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Football fans always have a heated debate on who is the greatest manager of all time, others even fight over the issue especially if the team loses. Managers are the first to be blamed if a team loses a game and ironically the last to be thanked if the team wins. To be a football manager requires a diverse array of talents and football knowledge, most of the managers were once professional football players. Most football managers have always been pivotal to the success of the greatest club or country, here is a look at the 10 most successful football managers in football history who win games, trophies and earned the respect of players and fans.

SIR ALEX FERGUSON (1974-2013)

Manchester United was barely untouchable since Ferguson took over at Old Trafford in 1986, before joining United he won 11 trophies with Aberdeen in the 1980s and won the Scottish First Division with St. Mirren. Ferguson won 28 major trophies with Manchester United in the 27 years that he was in charge at Old Trafford. Ferguson has a total of 49 trophies won across his managerial career and is therefore considered the most successful manager of all time.

PEP GUARDIOLA (2007- PRESENT)

The Spaniard is a tactical master and a relentless winner, Pep has won a total of 12 league titles during the 15 years of his senior managerial career. He has managed big teams such as Barcelona, and Bayern Munich and is currently the manager of Manchester City, he has also won three European cups. Pep followed the footsteps of Johan Cruyff and learned from him by developing major roles in players like Lionel Messi and Kevin De Bruyne.

CARLO ANCELOTTI (1995-PRESENT)   

Ancelotti has managed a total of 11 teams in his senior career since 1995 and now is currently the Real Madrid manager, the Italian coach has won more European Cups than any other coach in the competition’s history. The only manager in history to have won top-flight titles in the top five European leagues, won titles with Ac Milan, Chelsea, PSG, Bayern Munich and Real Madrid.

JOSE MOURINHO (2000-PRESENT)

Mourinho retired from playing football at the age of 24 years and opted to focus on coaching, he worked as an assistant coach under Sir Bobby Robson and Louis Van Gall at Barcelona. Mourinho started his career in year 2002 after leaving Benfica and Uniao De Leiria as a coach with Porto Fc and actually won the UEFA Champions League with Porto in 2004 and won the Primera Liga twice. He has won a total of 26 major trophies in his senior managerial career and he is currently the manager of Fenerbahce.

RINUS MICHELES (1965-1992)

Micheles has won league titles with Ajax and Barcelona, he also led the Netherlands team to victory in the Euro 1988. Micheles led the Netherlands team to the FIFA World Cup runners-up in 1974, he was named the FIFA Coach of the Century in 1999 and the greatest manager of all time by France football in 2019, Rinus Michels was the creator of the Total Football system which laid foundations for how football ball is played today.

VINCENTE DEL BOSQUE (1987-2016)

Bosque spent his entire career at Real Madrid and led the club to win five La Liga titles and four Copa Del Rey crowns before leaving for Los Blancos. Bosque took a break from the managerial role and when he returned he managed the Spain national team and guided them to victory at the World Cup 2010 and a win of the Euro 2012 title.

 JOHAN CRUYFF (1985-1996)

Johan won 14 trophies in his senior managerial role for both Ajax and Barcelona combined, he managed both teams for 11 years and won the European Cup in the year 1992. He expanded on the Total football system that he played under its creator (Rinus Michels).

ANTONIO CONTE (2006-PRESENT)

Conte has managed a total of 10 teams and he is currently the manager at Napoli, he revived Juventus after the Calciopoli scandal and won three consecutive Serie A titles before moving to Chelsea. Conte has won a number of trophies both in Italy and England won the Premier League with Chelsea in his first year in charge and  Serie A with both Juventus and Inter Milan.

ARSENE WENGER (1984-2018)

Wenger took over Arsenal in 1996 and was the manager for the Gunners for 22 years until his retirement in 2018, he guided the Gunners to winning the Premier League in the 1997/98 season and also made it to the UEFA Champions League finals in May 2006.

ZINEDINE ZIDANE (2014-2021)

Zidane has had the shortest coaching career to date compared to any other manager, he has only managed one team and that is Real Madrid. He guided Real Madrid to retain the Champions League title in 2017 making it to be the first club to do so in 27 years.