season with Barcelona, as he looks to add more silverware to an already bulging personal palmares.
Ahead of the Blaugrana's trip to Newcastle United in the UEFA Champions League - available to watch and stream exclusively live in the UK on TNT Sports and discovery+ - the legendary frontman built his best-ever coach, with five facets of management taken into account.
Speaking to The Times, Lewandowski's super-manager looked like this:
| Management facet | Manager |
| Tactics | Pep Guardiola |
| Man-management | Hansi Flick |
| Team talks | Jurgen Klopp |
| Big games | Carlo Ancelotti |
| Fashion sense | Julian Nagelsmann |
All of the big names feature in some way, but there is one notable exception - Xavi - who managed 'Lewy' at Barcelona between 2022 and 2024.
The ex-midfield maestro was, however, competing with some doyens of the game in the shape of Pep Guardiola, Hansi Flick, Jurgen Klopp and Carlo Ancelotti.
Lewandowski is in his second spell working with Flick, having also done so at Bayern Munich during a period that saw them win the treble in 2020.
And the 37-year-old is showing little sign of slowing down in Catalonia, hitting 42 goals across all competitions last season, and already up and running this term with a double against Valencia on Sunday night.
That took him to 123 goal involvements in 150 games for Barcelona, with five trophies to boot - and he has set down the gauntlet to the younger generations that they still have to "catch" him.
"I feel very strong," he said. "If you see on paper what I do in the training sessions, the physical tests, I am at a similar level to what I was before. Many people make that mistake about me, that at 37 I am going down.
"Still, I know I can be on the top, and physically I don’t see or feel I have to catch the young players. The opposite. They have to catch me."
Stream the Premier League, Men’s and Women’s FA Cup, UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, UEFA Conference League and more on TNT Sports and discovery+
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