Top 10 Coaches With Most Trophies in Football History

Coaches With Most Trophies in Football History: Some coaches in football have won a lot of trophies during their careers. They’ve been very successful, winning championships in different types of competitions, like local leagues and international events. People remember their teams for being really good, playing well, and winning a lot.

Coaches With Most Trophies in Football History

Here are the 10 coaches who have won the most trophies in football history:

10. Giovanni Trapattoni (22 titles)

Italian coach Giovanni Trapattoni has a remarkable career with high success and numerous titles. However, his most exceptional achievements came during his time with Juventus, where he won six Serie A championships, one Champions League title, and two UEFA Cups, among other honors. Interestingly, he also secured some of these titles while coaching his long-time rival, Inter Milan.

Trapattoni is also well-remembered in Germany for winning the Bundesliga and the League Cup. What sets him apart is his unique achievement of winning league championships in four different European countries.

Furthermore, he has a remarkable record of lifting the European Cup, the Cup Winners’ Cup, and the Intercontinental Cup both as a player and as a coach.

(Club) CompetitionNo. of Titles (Year Won)
(Juventus)
Serie A6x 1976–77, 1977–78, 1980–81, 1981–82, 1983–84, 1985–86
Coppa Italia2x 1978–79, 1982–83
European Cup1x 1984–85
UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup1x 1983–84
UEFA Cup2x 1976–77, 1992–93
European Super Cup1x 1984
Intercontinental Cup1x 1985
(Inter)
Serie A1x 1988–89
Supercoppa Italiana1x 1989
UEFA Cup1x 1990–91
(Bayern Munich)
Bundesliga1x 1996–97
DFB-Pokal1x 1997–98
DFB-Ligapokal1x 1997
(Benfica)
Primeira Liga1x 2004–05
Red Bull Salzburg
Austrian Bundesliga1x 2006–07
International
Republic of Ireland1x 2011
TOTAL22

9. Luiz Felipe Scolari (24 Titles)

Felipe Scolari, also known as ‘Felipao,’ started his coaching career in Brazil back in 1982. He managed various teams, including Gremio de Porto Alegre and Palmeiras, and achieved success by winning two Copa Libertadores titles. Scolari is known for his ability to adapt, as he also coached in countries like Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Japan, China, and even Uzbekistan.

In addition to club coaching, ‘Felipao’ has directed some of the world’s most prominent national teams. He led the Brazilian national team to victory in the 2002 Korea-Japan World Cup. He also took charge of the Portugal national team, which reached the final of the European Championship but lost to Greece. Additionally, Portugal made it to the semifinals of the 2006 World Cup in Germany under his guidance.

Scolari’s European adventure included a stint with Chelsea during the 2008-2009 season. However, he was dismissed from his position within a year due to the demands of the club’s owner, Roman Abramovich.

(Club) CompetitionNo. of Titles (Year Won)
(Al Qadisiya)
Kuwait Emir Cup1x 1989
Criciúma
Copa do Brasil1x 1991
(Grêmio)
Campeonato Brasileiro Série A1x 1996
Copa do Brasil1x 1994
Copa Libertadores1x 1995
Recopa Sudamericana1x 1996
(Palmeiras)
Campeonato Brasileiro Série A1x 2018
Copa do Brasil2x 1998, 2012
Copa Mercosur1x 1998
Copa Libertadores1x 1999
Torneio Rio-São Paulo1x 2000
(Cruzeiro)
Copa Sul-Minas1x 2001
Bunyodkor
Uzbek League1x 2009
(Guangzhou Evergrande)
Chinese Super League3x 2015, 2016, 2017
AFC Champions League1x 2015
Chinese FA Cup1x 2016
Chinese FA Super Cup2x 2016, 2017
International
(Kuwait)
Arabian Gulf Cup1x 1990
(Brazil)
FIFA World Cup1x 2002
FIFA Confederations Cup1x 2013
TOTAL24

8. Ottmar Hitzfeld (25 Titles)

Ottmar Hitzfeld retired as one of the most successful soccer coaches in history in 2014, and his coaching journey began with several Swiss clubs. He had a deep understanding of Swiss football from his time as a player. He managed three Swiss clubs: FC Zug, FC Aarau, and Grasshopper.

Hitzfeld then returned to his home country, Germany, to lead Borussia Dortmund. One of the highlights of his tenure was reaching the 1997 Champions League final, where Dortmund faced Juventus.

After Dortmund, Hitzfeld moved to Bayern Munich, where he continued to achieve championship success until 2004. In 2001, Bayern Munich secured the Champions League title in a memorable match against Valencia.

