10 Managers With the Most Trophies in Football History (Ranked)

The greatest managers in football are often defined by the silverware they collect, while others struggle to reach the same heights. Regardless, examining the most successful managers in history reveals some fascinating names and offers an opportunity to explore areas of football history that may not be widely known.

Some of the coaches on this list achieved their success in the footballing powerhouses of the West, securing legacies that remain well-documented and widely recognized. Others thrived behind the Iron Curtain, where their triumphs, despite being equally impressive, are sometimes overlooked by mainstream football audiences. Meanwhile, some managers built their trophy-laden careers entirely in their home countries, limiting broader awareness of their achievements to local fans.

As Manchester City’s Pep Guardiola continues his era of dominance, aiming for yet another trophy with the FA Cup in the 2024/25 season, here’s a look at the 10 most decorated managers in football history.

10. Ottmar Hitzfeld

26 trophies won

Ottmar Hitzfeld spent his entire managerial career in Switzerland and Germany, establishing himself as one of football's greatest coaches by the time he retired in 2014. His journey began with an eight-year spell in Switzerland, culminating in a successful three-year stint with Grasshoppers before making the move to Borussia Dortmund in 1991.

At Dortmund, Hitzfeld won two Bundesliga titles and, in 1997, led the club to its first-ever Champions League triumph. However, tensions with the club’s ownership led to his departure in 1998. He quickly found a new home at Bayern Munich, where he won four Bundesliga titles—three of them consecutively—and secured another Champions League crown in 2001.

After initially leaving Bayern in 2004, Hitzfeld returned for a brief second spell in 2007 before taking charge of the Swiss national team. He remained in that role until his retirement in 2014, closing the chapter on an illustrious managerial career.

9. Jock Stein

26 trophies won

Scottish manager Jock Stein began his coaching career with Celtic's reserve team, where future club legends like Billy McNeill, Bobby Murdoch, and John Clark developed before becoming first-team stars. His first taste of silverware came while managing the reserves, overseeing an 8-2 aggregate victory over Rangers in the Reserve Cup—though that triumph doesn’t count toward his official tally.

Stein took charge of Dunfermline in 1960, enjoying a successful four-year spell that included a Scottish Cup victory and multiple European campaigns. He then spent a year at Hibernian before making his long-awaited return to Celtic in March 1965, while also serving as Scotland’s part-time national team coach from May to December that same year.

At Celtic, Stein cemented his legacy, winning all but one of his managerial trophies. While he made a significant impact at Dunfermline and Hibs, it was at Celtic where his coaching brilliance truly shone. His first major triumph came in the 1965 Scottish Cup final against his former club, Dunfermline. More trophies followed, but the pinnacle of his success arrived in the 1966-67 season when Celtic became the first British club to win a continental treble, conquering Scotland and Europe in historic fashion.

Stein's Celtic dominated Scottish football, securing 10 league titles, including an incredible run of nine consecutive championships. They also lifted eight Scottish Cups, six Scottish League Cups, and, most famously, the European Cup.

8. Luis Felipe Scolari

26 trophies won

'Big Phil' Scolari is undoubtedly one of football's most well-traveled managers. He began his career in Brazil, with a brief stint in Saudi Arabia in between, before winning his first major trophy in 1987 with Grêmio. The Campeonato Gaúcho, the state league of Rio Grande do Sul, was a competition he triumphed in three times.

Scolari then ventured to Kuwait, winning the Emir Cup with Al-Qadisiya before returning to Brazil. In one of the more unusual moments of his career, he abruptly left Coritiba after three consecutive defeats—famously boarding the winning team's bus after the third loss. He later rejoined Grêmio, where he claimed more state championships, a national title, the Brazilian Cup, and the Copa Libertadores. His spells at Palmeiras in the late 1990s and 2010s also brought further silverware, while he secured the Uzbek league title with Bunyodkor in 2009 and enjoyed a highly successful three-year period with Chinese Super League side Guangzhou Evergrande.

Most football fans, however, remember Scolari best for his time as manager of Brazil, Portugal, and Chelsea. Appointed as Brazil's head coach in 2001 when World Cup qualification was in jeopardy, he led the Seleção to glory in 2002, defeating Germany 2-0 in the final with two goals from Ronaldo. His tenure with Portugal saw them reach the Euro 2004 final and the 2006 World Cup semi-finals, though without securing a major trophy. Returning to Brazil in 2012, he guided them to a Confederations Cup triumph in 2013, but his tenure ended in disappointment after a humiliating finish to the 2014 World Cup, prompting his resignation.

7. Jose Mourinho

26 trophies won

José Mourinho, famously known as "The Special One," has enjoyed one of the most remarkable managerial careers in modern football, achieving success at nearly every club he's led. Starting as an assistant coach under Sir Bobby Robson at clubs like Sporting CP, Porto, and Barcelona, Mourinho earned his first managerial opportunities with Benfica and União de Leiria. However, it was at Porto where his legendary status truly began. He immediately transformed the club, winning a UEFA Cup, Primeira Liga, and domestic treble in his first full season. The following year, he cemented his legacy by guiding Porto to a stunning Champions League triumph in 2003-04.

Mourinho then moved to Chelsea, who had become major players in the transfer market under Roman Abramovich. His impact was immediate—his first season in charge delivered a League Cup and a record-breaking Premier League title, setting the highest points total at the time (95) and conceding just 15 goals. After more silverware in London, he joined Inter Milan in 2008, winning Serie A in his first season before orchestrating a historic treble in 2009-10, including a Champions League victory.

