Coaches with most Trophies won in football history

Trophies stand as the ultimate gauge of managerial success. In past eras, Sir Alex Ferguson's dominance at Manchester United saw him hoist every conceivable trophy, cementing his status as one of football's most influential figures.

Pep Guardiola has since assumed the mantle, amassing a plethora of silverware during stints at Bayern Munich, Barcelona, and most recently, Manchester City. For Guardiola and Ferguson, their trophy-laden cabinets serve as tangible proof of their tactical genius and exceptional man-management skills.

Guardiola transitioned from player to manager in 2007, initially leading Barcelona B before ascending to the senior team in 2008. Since then, his managerial career has been marked by unparalleled success. Over the past 15 years, he has claimed every major trophy, prompting comparisons with the greatest managers in football history.

Betimate has compiled a list of the ten most successful football managers based on trophies won, reflecting achievements up to the present day.

1. Alex Ferguson

49 trophies won

Widely regarded as the greatest manager of all time, Sir Alex Ferguson's illustrious career needs little introduction. With a storied legacy built on a remarkable 27-year tenure at Old Trafford, Ferguson amassed a staggering 38 trophies, including the iconic treble-winning campaign in 1998/99 with Manchester United.

Hailing from Scotland, Ferguson's appointment at Manchester United followed European success at Aberdeen, and despite initial challenges, he quickly asserted his dominance. His influence extended far beyond mere trophy counts, as evidenced by the club's gradual decline following his departure. While Pep Guardiola may one day surpass Ferguson's trophy haul, it seems unlikely to occur anytime soon – if ever.

2. Pep Guardiola

37 trophies won

At just 52 years old, Pep Guardiola has already amassed an astounding 37 trophies, positioning himself as a formidable contender to Sir Alex Ferguson's throne at the top of managerial greatness.

As one of the longest-tenured European managers in recent memory, Guardiola left an indelible mark on Barcelona and Bayern Munich before making his mark in the Premier League, where he outshone the likes of Jürgen Klopp to claim five English titles since the 2017/18 campaign.

While he currently trails Ferguson by 12 trophies, Guardiola's relentless pursuit of success suggests that few managers will match his illustrious career achievements.

3. Mircea Lucescu

35 trophies won

Mircea Lucescu, known as somewhat of a managerial journeyman, has left an indelible mark across Europe with successful stints at clubs like Galatasaray, Dynamo Kiev, Inter Milan, and Shakhtar Donetsk.

His longest tenure was at Shakhtar Donetsk, where he managed 573 games over a remarkable 12-year period. During this time, he guided the team to an impressive eight domestic titles, six Ukrainian Cups, and seven Ukrainian Super Cup victories.

A true legend of Ukrainian football, Lucescu remained at Shakhtar until the age of 78, announcing his retirement from management in November. Widely regarded as an underrated manager, Lucescu amassed an impressive tally of 35 trophies throughout his illustrious career.

4. Valeriy Lobanovskyi

30 trophies won

His Football Highness
Valeriy Lobanovskyi (1939-2002) https://t.co/5FiV9fetAE pic.twitter.com/iOwctlkvYW

— Ukraine / Україна (@Ukraine) November 2, 2021

Valeriy Lobanovskyi, despite falling just five trophies short of the podium spots, can be considered unlucky to have managed during the same era as some of the greatest coaches in sports history. Remarkably, all 30 of Lobanovskyi's trophies were achieved during his three spells at Dynamo Kyiv.

During his tenure at Dynamo Kyiv, Lobanovskyi secured various titles, including the UEFA Super Cup once, the Ukrainian top division five times, and the Soviet Championship eight times, among others.

Additionally, he guided the Soviet Union to a runner-up finish at the European Championship in 1988, coming close to closing the gap on Mircea Lucescu. Lobanovskyi also navigated the challenges of international management throughout his 32-year career, overseeing teams from Ukraine, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, and the USSR.

5. Ottmar Hitzfeld

28 trophies won

Ottmar Hitzfeld, renowned for his managerial prowess, clinched the Champions League twice during his career. His first triumph came in 1997 with Borussia Dortmund, followed by another victory with Bayern Munich in 2001. This achievement earned him the tenth spot in the list of the greatest managers in the history of the European top-tier competition in 2020.