Hitzfeld initially retired from coaching and worked in television. However, he made a comeback to coaching in 2007, returning to lead Bayern Munich. In 2008, he was selected to manage the Swiss national team and guided them to two FIFA World Cup appearances.

(Club) CompetitionNo. of Titles (Year Won)
(SC Zug)
Nationalliga B champions1x 1983–84
(Aarau)
Swiss Cup1x 1985
(Grasshopper)
Swiss Super League2x 1989–90, 1990–91
Swiss Cup2x 1988–89, 1989–90
Swiss Super Cup1x 1989
(Borussia Dortmund)
Bundesliga2x 1994–95, 1995–96
DFB-Supercup2x 1995, 1996
UEFA Champions League1x 1996–97
(Bayern Munich)
Bundesliga5x 1998–99, 1999–2000, 2000–01, 2002–03, 2007–08
DFB-Pokal3x 1999–2000, 2002–03, 2007–08
DFB-Ligapokal4x 1998, 1999, 2000, 2007
UEFA Champions League1x 2000–01
Intercontinental Cup1x 2001
TOTAL25

7. Carlo Ancelotti (25 titles)

Carlo Ancelotti, a former great player, has also become one of the best soccer coaches in history. He was a skilled midfielder and helped AS Rome and AC Milan win many important trophies, like the Serie A twice and the Champions League twice with Milan. Ancelotti also played for Italy in 26 matches and was part of the 1990 World Cup.

But his coaching career is even more impressive. Carlo Ancelotti has managed some of the biggest clubs globally, including Juventus, AC Milan, Chelsea, PSG, Real Madrid, and Bayern Munich. As a coach, he won the five biggest European leagues: Serie A with Milan, the Premier League with Chelsea, Ligue 1 with PSG, La Liga with Madrid, and the Bundesliga with Munich.

Ancelotti also achieved success in the Champions League, winning it four times as a coach, twice with AC Milan and twice with Real Madrid. His third Champions League win with Real Madrid in 2014 was significant because the club had been waiting for their 10th title for 12 years. After coaching Napoli and Everton, Carlo Ancelotti is now back as the coach of Real Madrid.

Some people may downplay Ancelotti’s career, arguing that he always coached top teams. However, it’s important to remember that most successful coaches also work with strong teams. Titles are typically won by talented teams, after all.

What no one can criticize Ancelotti for is his ability to bring out the best in his teams as a manager. He unites teams, fosters trust in their abilities and ensures that star players are respected. Ancelotti’s impressive trophy collection speaks to his coaching prowess, making him one of the top 10 coaches with the most soccer titles in history.

(Club) CompetitionNo. of Titles (Year Won)
(Juventus)
UEFA Intertoto Cup1x 1999
(AC Milan)
Serie A1x 2003–04
Coppa Italia1x 2002–03
Supercoppa Italiana1x 2004
UEFA Champions League2x 2002–03, 2006–07
UEFA Super Cup1x 2003, 2007
FIFA Club World Cup1x 2007
(Chelsea)
Premier League1x 2009–10
FA Cup1x 2009–10
FA Community Shield1x 2009
(Paris Saint-Germain)
Ligue 11x 2012–13
(Real Madrid)
La Liga1x 2021–22
Copa del Rey2x 2013–14, 2022–23
Supercopa de España1x 2021–22
UEFA Champions League2x 2013–14, 2021–22
UEFA Super Cup2x 2014, 2022
FIFA Club World Cup2x 2014, 2022
(Bayern Munich)
Bundesliga1x 2016–17
DFL-Supercup2x 2016, 2017
TOTAL25

6. Jose Mourinho (26 Titles)

One of the top six coaches with the most football titles in history is José Mourinho, known as ‘Mou.’ He achieved this remarkable feat by succeeding in various countries and competitions.

Mourinho’s journey in football began as an interpreter for Sir Bobby Robson during his time as a strategist for FC Barcelona. He took on the role of a head coach in 2000, starting at Benfica, then moving to Leiria, and finally landing at Porto in 2002. It was at Porto where he gained fame for his deep understanding of his team and his ability to analyze opponents, leading them to victory in the Champions League against AS Monaco in 2004.

Mourinho then managed Chelsea in the English Premier League, competing against formidable rivals like Arsene Wenger’s Arsenal and Sir Alex Ferguson’s Manchester United. Despite this tough competition, he won two Premier League titles with Chelsea.

His career path then took him to Italy, where he joined Inter Milan. There, he aimed to achieve success in European competitions and did so by winning the UEFA Champions League (often called ‘Orejona’) against Bayern Munich.

