Unai Emery, Mourinho and Top 6 Managers With the Most Titles in UEFA Europa League

The UEFA Europa League, previously named the UEFA Cup, presents a formidable challenge for participating teams.

As the second-tier European club competition, it follows the esteemed UEFA Champions League.

However, despite its status, winning the Europa League is no small feat, given the fierce competition it offers.

Therefore, leading a team to triumph is a formidable task, achievable only by the most adept managers.

Sports Brief delves into the achievements of the six top managers who have clinched the most UEFA Europa League trophies.

Europa League's most successful managers

1. Unai Emery (4)

According to ESPN, Unai Emery holds the record for the most UEFA Europa League victories by a manager. He has secured the title four times, three times with Sevilla FC and once with Villarreal CF.

Emery steered Sevilla to three consecutive UEL triumphs in 2013-14, 2014-15, and 2015-16, defeating Benfica, Dnipro, and Liverpool respectively. The Spanish tactician clinched his fourth trophy with Villareal CF, triumphing over Manchester United in the final.

The match was decided on penalties, with Emery's side emerging victorious in a marathon shootout that ended 12-11, marking the longest shootout in the tournament's history.

2. Giovanni Trapattoni (3)

Giovanni Trapattoni, a revered figure among Italian managers, boasts three UEFA Cup victories to his name. All three of these triumphs occurred during the era when the competition was known as the UEFA Cup. In the 1976-77 edition,

Trapattoni guided Juventus to victory over Athletic Bilbao in the final, marking one of the earliest successes in his illustrious career. His second UEFA Cup victory came with Inter Milan in the 1990-91 season, where the Nerazzurri emerged victorious against AS Roma in the final showdown.

Trapattoni clinched his third UEFA Cup title with Juventus, triumphing over Borussia Dortmund. He also secured a UEFA Champions League title with Juventus in the 1984-85 season, further cementing his legacy as one of the greatest tacticians of his time.

The tactician's managerial prowess extended to the domestic arena, where he clinched the Serie A title an impressive seven times.

3. Rafael Benitez (2)

Renowned for his exceptional achievements, Benitez stands among the select few to have lifted the UEFA Europa League title twice, each with different clubs.

His first win victory occurred at Valencia CF during the 2003-04 season, where his leadership led to triumph over Olympique Marseille in the final.

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During his tenure at Chelsea in England, he secured his second UEFA Europa League triumph after the Blues defeated Benfica 2-1 in the final of the 2012/13 edition.

4. Jose Mourinho (2)

The Portuguese tactician boasts two UEFA Europa League titles to his name. Mourinho secured his first triumph with FC Porto during the 2002-03 season when the competition was named the UEFA Cup.

Leading his team to victory over Celtic in the final with a 3-2 scoreline after extra time marked a memorable achievement.

His second Europa League victory came with Premier League side Manchester United in the 2016-17 season. The Red Devils secured a 2-0 victory over Dutch outfit AFC Ajax in the final.

Mourinho has clinched the UEFA Champions League title twice, once with FC Porto and again with Inter Milan, further solidifying his status as one of the top managers in European football.

5. Diego Simeone (2)

One of the most esteemed managers globally, Diego Simeone commands immense respect as the head of Atletico Madrid.

Over the past decade, Simeone has led the Madrid giants to numerous triumphs, including clinching the UEFA Europa League title twice with the Spanish club.

His notable achievements in the competition came in the 2011-12 and 2017-18 seasons. In the former instance, his team emerged victorious against Athletic Bilbao in an all-Spanish final, while in the latter, Atletico Madrid secured the title by defeating Olympique Marseille.

In total, Simeone has amassed eight trophies during his tenure with the club. Additionally, Juande Ramos and Luis Molowny have also achieved the feat of winning the Europa League twice, with Sevilla and Real Madrid respectively.

6. Juande Ramos (2)

Juande Ramos, the manager credited with bringing European success to Sevilla, led the club to consecutive Europa League trophies in the mid-2000s.

Additionally, his tenure saw Sevilla triumph over Barcelona with a 3-0 victory in the 2006 UEFA Super Cup.

Following his stint in Seville, Ramos went on to manage Tottenham and Real Madrid, securing a League Cup title with the English side.

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