Managers With Most UEFA Champions League Titles: Winning the UEFA Champions League is undoubtedly the most prestigious achievement in club football. It is a highly esteemed accomplishment that only a limited number of teams and even fewer coaches can attain. Each year, a squad of around 24 players emerges as the champions of this top continental competition, under the guidance of just one coach. Joining the exclusive club of winning managers is an arduous task in itself, and achieving this feat on multiple occasions is truly exceptional.
Managers With Most UEFA Champions League Titles
Now, Let’s talk about the managers who have won the most UEFA Champions League titles.
1. Carlo Ancelotti
- Country: Italy
- Clubs: Milan, Real Madrid
- Number of Wins (Years): 4 (2003, 2007, 2014, 2022)
Carlo Ancelotti is an incredibly successful manager in the UEFA Champions League. He has won the tournament 4 times, more than any other manager in its history.
Ancelotti’s first Champions League victory as a manager happened in 2003 when he was in charge of Milan. They played against Juventus in the final and won in a thrilling penalty shootout, with a final score of 3-2. His second win came in 2007 when Milan defeated Liverpool 2-1 in the final. Ancelotti’s third win came in 2014 with Real Madrid, as they beat Atlético Madrid in the final. His most recent success occurred in 2022, again with Real Madrid defeating Liverpool in the final.
Ancelotti’s achievements in the UEFA Champions League are truly remarkable, and he is considered a legendary figure in the competition. No other manager has been able to match his record of four titles.
2. Bob Paisley
- Country: England
- Clubs: Liverpool
- Number of Wins (Years): 3 (1977, 1978, 1981)
Bob Paisley achieved great success as the manager of Liverpool in the European Cup, which was the predecessor to the UEFA Champions League. He won the prestigious tournament 3 times, an impressive accomplishment that places him among the most accomplished managers in European football.
During the late 1970s and early 1980s, Paisley’s Liverpool teams were dominant in the European Cup. They emerged as champions three times in a span of five years, showcasing their exceptional abilities on the European stage.
Paisley’s triumphs in the European Cup played a vital role in Liverpool’s ascent to becoming one of the most successful clubs worldwide. They firmly established Liverpool as a formidable force in European football and solidified Paisley’s reputation as one of the greatest managers in the history of the sport.
3. Zinedine Zidane
- Country: France
- Clubs: Real Madrid
- Number of Wins (Years): 3 (2016, 2017, 2018)
Zinedine Zidane, a remarkable manager, achieved great success in the UEFA Champions League, winning the tournament 3 times while leading Real Madrid. He joins an elite group of only four managers who have achieved this feat: Carlo Ancelotti, Bob Paisley, and Pep Guardiola.
Zidane’s first win in the Champions League as a manager occurred in 2016 when Real Madrid emerged victorious against Atlético Madrid in the final. The following year, in 2017, his team win over Juventus in the final to claim their second title. Zidane’s third and most recent victory came in 2018, with Real Madrid defeating Liverpool in the final match.
A notable distinction for Zidane is that he is the only manager to have won the Champions League three times consecutively. His outstanding achievements in the competition have solidified his status as a legend of the UEFA Champions League. Zidane’s managerial record in the tournament remains unparalleled, and his legacy in the competition is firmly established.
4. Pep Guardiola
- Country: Spain
- Clubs: Barcelona, Manchester City
- Number of Wins (Years): 3 (2009, 2011, 2023)
Pep Guardiola, an exceptional manager, has achieved tremendous success in the UEFA Champions League, winning the tournament 3 times. He secured two of those victories while managing Barcelona and one with Manchester City. Alongside Carlo Ancelotti, Bob Paisley, and Zinedine Zidane, he stands as one of the four managers to have won the Champions League three times.
Guardiola’s initial two Champions League triumphs as a manager occurred in 2009 and 2011 when he guided Barcelona. His most recent victory took place in 2023, leading Manchester City to victory over Inter Milan in the final.
Guardiola’s managerial record in the Champions League is truly remarkable, solidifying his status as a legend of the competition. Although he still has a long career ahead of him, and the opportunity to win more Champions League titles, his aspiration to be considered one of the greatest managers of all time will require further success in the tournament.
20 Managers With Most UEFA Champions League Titles
| Rank | Players | Titles (Year) | Club |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | José Villalonga | 2 (1956, 1957) | Real Madrid |
| 6 | Luis Carniglia | 2 (1958, 1959) | Real Madrid |
| 7 | Béla Guttmann | 2 (1961, 1962) | Benfica |
| 8 | Helenio Herrera | 2 (1964, 1965) | Inter Milan |
| 9 | Miguel Muñoz | 2 (1960, 1966) | Real Madrid |
| 10 | Nereo Rocco | 2 (1963, 1969) | Milan |
| 11 | Ștefan Kovács | 2 (1972, 1973) | Ajax |
| 12 | Dettmar Cramer | 2 (1975, 1976) | Bayern Munich |
| 13 | Brian Clough | 2 (1979, 1980) | Nottingham Forest |
| 14 | Ernst Happel | 2 (1970, 1983) | Feyenoord, Hamburger SV |
| 15 | Arrigo Sacchi | 2 (1989, 1990) | Milan |
| 16 | Ottmar Hitzfeld | 2 (1997, 2001) | Borussia Dortmund, Bayern Munich |
| 17 | Vicente del Bosque | 2 (2000, 2002) | Real Madrid |
| 18 | Alex Ferguson | 2 (1999, 2008) | Manchester United |
| 19 | José Mourinho | 2 (2004, 2010) | Porto, Inter Milan |
| 20 | Jupp Heynckes | 2 (1998, 2013) | Real Madrid, Bayern Munich |