In the history of football, besides the stars on the field, coaches also play an equally important role in shaping the playing style, building tactics and leading teams to the top. Talented strategists have not only won titles but also created great legacies, deeply influencing future generations. The top 10 best football coaches of all time are the names that have written glorious chapters in football history, from unprecedented records to creative tactical philosophies. Please refer to the article below with Bestsoccertips.com!
Who is the best football coach of all time?
1. Alex Ferguson
Who is the best coach in football? According to Bestsoccertips.com, the top position in this list is none other than Sir Alex Ferguson, who has made enormous contributions to the career of Manchester United. Under his leadership, the Red Devils have won 13 Premier League titles, helping the Old Trafford team become the most successful team in the history of English football, with a total of 20 national championships.
Not only successful in the domestic arena, Ferguson also proved his coaching talent in international arenas. He led Manchester United to win the UEFA Champions League twice, the Europa League once, the European Super Cup once, and the FIFA Club World Cup once, affirming his position in the history of world football.
2. Arrigo Sacchi
Arrigo Sacchi, born in 1946, is considered the most influential person in changing the Italian style of play. He not only helped the Italian national team achieve great success but also created a new approach to football. Under Sacchi’s leadership, the Italian team won the 1994 World Cup runner-up, 1 Serie C1 Cup, 1 Serie A Cup, 1 Italian Super Cup, 2 European Cups, 2 European Super Cups, and 1 Intercontinental Cup. These achievements helped him affirm his position in the world of coaching.
Sacchi introduced a full-field pressing style combined with quick counter-attacks, a tactic that he borrowed from the Dutch “Total Football” style of play, and then improved it to suit his team. This style of play not only helped him achieve success at club and national team level but also had a profound influence on today’s top teams such as Manchester City and Liverpool.
3. Rinus Michels
Rinus Michels, born in 1928, is one of the all time best football coaches and a prime representative of the “Total Football” style of play. Throughout his coaching career, he has made a memorable mark on world football. Michels was the one who helped the Netherlands win the Euro 1988 championship, a great success for Dutch football and the highlight of his career.
In addition to his success with the national team, Michels also achieved impressive success at club level. He won 1 European Cup, 1 La Liga and 3 Dutch Cups (KNVB Cup) during his coaching time at Ajax and Barcelona. These achievements have cemented Michels’ position as one of the best coaches of all time, and the Total Football style he developed has had a profound influence on many teams around the world, including big teams such as Barcelona and Bayern. Munich.
4. Johan Cruyff
Johan Cruyff is not only a legendary midfielder of world football but also a brilliant strategist. During his playing career, he achieved great success and became a symbol of beautiful attacking play. After retiring, Cruyff continued to make his mark as a coach, where he developed and perfected the “total football” style of play created by his teacher Rinus Michels, turning it into a great legacy of world football.
Cruyff also had a successful coaching career with many major titles. He won 1 Dutch Cup (KNVB), 2 Cup Winners’ Cups, 4 La Liga championships, 1 Spanish King’s Cup, 3 Spanish Super Cups, 1 European Super Cup and 1 C1 Cup. These achievements not only confirmed Cruyff’s talent but also made him one of the greatest coaches of all time, having a profound influence on the playing style of modern teams, especially Barcelona.
5. Pep Guardiola
Pep Guardiola is considered the most outstanding successor to Johan Cruyff’s footballing ideology and the one who continued to develop the attractive attacking style of play. Under the strong influence of Cruyff, Guardiola took the famous “tiki-taka” style to a new level, with a focus on ball control, off-the-ball movement and precision in each passing move. This style has become an indelible mark on modern football.
During his time leading Barcelona, Guardiola achieved many resounding successes. He helped the Catalan club win 2 Champions Leagues, 3 La Liga titles, 2 Copa del Reys, 3 Spanish Super Cups and 2 European Super Cups, creating a brilliant era in the club’s history. After leaving Barcelona, Pep Guardiola continued his success at Manchester City, where he helped the team dominate the domestic leagues in England, continuing to prove his talent and football philosophy.