Hitzfeld left an indelible mark on Bayern Munich, winning a total of 14 trophies with the club, including five Bundesliga titles. Despite being 74 years old now, the Lorrach-born manager remains an icon in Bavaria.

Following his successful tenure with Bayern Munich, Hitzfeld had a stint with the Switzerland national team. Although he was unable to add to his impressive trophy cabinet during this period, his managerial career boasts two Swiss titles with Grasshopper Club Zurich, along with numerous other accolades earned during his time with Bayern's arch-rivals, Borussia Dortmund.

6. Luis Felipe Scolari

26 trophies won

Luis Felipe Scolari, affectionately known as 'Big Phil' in Brazil, achieved his greatest managerial success in 2002 when he led Brazil to victory in the World Cup. Additionally, he secured a Confederations Cup win with his native country in 2012/13. While winning international titles is undoubtedly the pinnacle of his career, the 75-year-old has also enjoyed considerable success at the club level.

Having managed clubs across the globe, including stints at Gremio, Bunyodkor Tashkent, and Guangzhou Evergrande Taobao, Scolari has become known as somewhat of a managerial journeyman. Despite experiencing the devastating 7-1 defeat to Germany, Scolari remains a revered figure in Brazilian football circles, earning legendary status for his contributions to the sport.

7. Jock Stein

26 trophies won

Former Scotland manager Jock Stein was born on this day in 1922  pic.twitter.com/m4DRZNM6NY

— Scotland National Team (@ScotlandNT) October 5, 2023

Celtic legend Jock Stein shares the same number of trophies as Scolari. Stein's crowning achievement came in 1967 when he led Celtic to victory in the European Cup, a feat that earned his side the title of the greatest club side of the 20th century. Additionally, Stein guided Celtic to an impressive 10 league titles, including seven consecutive wins from 1965/66 to 1971/72.

During this era of dominance, Celtic also excelled in the Scottish Cup and the Scottish League Cup, clinching them eight and six times, respectively. Stein's leadership was instrumental in driving the team's success. While he also secured a Scottish Cup victory with Dunfermline Athletic in 1960/61, the majority of his triumphs occurred during his tenure at Celtic.

8. José Mourinho

26 trophies won

José Mourinho is a polarizing figure in football, with fans either adoring or despising him. Famously dubbed 'The Special One', Mourinho secured his 26th managerial trophy when Roma triumphed in the inaugural UEFA Conference League in 2022. Throughout the 21st century, the Portuguese tactician has enjoyed remarkable success, clinching three Champions League titles with Porto and Inter Milan.

Mourinho set and continues to hold the record for the fewest games needed to achieve 50 wins in the Premier League during his tenure with Chelsea, underscoring his significant impact at the London club. Guiding Chelsea to three domestic titles, Mourinho's aura and charisma earned him adoration from the Stamford Bridge faithful. Despite now being in his 60s, Mourinho remains actively involved in the football scene, currently managing in the Italian capital with Roma, where he aims to add to his impressive trophy collection before retiring.

9. Carlo Ancelotti

24 trophies won

Carlo Ancelotti exudes calm and composure from the dugout, traits that have accompanied his success with some of Europe's most prestigious clubs: AC Milan, PSG, Bayern Munich, and now Real Madrid. Managing Los Blancos inevitably yields trophies, but Ancelotti's illustrious career also boasts significant silverware from his time at AC Milan, including two Champions League titles and two UEFA Super Cups.

Despite a less-than-ideal stint at Everton, Ancelotti's track record and managerial prowess firmly establish him as one of the greatest managers in football history. With the third-highest transfer spend in football history, his impact on the game cannot be overlooked. At Real Madrid, where success is expected, Ancelotti is poised to further bolster his trophy cabinet in the years to come, with the Champions League always within reach for the Spanish giants.

10. Giovanni Trapattoni

23 trophies won

Giovanni Trapattoni transitioned from a successful playing career, notably with AC Milan, where he clinched two European Cups (1963 and 1969), to the realm of coaching.

One of the rare individuals to secure the Champions League both as a player and a manager, Trapattoni enjoyed his prime as a coach at Juventus. During his tenure, he secured six Serie A titles and the European Cup in 1985. Trapattoni also managed other illustrious clubs such as AC Milan, Inter Milan, and Benfica. His managerial prowess extended beyond Italy, as he took the reins at German powerhouse Bayern Munich, guiding them to domestic glory in the 1996/97 season.