His tenure at Real Madrid was both controversial and record-breaking. He famously clashed with Barcelona, even poking manager Tito Vilanova in the eye, yet also led Madrid to a La Liga title in 2011-12 with a then-record 100 points. Returning to Chelsea in 2013, he secured another Premier League title and a League Cup before moving on to Manchester United. Though his tenure at Old Trafford was turbulent, he still won three trophies in the 2016-17 season, including the Europa League. A brief spell at Tottenham ended trophyless, but he returned to silverware success with Roma, leading them to the inaugural Europa Conference League title in 2022.

6. Bill Struth

30 trophies won

At nearly 40 years old, Bill Struth was appointed assistant manager of Rangers in 1914, a role he held for six years. Following the tragic passing of long-serving manager William Wilton in 1920, Struth was chosen as his successor—a decision that would shape Rangers' history for decades to come. He went on to manage the club for 34 years, overseeing one of the most dominant eras in Scottish football.

During his tenure, Struth secured 30 major trophies at Ibrox, including 18 Scottish Premiership titles and 10 Scottish Cups. Renowned for his strict disciplinarian approach, he demanded the highest standards from his players, a philosophy that brought sustained success. After more than three decades of unwavering service, he retired in 1954, leaving behind an enduring legacy.

5. Carlo Ancelotti

30 trophies won

Carlo Ancelotti has been a fixture in football management since 1995, and nearly three decades later, the iconic Italian shows no signs of slowing down. Now 64, he remains one of the most decorated managers in history, having won league titles in each of Europe's top five leagues—La Liga, Serie A, Bundesliga, Premier League, and Ligue 1—an achievement that underscores his remarkable consistency and adaptability.

Ancelotti is also part of an elite group of individuals who have won the Champions League both as a player and a manager. From the dugout, he has lifted the prestigious trophy five times—twice with AC Milan, where he is still revered as the last man to bring European glory to the Rossoneri, and three times with Real Madrid, including his latest triumph in a 2-0 victory over Borussia Dortmund.

His first stint in English football saw him make an immediate impact at Chelsea, securing the Community Shield before claiming a Premier League and FA Cup double in his debut season. Further league successes followed with Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain, cementing his legacy across Germany and France. Ancelotti’s 28th major trophy came when he led Real Madrid to the 2023/24 La Liga title, reclaiming domestic dominance from Barcelona.

4. Valeriy Lobanovskyi

30 trophies won

2024 marked the 85th anniversary of Valeriy Lobanovskyi's birth, a 20th-century icon who revolutionized football with tactics & science.

He led Dynamo Kyiv to European glory & worked with the national teams of the UAE and Kuwait. #Lobanovskyi #DynamoKyiv pic.twitter.com/kXS7m2sfPZ

— UKR Embassy in India (@UkrembInd) May 28, 2024

Valeriy Lobanovskyi made his mark behind the Iron Curtain during the 1970s and 1980s as the mastermind behind Dynamo Kyiv, one of the Soviet Union's most dominant football clubs.

Soviet football remains an intriguing yet often overlooked chapter in the sport's history, particularly in the Western world. Lobanovskyi was a true innovator, collaborating with the Kyiv State Institute of Physical Education to implement a data-driven approach to workload management. His tactical philosophy bore similarities to Rinus Michels' Total Football but placed an even greater emphasis on pressing and structured team play.

Under his leadership, Dynamo Kyiv secured eight Soviet Top League titles and six Soviet Cups. On the continental stage, the club achieved significant success, winning the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup twice and defeating Bayern Munich to claim the European Super Cup.

Lobanovskyi also managed the Soviet Union national team, coming agonizingly close to silverware in 1988 when they reached the European Championship final—only for Marco van Basten’s legendary volley to dash their hopes. Following the Soviet Union’s collapse, he continued his legacy by turning Dynamo Kyiv into Ukraine’s dominant force, winning five consecutive league titles and three straight Ukrainian Cups.

3. Mircea Lucescu

38 trophies won

A true journeyman of football management, Mircea Lucescu has lifted trophies in Romania, Turkey, Ukraine, and Italy. Another coach who made his mark behind the Iron Curtain, Lucescu began his managerial career in his native Romania, securing two Romanian Cups and a league title with Dinamo București.

Following the 1989 revolution, he moved abroad, joining Pisa in Italy. His most innovative spell came at Brescia, where he and fitness coach Adriano Bacconi developed FARM (Football Athletics Results Manager), one of football’s earliest data-monitoring systems. While at Brescia, he also guided the club to victory in the 1993-94 Anglo-Italian Cup.

Lucescu's greatest achievements came during his legendary tenure at Shakhtar Donetsk, where he transformed the club into one of Ukraine's most dominant forces. Under his leadership, Shakhtar won eight Ukrainian Premier League titles, six Ukrainian Cups, and seven Ukrainian Super Cups. Their crowning moment on the continental stage came in 2009, when they defeated Werder Bremen to lift the UEFA Cup.

Later, he added a Russian Cup with Zenit St. Petersburg, though his stint as Turkey’s national team manager proved unsuccessful. Lucescu eventually returned to Ukraine, this time managing Shakhtar’s arch-rivals, Dynamo Kyiv. In his first season, he guided them to a domestic treble before retiring from management in November 2023.