6. Bill Shankly
It was Rafa Benítez who transformed Liverpool from a struggling club into one of the top teams in England. Under his leadership, Liverpool not only regained their strength but also made important marks in the club’s history. Benítez built a strong team, always maintained their form and created impressive victories in domestic tournaments.
Under Benítez, Liverpool won many important titles, including 1 Championship, 2 FA Cups, 3 Premier Leagues, 1 UEFA Cup and 3 FA Charity Shields. These achievements not only helped Liverpool affirm its position in England but also brought the team a new confidence, opening a successful era in the club’s history.
7. Zinedine Zidane
After the departure of Rafa Benítez in the middle of the 2015/2016 season, Zinedine Zidane was unexpectedly “appointed” as the head coach of Real Madrid. Despite starting his coaching career in difficult circumstances, Zidane has proven his talent and ability, turning an unstable team into a strong and dominant team in Europe in just half a year.
Zidane and Real Madrid set an “unprecedented” record by winning 3 consecutive UEFA Champions League titles, an unprecedented achievement in the history of the tournament. Not only that, he also helped the Royal team win 2 La Liga titles, 2 European Super Cups, 2 Intercontinental Cups and 2 Spanish Super Cups, creating an invincible empire for many years. These successes have firmly affirmed Zidane as one of the greatest strategists in football history.
8. Jose Mourinho
Mourinho may be considered “old-fashioned” with his conservative defensive football philosophy, but there is no denying that he is still one of the greatest strategists in football history. Although his style of football is no longer as popular as before, the success that Mourinho has achieved in his coaching career has made his name, and is an indispensable part of modern football history.
Wherever Mourinho has gone, he has brought home titles. From Porto, Chelsea, Inter Milan, Real Madrid to Manchester United, Mourinho has always known how to build strong teams and win domestic and international tournaments. However, the only case where he could not bring home a trophy was at Tottenham Hotspur, when he could not win any titles during his coaching time there. However, Mourinho’s legacy is still great, with outstanding successes at big clubs across Europe.
9. Jurgen Klopp
Jurgen Klopp began to gain widespread attention after leading Borussia Dortmund to end Bayern Munich’s dominance in the Bundesliga, marking an important milestone in his coaching career. Klopp is not only a talented coach but also considered the father of the “gegenpressing” style of play – a powerful counter-attacking tactic, characterized by applying pressure immediately after losing the ball and creating quick attacks. This style of play became Klopp’s signature, helping him make his mark at Dortmund and then continue to develop strongly at Liverpool.
When taking over Liverpool, Klopp built a strong team and continued to bring resounding success. Under his leadership, the Anfield team won 1 Champions League, 1 European Super Cup, 1 FIFA Club World Cup, and especially the first Premier League title after a 30-year wait. These achievements not only affirm Klopp’s talent but also bring Liverpool back to the top of English and European football.
10. Carlo Ancelotti
Carlo Ancelotti may no longer be ranked among the best coaches in recent years, but the legacy he left in football is extremely great. Ancelotti has proven his talent and coaching ability through impressive achievements at big clubs. He led AC Milan to win 2 Champions League titles in 2003 and 2007, helping the team not only shine in Europe but also dominate Italian football for many years.
When taking over Real Madrid, Ancelotti helped the Spanish Royal team break the Champions League drought that lasted more than a decade, with the legendary “Decima” achievement – winning the European championship for the 10th time. This success was not only the pinnacle of Ancelotti’s career but also established him as one of the best coaches of all time. In addition, he also helped Real Madrid overcome Barcelona to win the Spanish King’s Cup, another success that proved his tactical ability and leadership.
Conclusion
While each coach on this list of best football coaches of all time has his or her own style and tactics, they all have one thing in common: the ability to turn their teams into invincible armies, overcoming all challenges to conquer noble titles. The legacy they leave behind is not only prestigious trophies but also a change in the way football is played and a lasting influence on world football. These coaches will forever be a source of inspiration for the next generations, a living testament to the greatness and never-give-up spirit in football. Have a nice day!
See also: List of top 10 best NFL football coaches of all-time