In 2010, Mourinho became a sensation in the football world due to his strong character, disciplined approach, and impressive results from his previous stints at Porto, London, and Milan. He then took on the challenging role of managing Real Madrid, which led to intense rivalries and controversies, especially with Barcelona.

Mourinho’s coaching journey eventually concluded in England, where he managed Chelsea, Manchester United, and Tottenham. Throughout his career, he amassed an impressive collection of titles and left a lasting impact on the football world.

(Club) CompetitionNo. of Titles (Year Won)
(Porto)
Primeira Liga2x 2002–03, 2003–04
Taça de Portugal1x 2002–03
Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira1x 2003
UEFA Champions League1x 2003–04
UEFA Cup1x 2002–03
(Chelsea)
Premier League3x 2004–05, 2005–06, 2014–15
FA Cup1x 2006–07
Football League Cup3x 2004–05, 2006–07, 2014–15
FA Community Shield1x 2005
(Inter Milan)
Serie A2x 2008–09, 2009–10
Coppa Italia1x 2009–10
Supercoppa Italiana1x 2008
UEFA Champions League1x 2009–10
(Real Madrid)
La Liga1x 2011–12
Copa del Rey1x 2010–11
Supercopa de España1x 2012
(Manchester United)
EFL Cup1x 2016–17
FA Community Shield1x 2016
UEFA Europa League1x 2016–17
Roma)
UEFA Europa Conference League1x 2021–22
TOTAL26

5. Valery Lobanovsky (37 Titles)

Valery Lobanovsky was a Ukrainian football manager who is highly regarded as one of the most influential managers ever. He achieved an impressive total of 37 trophies during his managerial career, including the European Cup Winners’ Cup, 8 Soviet Top League titles, 6 Soviet Cups, and 3 Soviet Super Cups.

At the young age of 29, Lobanovsky began his coaching career with the Dnieper, a second-division Ukrainian team. In just three seasons, he helped the Dnieper climb to the top division, and in 1973, they achieved a commendable sixth-place finish, earning recognition in Ukrainian football.

Known as “The General,” Lobanovsky later took charge of Dynamo Kiev and played a significant role in the transition from the USSR to independent national teams. He is considered a revolutionary in the world of football due to his innovative training methods. His coaching philosophy can be summed up by the phrase, “The matches may be forgotten, but the results endure.”

Lobanovsky retired from coaching in 1990 but remains an enduring figure in football history. His remarkable achievements with Dynamo Kyiv are unmatched, and he continues to be celebrated as one of the most influential football managers of all time.

(Club) CompetitionYear(s) Won / Achievements
(Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk)
Soviet First League 1x 1971
(Dynamo Kyiv)
Soviet Top League 8x 1974, 1975, 1977, 1980, 1981, 1985, 1986, 1990
Soviet Cup6x 1974, 1978, 1982, 1985, 1987, 1990
Soviet Super Cup 3x 1980, 1985, 1986
Dynamo Games of the USSR 1x 1987
Ukrainian National League 5x 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001
Ukrainian Cup 3x 1998, 1999, 2000
European Cup Winners’ Cup 2x 1975, 1986
European Super Cup 1x 1975; Runner-up: 1986
Commonwealth of Independent States Cup 3x 1997, 1998, 2002
(Soviet Union)
Summer Olympic Games Bronze Medal1x 1976
(Ukrainian SSR)
Spartakiad of Peoples Bronze Medal1x 1979
(Kuwait)
Asian Games Bronze Medal1x 1994
Gulf Cup of Nations1x 1996
TOTAL37

4. Pep Guardiola (37 titles)

Pep Guardiola is a famous and highly respected coach in football today. He is known for his style of play, which emphasizes ball possession. Alongside Carlo Ancelotti, he is one of the only active coaches with an impressive track record.

Guardiola was also a prominent player for Barcelona, where he won six La Liga titles and a Champions League. He represented the Spanish national team 47 times during his career.

As a coach, Guardiola made a significant impact by transforming the Barcelona team. He revamped the squad by letting go of players like Ronaldinho and Deco and promoting young talents from La Masía, Barcelona’s youth academy. This generation, under Guardiola’s guidance, achieved great success, including winning the Champions League twice against Manchester United in 2009 and 2011.

While it’s true that Guardiola had the privilege of coaching Lionel Messi, one of the greatest footballers in history, he also demonstrated his coaching style at Bayern Munich in 2013. There, he had players like Robben and Ribery, and he introduced innovative tactics, including using full-backs in central positions.

