CHAMPIONS LEAGUE 10 MOST SUCCESSFUL MANAGERS IN  HISTORY

The Champions League, and its predecessor the European Cup, have been won by some of the most prestigious names in world football. By leading Real Madrid to European glory last season Carlo Ancelotti joined a select number of managers who have won the trophy with more than one club. He is just one of a number of illustrious managers to feature in this top ten list; which features a number of coaches that British football know very well.

10) Carlo Ancelotti

First on our list is, as mentioned, the current incumbent won his third trophy in the 2014 Champions League final. His Real Madrid side triumphed 4-1 over local rivals, Atletico Madrid, after Sergio Ramos scored a late equaliser in injury time. Before then Ancelotti had won the competition twice with AC Milan in 2003 and 2007. He also reached the final with the Italian club in 2005, when his team rushed into a 3-0 half time lead against Liverpool, before the English club later triumphed on penalties. In addition to his success as a manager in the competition, Ancelotti also won the trophy twice as a player, again with AC Milan, making him only one of six men to have won the competition in both their playing and managerial career.

9) Johan Cruyff

Cruyff is another to feature on our list who won the trophy as both a player and manager. The Dutchman won the European Cup three times as a player with Ajax, but was unable to guide the club to the trophy during his successful spell as manager of the club. However, his managerial career will always be linked to his time in charge of Barcelona. The team he built during his period at the Camp Nou became known as the ‘Dream Team’. They won the European Cup in 1992, and were thrashed 4-0 by AC Milan in the 1994 Champions League final. The Catalan club also won four successive La Liga titles during Cruyff’s tenure, as well as the European Cup Winners’ Cup in 1989.

8) Udo Lattek

Lattek won the European Cup, UEFA Cup and European Cup Winners’ Cup in the mid to late-Seventies and early-Eighties. His first title came in the form of the European Cup with Bayern Munich against Atletico Madrid in 1974. The victory was the first of a German team in the competition and added a gloss to the Bavarian club’s domination in the Bundesliga during Lattek’s spell in charge. The former German striker followed this up with another equally dominate spell in charge of Borussia Monchengladbach, where his team won the UEFA Cup. Lattek’s final European trophy came at Barcelona, where his side won the 1982 European Cup Winners’ Cup with a 2-1 over Standard Liege. Udo Lattek is the only manager to have ever won all three of Europe’s major trophies, with the UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup ceasing to exist in 1999.

7) Rafael Benitez

Rafael Benitez has earned an unfair reputation as a steady, unspectacular, safe pair of hands when looking at his exceptional record in Europe’s top club competitions. During his spell at Valencia, Benitez not only broke the Real Madrid and Barcelona dominance in La Liga to win the title in both 2002 and 2004. That 2004 league victory was coupled with UEFA Cup success. Benitez went one better the next season, winning the Champions League in his first season at Liverpool, in a final that became known as the miracle in Istanbul as Liverpool came back from a 3 goal deficit to win on penalties. Benitez would guide Liverpool to the Champions League final again in 2007 facing AC Milan, the team they beat in 2005, however this time the Italian club were victorious. Benitez most recent success in Europe was during his interim spell at Chelsea, where he helped the club recover from being the first reigning champions to exit the Champions League at the group stage, by winning the Europa League final.

6) Jose Villalonga Llorente

 

Jose Villalonga Llorente was the first ever manager to win the European Cup in 1956, with his Real Madrid side achieving a 4-3 win against Stade de Reims. Real Madrid would go on to win the first five tournaments; however Villalonga would only add one further European Cup to his collection as he left the club in 1957. The Spaniard was only 36 years and 184 days old when he won his first trophy, making him the first and youngest winning manager. He would later win the 1962 European Cup Winners’ Cup with Atletico Madrid and the 1964 European Championships with the Spanish national team.

5) Jose Mourinho

Jose Mourinho has been extremely successful in European club competitions during his time as a manager. In 2003, his Porto side beat Celtic to win the UEFA Cup, however better reward would follow as Mourinho led his team to Champions League glory the following season against Monaco. This was his last act as Porto manager as he would join Chelsea just days later. Whilst the Champions League would allude Mourinho at Stamford Bridge, he won the tournament for the second time at Internazionale. Mourinho’s team completed a historic treble in the process, and much like at Porto the victory was his final act as manager, with the ‘Special One’ joining Real Madrid that summer. Whilst a third title has since alluded Mourinho, he reached the semi-final at both Real Madrid and his current club, Chelsea.

4) Nereo Rocco

Rocco was incredibly successful as manager of AC Milan, as well as being a pioneer of the ‘catenaccio’ style of play. During his time at the club they dominated the domestic scene in Italy, winning two Serie A titles and three domestic cups. All this is however, trumped by the club’s performance in Europe during his three spells in charge of the team. The European Cup was won twice, in 1963 and 1969 respectively, with Rocco also leading AC Milan to European Cup Winners’ Cup success on two occasions. He was inducted into the Italian Football Hall of Fame in 2012.

3) Sir Alex Ferguson

Ferguson was a giant of the British game during his legendary tenure at Manchester United. So much so, that it is often forgotten just how successful he was during his time in charge of Aberdeen. Domestically the manager managed to break the Old Firm’s dominance by winning the Scottish championship. His greatest triumph in charge of the Scottish side must be seen as his 1983 European Cup Winners’ Cup campaign, with Aberdeen defeating the mighty Real Madrid 2-1 in the final. The Scotsman would add the 1991 European Cup Winners’ Cup to his collection during his, less successful, early years at Manchester United. Whilst Ferguson’s dominance of the British game for all of the Premier League era goes unquestioned, his critics have often argued he should have won more than the two Champions League titles he did, in 1999 and 2008 respectively. Although, the 1999 triumph is considered one of the tournament’s greatest, with United only equalising and then taking the lead in second half stoppage time.

2) Bob Paisley

Paisley built upon his predecessor’s, Bill Shankly, success at Liverpool to make them the dominant force of British football during the 1970s and 1980s. He is also the only manager in history to win three European Cups. His first success being in 1977, with Liverpool successfully defending the trophy with victory over Brugge at Wembley a year later. His other European Cup success came against Real Madrid in 1981, with the Merseyside club winning 1-0. Paisley also won the UEFA Cup during his time at Anfield in 1976.

1) Giovanni Trapattoni

Trapattoni tops this list with ease, the fiery Italian has won eight European trophies during his long career. He was part of Nereo Rocco’s Milan teams that won the 1963 and 1969 European Cup, as well as the 1968 European Cup Winners’ Cup. He would continue this success into his managerial career, winning four European trophies during his time as manager of Juventus. He won the European Cup and European Cup Winners’ Cup once each, in 1985 and 1984 respectively. However, the tournament he was most successful in was the UEFA Cup. He won the trophy twice with Juventus in 1977 and 1993, also winning the trophy in 1991 with Internazionale during a spell away from the Turin club.