Football managers play a crucial role in the success of the club. From drawing strategy to selecting the best squad, it is the responsibility of the manager to carry forward the team.
In this article, let us have a look at the top five most managers in the history of football.
Sir Alex Ferguson
Sir Alex Ferguson took over at Manchester United in 1986 and transformed the fortunes of the club. During the 27 years that followed, the Scot re-established the club as one of the greatest in the world.
Ferguson contributions as manager is incredible. He was successful as the manager of Aberdeen in the 1980s, winning 11 trophies, and famously defeated Real Madrid in the 1983 UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup final.
At Old Trafford, Ferguson won 13 Premier League titles and two Champions Leagues among a glut of other honours. With a total of 49 trophies won across his managerial career, he is statistically the most successful manager of all time.
| Team | Titles |
| St Mirren | Scottish First Division |
| Aberdeen | Scottish Premier Division x 3, Scottish Cup x 4, Scottish League Cup, Uefa Cup Winners’ Cup, European Super Cup |
| Manchester United | Premier League x 13, FA Cup x 5, Football League Cup x 4, FA Community Shield x 10, UEFA Champions League x 2, Uefa Cup Winners’ Cup, European Super Cup, Intercontinental Cup, FIFA Club World Cup |
Rinus Michels
Rinus Michels won league titles with Ajax and Barcelona, as well as the European Cup with the former. The Dutchman also managed his home country on several occasions, guiding the Netherlands to Euro 1988 title win as well as a runners-up finish at the World Cup 14 years earlier.
Michels was named the FIFA Coach of the Century in 1999 and was also named the greatest manager of all time by France Football in 2019.
| Team | Titles |
| Ajax | Eredivisie x 4, KNVB Cup x 3, European Cup |
| Barcelona | La Liga, Copa del Rey, Inter-Cities Fairs Cup Trophy |
| FC Koln | DFB-Pokal |
| Netherlands | European Championship |
Pep Guardiola
Pep Guardiola has established himself as the most successful coach in the last 15 years. He has won 12 league titles during his 15 years in senior management across spells with Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Manchester City. He has also won three European Cups.
Under his helm, Barcelona became one of the greatest team between 2008 and 2012. he is an inspiration to several young coaches.
| Team | Titles |
| Barcelona | La Liga x 3, Copa del Rey x 2, Supercopa de Espana x 3, Champions League x 2, Uefa Super Cup x 2, Fifa Club World Cup x 2 |
| Bayern Munich | Bundesliga x 3, DFB-Pokal x 2, Uefa Super Cup, Fifa Club World Cup |
| Manchester City | Premier League x 6, FA Cup x 2, League Cup x 4, Champions League, Community Shield x 2, Uefa Super Cup, Fifa Club World Cup |
Also Read: Players With Most Goals For Manchester City
Johan Cruyff
Johan Cruyff maintained a top-level managerial career that spanned 11 years. He won 14 trophies during this time including the 1992 European Cup. He was an icon as a generation of young managers, including a couple who played under him at Barcelona in Pep Guardiola and Luis Enrique
| Team | Titles |
| Ajax | KNVB Cup x 2, European Cup Winners’ Cup |
| Barcelona | La Liga x 4, Copa del Rey, Supercopa de Espana x 2, European Cup, Uefa Cup Winners’ Cup, European Super Cup |
Helenio Herrera
Helenio Herrera began his managerial career in 1945. He rose to prominence in the 1950s–60s with Atletico Madrid, Barcelona, Inter Milan, and Roma. he won multiple La Liga titles, three Serie A crowns, two European Cups with Inter, plus Intercontinental Cups and domestic trophies.
Herrera helped shift the focus onto managerial identity, with teams becoming known as “Herrera’s Inter.”
| Team | Titles |
| Atletico Madrid | La Liga x 2, Copa Eva Duarte |
| Barcelona | La Liga x 2, Copa del Rey x 2, Inter-Cities Fairs Cup x 2 |
| Inter Milan | Serie A x 3, European Cup x 2, Intercontinental Cup x 2 |
| Roma | Coppa Italia, Anglo-Italian Cup |
