9 Most Successful Managers in Football History as Guardiola Closes in on Ferguson

Pep Guardiola's managerial journey has been marked by exceptional achievements. After retiring as a player in 2006, the Spaniard swiftly transitioned to coaching and was named the manager of Barcelona B the following year.

Following a triumphant stint with the B team, Guardiola ascended to the role of Barcelona's head coach in 2008. From that point forward, his success has been unparalleled.

Over the past decade and a half, across his tenures with Barcelona, Bayern Munich, and presently Manchester City, Guardiola has achieved a remarkable sweep of victories.

According to GOAL, Guardiola's trophy cabinet boasts an impressive 36 titles, including three Champions League triumphs and ten domestic league championships.

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However, it's intriguing to consider how Guardiola's extensive collection of honours measures up against the accomplishments of the most successful football managers in history.

Sports Brief has analysed the list of the nine most accomplished football managers ever, based on their substantial trophy hauls.

9. Carlo Ancelotti - 24 trophies

Carlo Ancelotti stands as one of the most adorned managers in global football. The Italian maestro has secured league championships across four of Europe's premier leagues and belongs to the exclusive group of managers who have claimed the Champions League title with two distinct teams.

Ancelotti's accomplishments have come with esteemed clubs such as AC Milan, PSG, Bayern Munich, and presently Real Madrid.

It's highly probable that he will further augment his achievements in the years ahead.

8. Jose Mourinho - 26 trophies

Unlike most of the managers on this list, Jose Mourinho rose to the highest echelons of football management despite having no prior playing experience at the top level.

After winning the Champions League with an unfancied Porto in 2004, Mourinho has since managed some of the best clubs in world football, including Chelsea, Inter Milan, Real Madrid, and Manchester United.

'The Special One' added another accolade to his illustrious career as a manager, claiming his 26th trophy when Roma emerged victorious in the inaugural UEFA Conference League in 2022, per Sportskeeda.

7. Jock Stein - 26 trophies

An iconic figure at Celtic, Stein achieved legendary status by capturing the European Cup in 1967 and securing 10 league titles with the renowned Scottish club.

6. Luis Felipe Scolari - 26 trophies

Scolari is perhaps the most Hollywood movie-worthy manager on the list because, with the Brazilian, you would usually get one of two extremes: the outstanding or the appalling - though more often the former than the latter.

Much of his success can be credited to his enigmatic style, with his ability to inspire his players proving to be as important as his tactical prowess.

As a manager, he was by no means a remedy for all ills, but when his methods worked, they worked brilliantly and his World Cup triumph with Brazil in 2002 is evidence of this.

5. Ottmar Hitzfeld - 28 trophies

Ottmar Hitzfeld earned legendary status, not once, but twice, with the two biggest clubs in German football.

Hitzfeld achieved Champions League victory on two occasions in his managerial career: first in 1997 with Borussia Dortmund, and later with Bayern Munich in 2001.

On a one-way trajectory towards Bundesliga royalty, Hitzfeld now stands in a league of his own.

4. Valeriy Lobanovskyi - 30 trophies

Lobanovskyi's impressive collection of 30 trophies was exclusively attained during his tenures at Dynamo Kiev, where he managed the Ukrainian club in three distinct periods.

Additionally, he steered the Soviet Union to a second-place finish in the European Championship of 1988.

With the exception of Lev Yashin, there may not be a name more synonymous with Soviet football than Lobanovskyi, who created the dominant Dynamo Kiev side of the late 20th century, and he is considered a national icon in Ukraine.

3. Mircea Lucescu - 35 trophies

Lucescu has achieved triumphs throughout Europe with renowned clubs including Galatasaray, Shakhtar Donetsk, and Dynamo Kiev.

Remarkably, even at the age of 77, he continues to hold the position of manager at Dynamo Kiev.

2. Pep Guardiola - 36 trophies

During a successful four-year stint, Guardiola became renowned for tiki-taka football as he became the first person in the Champions League era to win the competition both as a player and as a manager while also delivering Barcelona's first-ever continental treble.

At 52 years of age, Guardiola has already secured an astonishing 36 trophies under his belt.

While it's highly likely that he will ascend to the second position in this regard, he still has a considerable journey ahead if he aims to claim the top spot for himself.

1. Alex Ferguson - 49 trophies

The most exceptional manager of all time, Ferguson experienced his peak during his time at Manchester United.

Over a remarkable 27-year tenure, he guided the team to an impressive tally of 38 trophies. While Guardiola might surpass this collection of trophies eventually, it will take quite some time for that milestone to be reached.

Pep hints at Palmer sale

Earlier, Sports Brief reported that Cole Palmer’s future with Manchester City remains uncertain despite him being the hero in their UEFA Super Cup win over Sevilla on Wednesday night.

Manager Pep Guardiola said in an interview after City’s penalty shootout victory that the 21-year-old winger could be sold despite his fine finish against the reigning UEFA Europa League champs.

Palmer has been in fine form for City to start the season, making a strong case to be part of their first-team lineup this campaign.