Guardiola is renowned for his coaching style, known as “tiki-taka.” In his first season at Barcelona, he achieved an incredible feat by winning all six possible trophies. He also became the youngest manager to win a Champions League. During his four seasons at Barcelona, he won La Liga three times, the Copa del Rey twice, and the Champions League twice.

After his time at Bayern Munich, Guardiola moved to Manchester City in England. In his first full season, he won the Premier League with a record-breaking 100 points. The following year, he achieved another historic milestone by winning the Premier League, FA Cup, and League Cup in the same season, a first in English football.

Guardiola’s coaching abilities are unquestionable, and he is often considered the heir to Johan Cruyff’s Dutch football style. Many regard him as one of the best coaches in football history, if not among the top four without debate.

(Club) CompetitionNo. of Titles (Year Won)
(Barcelona B)
Tercera División1x 2007–08
(Barcelona)
La Liga3x 2008–09, 2009–10, 2010–11
Copa del Rey2x 2008–09, 2011–12
Supercopa de España3x 2009, 2010, 2011
UEFA Champions League2x 2008–09, 2010–11
UEFA Super Cup2x 2009, 2011
FIFA Club World Cup2x 2009, 2011
(Bayern Munich)
Bundesliga3x 2013–14, 2014–15, 2015–16
DFB-Pokal2x 2013–14, 2015–16
UEFA Super Cup1x 2013
FIFA Club World Cup1x 2013
(Manchester City)
Premier League5x 2017–18, 2018–19, 2020–21, 2021–22, 2022–23
FA Cup2 2018–19, 2022–23
EFL Cup4x 2017–18, 2018–19, 2019–20, 2020–21
FA Community Shield2x 2018, 2019
UEFA Champions League1x 2022–23
UEFA Super Cup1x 2023
TOTAL37

3. Mircea Lucescu (38 Titles)

Mircea Lucescu is a Romanian football coach who is still actively coaching at the age of 75. He currently works with Dynamo Kyiv in Russia. Before that, he had coaching roles in various clubs, including Pisa, Brescia, Reggiana, and Inter Milan. However, he is most famous for his achievements with Ukraine’s Shakhtar Donetsk.

A notable fact about Lucescu is that he was the first player-coach in Romanian football history when he took charge of Corvinul Hunedoara during the 1978/79 season. He achieved remarkable results during this time and helped develop several talented players who later became international footballers.

Lucescu also had a stint as the coach of the Romanian national team. He took over in 1981 and led the team in various competitions, including the 1984 European Football Championship. However, Romania did not qualify for the 1986 World Cup under his coaching.

In club coaching, he returned to Dinamo Bucharest in 1985, where he had previously played, and won both the championship and the cup in the 1989/90 season.

He then coached in Italy, taking over clubs like SC Pisa and Brescia Calcio. He achieved promotion to Serie A with Brescia but also faced relegation in subsequent seasons. He briefly coached AC Reggiana in Serie A before returning to Romania.

Back in Romania, he had successful spells with Rapid Bucharest and Inter Milan. He reached the quarter-finals of the UEFA Champions League with Inter Milan in 1999.

Lucescu also had coaching stints in Turkey, winning titles with Galatasaray Istanbul and Beşiktaş Istanbul. In 2004, he took over Shakhtar Donetsk in Ukraine and enjoyed significant success, winning numerous league titles and the 2009 UEFA Cup.

Throughout his career, Lucescu faced health challenges, including a heart attack and a car accident. He later coached Zenit St. Petersburg and, in 2020, became the head coach at Dynamo Kiev. There was a brief controversy when he resigned but then continued in his role due to misunderstandings with the club’s president.

He also briefly coached the Turkish national football team in 2017, succeeding Fatih Terim, but was later dismissed in 2019.

(Club) CompetitionNo. of Titles (Year Won)
(Corvinul Hunedoara)
Divizia B1x 1979–80
(Dinamo București)
Divizia A1x 1989–90
Cupa României2x 1985–86, 1989–90
(Brescia)
Serie B1x 1991–92
Anglo-Italian Cup1x 1993–94
(Rapid București)
Divizia A1x 1998–99
Cupa României1x 1997–98
Supercupa României1x 1999
(Galatasaray)
Süper Lig1x 2001–02
UEFA Super Cup1x 2000
(Beşiktaş)
Süper Lig1x 2002–03
(Shakhtar Donetsk)
Ukrainian Premier League8x 2004–05, 2005–06, 2007–08, 2009–10, 2010–11, 2011–12, 2012–13, 2013–14
Ukrainian Cup6x 2003–04, 2007–08, 2010–11, 2011–12, 2012–13, 2015–16
Ukrainian Super Cup7x 2005, 2008, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015
UEFA Cup1x 2008–09
(Zenit Saint Petersburg)
Russian Super Cup1x 2016
(Dynamo Kyiv)
Ukrainian Premier League1x 2020–21
Ukrainian Cup1x 2020–21
Ukrainian Super Cup1x 2020
TOTAL38

2. Jock Stein (38 Titles)

Jock Stein is unique among the top 10 coaches with the most soccer titles because he won all his trophies with one club. He was a Scottish coach known for his success at Celtic in Glasgow. During his 12 seasons with the club from 1964 to 1977, he won more than 20 titles.

