A world-renowned football magazine has recently published a list of the best football managers in the history of the sport. The criteria’s that were used to compile this list included trophies won during their coaching careers as well as how the coach influenced the competition and other managers. Below, you will find a list of the best football managers to ever coach the sport.
Rinus Michels: Netherlands
- Major Titles Claimed: 1 x EUFA European Championship, 1 x European Cup, 1 x La Liga Championship, 4 x Eredivisie Championships.
- Win Percentage Overall: Unknown
- Elite Clubs Managed: Netherlands national team, FC Barcelona, Ajax
- Years Active: 1960 – 1992
Sir Alex Ferguson
- Major Titles Claimed: 2 x UEFA Champions Leagues, 2 x European Cup Winners Cup, 13 x Premier Leagues, 3 x Scottish Division Championships.
- Win Percentage Overall: 58.1%
- Elite Clubs Managed: Manchester United
- Years Active: 1974 – 2013
Arrigo Sacchi: Italy
- Major Titles Claimed: 2 x UEFA Champions Leagues, 1 x Serie A Championship
- Win Percentage Overall: Unknown
- Elite Clubs Managed: Italy national soccer team, AC Milan
- Years Active: 1985 – 2001
Johan Cruyff: Netherlands
- Major Titles Claimed: 1 x UEFA Champions League, 4 x La Liga Championships
- Win Percentage Overall: 61.3%
- Elite Clubs Managed: FC Barcelona, Ajax
- Years Active: 1985 – 2013
Pep Guardiola: Spain
- Major Titles Claimed: 2 x UEFA Champions Leagues, 2 x Premier Leagues, 3 x Bundesliga Championships, 3 x La Liga Championships.
- Win Percentage Overall: 72.5%
- Elite Clubs Managed: Manchester City, Bayern Munich, FC Barcelona
- Years Active: 2008 – Present
Valeriy Lobanovskyi: Ukraine
- Major Titles Claimed: 2 x EUFA Cup Winners Cups, 5 x Ukraine National League Championships, 8 x Soviet Top League Championships.
- Win Percentage Overall: Unknown
- Elite Clubs Managed: Dynamo Kyiv
- Years Active: 1969 – 2001
Helenio Herrera: France/Argentina
- Major Titles Claimed: 2 x EUFA Champions Leagues, 2 x Serie A Championships, 4 x La Liga Championships.
- Win Percentage Overall: Unknown
- Elite Clubs Managed: Inter Milan, FC Barcelona, Atletico Madrid
- Years Active: 1944 – 1981
Carlo Ancelotti: Italy
- Major Titles Claimed: 3 x UEFA Champions Leagues, 1 x Bundesliga Championship, 1 x Ligue 1 Championship, 1 x Premier League, 1 x Serie A Championship
- Win Percentage Overall: 59%
- Elite Clubs Managed: Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, Chelsea, AC Milan, Juventus
- Years Active: 1995 – Present
Ernst Happel: Austria
- Major Titles Claimed: 2 x UEFA Champions Leagues, 2 x Austrian Championships, 2 x Bundesliga Championships, 1 x Eredivisie Championship.
- Win Percentage Overall: 55%
- Elite Clubs Managed: Hamburg, Netherlands national team, Club Brugge.
- Years Active: 1962 – 1992
Bill Shankly: Scotland
- Major Titles Claimed: 1 x EUFA Champions League, 2 x Premier League Titles.
- Win Percentage Overall: 49.3%
- Elite Clubs Managed: Liverpool
- Years Active: 1949 – 1974
Matt Busby: Scotland
- Major Titles Claimed: 1 x EUFA Champions League, 5 x Premier League titles.
- Win Percentage Overall: 50%
- Elite Clubs Managed: Manchester United
- Years Active: 1945 – 1971