Top 10 best football managers

Football is not just about the 11 players on the field, the beautiful game is built on tactics, gameplay, and character molded by the manager. Apart from physical fitness, it is equally important for the players to be mentally well. The manager is responsible to keep the dressing room together and bring discipline to the squad. The power to make substitutions is another factor that makes or breaks a match. The success of the team depends a lot on its manager and his leadership quality. Here are the top 10 Best football managers in the history of football ranked on their success and consistency.

Top 10 Best Football Managers are:

#10 Helenio Herrera  

Nationality: Argentine

Herrera is known as one of the most successful and consistent football managers in history. He started his career playing as a central defender for RC Casablanca in 1932. After playing for 12 years he retired and started his managerial career at Puteaux in 1944.

During the 37 years of his managerial career, Herrera managed 14 teams winning 16 trophies. In Spain, he won two la Liga titles each with Atletico Madrid and Barcelona. He then moved to Italy and signed with Inter Milan winning three Serie A titles and two European Cups during his stay at the club. Inter under him was known as Grande inter due to the club’s success during this time. He also won the Copa Italia with Roma and then finally retired as a manager at FC Barcelona in 1981.

#9 Bill Shankly

Nationality: Scottish

William Shankly is one of the most renowned managers of all time primarily known for his time at Liverpool FC from 1959-74. He played as a defender for Preston North End for 16 years after which he started his managerial career at his first club Carlisle United. When he joined Liverpool, the reds were going through their most difficult time in history after they got relegated to the second division in 1954. Shankly joined them in 1959 and built a team finally leading them to 1^st division after three years. Not only that, he led the team to win three consecutive league titles and seven more titles in his time at the club. Shankly is known as an Anfield Legend and it was during his reign the famous chant “You will never walk alone” became the club’s anthem.

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#8 Sir Matts Busby

Nationality: Scottish

Sir Alexander Matthew Busby is known as one of the best football managers of all time. He started his career playing right half for Manchester City in 1928, eventually joining Liverpool in 1936. During his time as a player, he won 2 trophies with City. Thereafter he joined Manchester United as a manager after playing for two of their greatest rivals.

At United, Busby built not one but two great teams. He spent 25 years at the club winning 13 trophies. His first team was popularly known as ‘Busby babes’, eight of which players were killed in the Munich plane crash. After which he built another great side with the survivors of the tragedy and won the FA Cup and two league titles in 1965 and 1967. This site eventually went on the win European Cup in 1968 which added to United’s glory. Sir Matts is remembered in the hall of fame as one of the greatest managers of all time.

#7 Brian Clough

Nationality: English

Brian Howard Clough started his career playing as a striker for Middlesbrough in 1955. He also played for his national team.  In 1965 he took up Hartlepools United as a manager. Although clough did not have a long playing career, he had a remarkable managerial career. He won 17 trophies coaching five different clubs. Clough joined derby county when they were in the second division, and not only took them to first division but also won their first-ever league trophy in 1972. He repeated the same with Nottingham Forest when he led them to their first and only league title in 1978. He won 11 more trophies with the club. His most remarkable achievement was winning the European cup back to back with Nottingham forest.

#6 Rinus Michels

Nationality: Dutch

Marinus Jacobus Hendricus Michels is considered one of the best football managers of all time. He started his career in 1946 at Ajax playing 12 years for the club. He then started his managerial career at asser boys in 1953. After 10 years he returned to Ajax and won 4 Eredivisie, 3 KNVB Cup, and a European Cup. After that, he won 3 trophies with FC Barcelona. He also coached the national team and won the UEFA European Championship in1988. All in all, he won 13 trophies managing 9 different teams. He was named Coach of the Century by FIFA in 1999. He was also named the greatest coach in the history of football by France Football in 2019.

Read More: Top 5 Best Managers in Indian Super League of all time

#5 Ernst Happel

Nationality: Austrian

Ernst Franz Hermann Happel started his career playing as a defender for Rapid Wein in 1942 winning 8 trophies during his time. After retiring as a player, Happel went on to have one of the greatest managerial careers of all time. He coached 11 teams winning 16 trophies. He is one of the only managers who won trophies in four different countries namely the Netherlands, Belgium, West Germany, and Austria. Happel also took Feijenoord to win the European Cup and won the same title later with Hamburger SV. He also coached the Dutch national team in the 1978 World Cup and reached the final losing to hosts Argentina.

#4 Carlo Ancelloti

Nationality: Italian

Ancelloti began his career playing as a midfielder for Parma in 1974. After playing for 16 years he retired and took up Italy as an assistant manager in 1992. He has won a total of 20 trophies across the top 5 leagues in Europe. Don Carlo won the champions league thrice, twice with AC Milan, and once with Real Madrid. One of his remarkable achievements is winning league titles across 4 leagues except for La Liga. He won Serie A with Milan, Premier League with Chelsea, Ligue 1 with Paris Saint Germain, and the Bundesliga with Bayern Munich. Even after almost 30 years of successful coaching, Ancelloti is still on the map as he is currently managing Real Madrid who are currently league leaders in La Liga.

#3 Arsene Wenger

Nationality: French

Arsène Charles Ernest Wenger started his career playing as a midfielder for Mutzig in 1969. After playing for about 12 years Wenger went on to become one of the most iconic football coaches of all time. He started with Nancy in 1984 and coached two more clubs before finally moving on to Arsenal where he stayed for 22 years (1996-2018). He is the most successful manager Arsenal has ever had. Wenger completely changed the boring football they played and built the most threatening Arsenal side with players like Thierry Henry, Patrick Vieira, and Dennis Bergkamp. He won 3 premier league titles, 7 FA Cups, and reached the UCL final in 2006.

#2 Jose Mourhinho

Nationality: Portuguese

José Mário dos Santos Mourinho Félix started his career playing as a midfielder for Rio Ave. After a very short playing career of only 7 years, he moved to coach. It all began when he joined Benfica in 2000 and then he had the most successful managerial career ever. He coached 9 clubs winning a total of 25 trophies in 22 years. His most remarkable achievement is winning the Champions League with FC Porto in 2004. He also won 5 other trophies with the club.

His tenure at Chelsea was also quite successful where he won three premier league titles and 5 other trophies. He then again won the Champions League with Inter Milan in 2010. He then coached Manchester United winning the Europa league and bringing them back to the champions league. Mourhino still continues his career today at Roma in Italy.

#1 Sir Alex Ferguson

Nationality: Scottish

One of the best football managers Sir Alexander Chapman Ferguson began his career playing as a striker for queens park in 1957. After a short-lived playing career, he moved to coach starting with East Stirlingshire in 1974. He then went on to win three league titles, four Scottish Cups, and a Scottish League Cup with Aberdeen. SAF then made history when Aberdeen beat Real Madrid in the final of the UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup.

SAF’s most successful period began when he joined Manchester United in 1986. He won a total of 39 trophies during his 27 years at the club including 13 premier league titles. He is the most successful manager United ever had. United also won the UCL under SAF in 1998–99 and 2007–08. SAF not only put United on the map like never before but also earned them the recognition of being one of the biggest clubs in Europe. Besides Sir Alex was named English Manager of the Year eight times and was awarded World Manager of the Year four times. It is safe to say that Sir Alex Ferguson is the greatest football manager of all time.

Some honorable mentions include Zinedine Zidane who won back-to-back UCL titles with Real Madrid, Pep Guardiola for his invincible Barca side, Antonio Conte for his success in Italy among others.

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