One of their most significant achievements was winning the European Cup in 1967 by defeating Inter Milan, who were a strong team at that time and led by the Spanish coach Helenio Herrera.

Later, Jock Stein became the coach of the Scottish national team and led them to the 1986 World Cup, although tragically, he suffered a heart attack during a qualifying match against Wales.

His coaching legacy was highly regarded, and his assistant coach, Sir Alex Ferguson, who later became the face of Manchester United for many years, recognized and continued his legacy.

(Club) CompetitionNo. of Titles (Year Won)
(Dunfermline Athletic)
Scottish Cup1x 1960–61
Fife Cup 3x 1959–60, 1960–61, 1962–63
Penman Cup1x 1959–60
(Hibernian)
Summer Cup1x 1963–64
(Celtic)
European Cup1x 1966–67
Scottish League Championship10x 1965–66, 1966–67, 1967–68, 1968–69, 1969–70, 1970–71, 1971–72, 1972–73, 1973–74, 1976–77
Scottish Cup 8x 1964–65, 1966–67, 1968–69, 1970–71, 1971–72, 1973–74, 1974–75, 1976–77
Scottish League Cup 6x 1965–66, 1966–67, 1967–68, 1968–69, 1969–70, 1974–75
Drybrough Cup1x 1974
Glasgow Cup 5x 1964–65, 1966–67, 1967–68, 1969–70, 1974–75
(Scotland)
Rous Cup1x 1985
TOTAL38

1. Sir Alex Ferguson (51 Titles)

Sir Alex Ferguson is a very successful football coach, especially known for his time at Manchester United. Before him, another famous coach at Manchester United was Matt Busby, and they had notable players like Bobby Charlton, Denis Law, and George Best.

Sir Alex Ferguson used to be a football player, but he didn’t win any major titles during his playing career. However, he became famous for his coaching career.

Before managing Manchester United, he coached various Scottish clubs, including Aberdeen FC. At Aberdeen, he achieved significant success by winning the Scottish championship three times, which was unusual because Celtic and Rangers usually won it.

Ferguson also won the Scottish Cup four times and the Cup Winners’ Cup, beating Bayern Munich and Real Madrid in the final.

However, his most iconic coaching stint was at Manchester United, where he stayed from 1986 to 2013, a record-breaking tenure. During this time, he won the English championship 13 times, the FA Cup 5 times, and the League Cup 4 times. Manchester United also won the European Cup in 1991 and the Champions League in 1999 and 2008. One of his best teams was in 2008, with players like Cristiano Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney, and Carlos Tévez. They defeated Chelsea to win another Champions League.

His long and successful career at one of Europe’s top clubs makes him one of the greatest football managers ever.

(Club) CompetitionNo. of Titles (Year Won)
(St Mirren)
Scottish First Division1x 1976–77
(Aberdeen)
Scottish Premier Division3x 1979–80, 1983–84, 1984–85
Scottish Cup4x 1981–82, 1982–83, 1983–84, 1985–86
Scottish League Cup1x 1985–86
Drybrough Cup1x 1980
European Cup Winners’ Cup1x 1982–83
European Super Cup1x 1983
(Manchester United)
Premier League13x 1992–93, 1993–94, 1995–96, 1996–97, 1998–99, 1999–2000, 2000–01, 2002–03, 2006–07, 2007–08, 2008–09, 2010–11, 2012–13
FA Cup5x 1989–90, 1993–94, 1995–96, 1998–99, 2003–04
Football League Cup4x 1991–92, 2005–06, 2008–09, 2009–10
FA Charity/Community Shield10x 1990 (shared), 1993, 1994, 1996, 1997, 2003, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011
UEFA Champions League3x 1998–99, 2007–08, 2010–11
European Cup Winners’ Cup1x 1990–91
European Super Cup1x 1991
Intercontinental Cup1x 1999
FIFA Club World Cup1x 2008
TOTAL51

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