.gif)
In football, it’s often the players who get the glory, but behind every legendary team is a manager who made it all possible. These men didn’t just win trophies—they shaped how the game is played and remembered.
Spending over two decades at Manchester United, he built not just one great team but several, constantly adapting to new eras and challenges. With 13 Premier League titles and 2 Champions League trophies, his legacy is built on consistency, discipline, and his unmatched ability to get the best out of his players.
He wasn’t just a manager—he was a footballing visionary. At Ajax and especially at Barcelona, he introduced a style of play rooted in total football, emphasizing space, movement, and intelligence. He laid the foundation for what would become the famous Barcelona identity, influencing countless players and coaches, including Pep Guardiola.
Speaking of Pep, he’s arguably the most dominant modern manager. From his record-breaking Barcelona side to his tactical transformations at Bayern Munich and Manchester City, Pep has turned positional play and pressing into an art form. His influence is everywhere in today’s game, and he’s still rewriting history with every season.
Arrigo Sacchi revolutionized tactics in the late 1980s with AC Milan. His pressing, zonal marking, and off-the-ball coordination made his team one of the most respected ever. He once famously said, “I never realized that to be a jockey you had to be a horse”—a reminder that great managers focus on systems, not just stars.
Then there’s José Mourinho, the self-proclaimed “Special One.” Whether it was Porto’s surprise Champions League win, Chelsea’s dominance, Inter Milan’s treble, or Real Madrid’s record-breaking season, Mourinho brought a siege mentality and tactical edge wherever he went. He thrives under pressure and lives for the big moments.
Carlo Ancelotti deserves a special place among the greats. Known for his calm demeanor and flexibility, he has won the Champions League more times than any other manager, across multiple clubs and generations of players. He lets his teams play with freedom while still delivering results at the highest level.
You can’t forget Rinus Michels either—the original football revolutionary. With Ajax, Barcelona, and the Dutch national team, he developed and popularized total football, a style that prioritized fluidity and intelligence over rigid formations. His ideas laid the groundwork for much of what we see today.
Of course, there are many others who could be included in this conversation. Marcelo Bielsa has inspired a generation of coaches with his intense pressing and commitment to attacking football. Vicente del Bosque managed Real Madrid and Spain with quiet authority, winning everything there is to win. Helenio Herrera dominated the '60s with Inter and pioneered the catenaccio system. Ottmar Hitzfeld lifted the Champions League with two different clubs. And Zinedine Zidane made history by winning three Champions Leagues in a row with Real Madrid.
In the end, greatness isn’t just about trophies. It’s about vision, leadership, and influence. These managers not only won—they changed football. Their ideas live on in the way teams train, play, and dream.
