9 Best Soccer Managers of All-Time, Ranked

There are many factors to consider when selecting the best soccer managers. There are plenty of managers who can take over one of the soccer betting favourites and win silverware. 

Collecting trophies isn’t enough to earn a place in these rankings. The all-time greats have offered more than on-field success, whether that’s building a deeper culture around the club or having a long-term impact on the sport as a whole.

9 Best Managers In Soccer History, Ranked

Who Are the Greatest Soccer Managers of All Time? 

1. Johan Cruyff

Even though he won four La Liga titles and a European Cup, Johan Cruyff won fewer trophies than most managers listed here. Cruyff, though, was an easy pick for the top spot due to his wider impact on the game. 

Building on his influence as a player, he guided Ajax to the Cup Winners’ Cup behind his trademark system. At Barcelona, he established a dynasty and is widely credited with the creation of La Masia, which has served as the foundation for much of Barcelona’s success in the 21st century. 

2. Pep Guardiola

An integral member of Cruyff’s Barcelona teams, Pep Guardiola has developed his tactical identity, drawing influence from Total Football and other iconic managers worldwide, including Marcelo Bielsa.

Winner of 12 league titles and three Champions Leagues as a manager, Guardiola has dominated in Spain, Germany, and England. His coaching tree is extensive, with Thomas Tuchel and Luis Enrique among the managers who have been significantly influenced by Guardiola’s style. 

3. Alex Ferguson

Alex Ferguson won 38 trophies in 26 years as Manchester United manager, including 13 league titles and two Champions Leagues. 

Renowned for his faith in academy products and high-octane, attacking soccer, Ferguson’s United teams had unwavering belief, which often led to late goals. 

4. Arrigo Sacchi

Like Cruyff, Arrigo Sacchi revolutionised soccer tactics. A firm believer in Total Football and treating his players as equals, Sacchi’s teams pressed high and ditched the libero in favour of a back four.

His Milan side played eye-catching football and won back-to-back European Cups. Sports Illustrated ranked Sacchi the second-greatest manager of all time in 2019. 

5. Jose Mourinho

Confrontational, charismatic, and never lacking in self-confidence, José Mourinho first shot to prominence with UEFA Cup and Champions League wins at Porto. A move to Chelsea, featuring numerous headline-making quotes, followed, with Mourinho’s Blues breaking records.

His tactical nous and adaptability brought further success with Inter and Real Madrid before a return to Chelsea and a third Premier League title. At his peak, the self-acclaimed “Special One” was a masterful man manager and could outmanoeuvre even the smartest tacticians. 

6. Valeriy Lobanovskyi

It’s hard to overstate Valeriy Lobanovskyi’s achievements. He made Dynamo Kyiv not only into a perennial force in the Soviet Union, but into a consistent contender for continental honours. 

Lobanovskyi is widely credited with being the first manager to introduce a scientific approach to diet and training. Also an excellent motivator, Lobanovskyi checked all the boxes for being a great manager, with tactical ideas far ahead of their time. 

7. Rinus Michels

Several publications have named Rinus Michels as the greatest coach in the history of soccer. I strongly considered placing him higher on his list for his role in the development of Total Football and how that revolutionised the way the sport is played. 

A disciplinarian with his players, Michels was an introvert, but that didn’t stop him from connecting with his squad. He enjoyed plenty of success as a manager, including leading the Netherlands to the European Championship in 1988. 

8. Brian Clough

Brian Clough took Derby and Nottingham Forest, two clubs with minimal silverware in their trophy cabinets, and made both into champions of England. Forest also became back-to-back European champions.

The football was easy on the eye. Clough wasn’t afraid of conflict, and he was happy to tell people how good a manager he was. Most importantly for fans of Derby and Forest, he was right when he said, “I wouldn’t say I was the best manager in the business, but I was in the top one”.

9. Carlo Ancelotti

Winner of only six league titles across a long career at many of Europe’s top clubs, Carlo Ancelotti has underwhelmed at times domestically, despite being the only manager to win the title in each of Europe’s top five leagues.

The Italian, however, has consistently excelled in the Champions League, winning the competition a record five times. 

Often managing big egos, Ancelotti’s laissez-faire style has enabled him to build strong relationships with many of his players. His style of football has also shown increased flexibility, having been rigidly committed to his tactical approach in the early days of his managerial career.