Most successful managers in UCL history

UEFA Champions League is a competition between the top-division European clubs which millions of football fans follow all around the world. There is no doubt that football clubs in this continent are the most professional clubs, so they have loads of fans in and outside Europe.

In this competition, the best teams of the European countries participate, which shows the importance and the excitement of its matches. If you go over the history of this championship, you’ll see that some managers have done a better job. In this article on SportMob, we are going to have a look at the

best managers in Champions League history

. So stay with us and keep reading the article.

Just have it in mind that the old format, which is the European Champion Club’s Cup, and the current format, which is the UEFA Champions League, are both considered. As there are a lot of managers who have won 2 titles, those who did it with different teams are preferred.

Most successful managers in Champions League history   

Without further ado, let’s go over the most outstanding

Champions League-winning managers

. Stay tuned!

Jupp Heynckes

The first name on our list for the most successful managers in UCL history is the former footballer and manager,

. During his time as a player, he used to play as a forward. It is interesting to know that this former footballer is the 4th-highest scorer in Bundesliga with 220 goals. 

Heynckes started playing football at Grun-Weiss Holt in 1956. After 6 years, this outstanding forward joined

and kicked the ball for this club until 1967. Then he moved to

and played there for 3 years. After that Heynckes moved back to Monchengladbach and in 1978, he finished his career as a footballer.

As a football player, Jupp Heynckes won 1 Europa League title, 4 Bundesliga, and 1 DFB Pokal, all of which with Monchengladbach. He also won the World Cup 1974 and the Euro 1972 with West Germany.

Jupp Heynckes started his managerial career at the club where he spent most of his career as a player. At first, he was an assistant at Monchengladbach and then he became a manager in 1979. Heynckes worked as a manager until 2018 and since then, he hasn’t managed any other teams.

During his time as a coach, Heynckes worked at Monchengladbach,

, Athletic Bilbao, Eintracht Frankfurt, Tenerife,

,

,

, and

. Jupp Heynckes, who is one of the best managers in Champions League history, has won this title 2 times, once with Real Madrid and once with Bayern Munich.

This brilliant manager won the UCL with The Whites in the 1997/98 season. He also won it with the Bavarians in the 2012/13 season, after finishing 2nd in the previous season as his team lost against Chelsea in the final in their own stadium. This shows that Heynckes and his players didn’t give up and came back stronger after their emotional loss in the 2011/12 final and won the UCL in the following season.

As a manager, Heynckes won 4 Bundesliga titles, 1 DFB Pokal, 3 DFL Super Cup, and 1 UCL with FC Bayern, 1 Supercopa de Espana and 1 UCL with Real Madrid and 1 UEFA Intertoto Cup with Schalke.

Helenio Herrera   

The next manager among the most successful managers in UCL history is

, who is considered one of the best managers of all time. When he was a footballer, he used to play as a defender. Herrera began playing football at Roches Noires and in 1931, he joined Racing Casablanca. This former defender kicked the ball until 1945. During his time as a footballer, he played for Roches Noires, Racing Casablanca, CASG Paris, Stade Francais, Charleville, Excelsior Roubaix, Red Star Olympique, EF Paris-Capitale, and Puteaux.

In 1944, his managerial career started at Puteaux. Then he worked at Stade Francais, Real Valladolid,

, Malaga, Deportivo de La Coruna,

, Belenenses,

, the national team of Spain,

, the national team of Italy, Roma, and Rimini.

Helenio Herrera, who is on the

list of the UEFA club competition-winning managers

, won the Champions League twice in the 1963/64 and the 1964/65 seasons with Inter Milan. As a manager, he won 2 La Liga titles and 1 Copa Eva Duarte with Atletico Madrid, 2 La Liga and 2 Copa del Rey titles with Barcelona, 3 Serie A, 2 UCL, and 2 Intercontinental Cup titles with Inter Milan and 1 Coppa Italia with Roma.

Ottmar Hitzfeld

The next name among the most successful managers in UCL history is

. He is regarded as one of the greateat coaches of the world of football. It is interesting to know that he has become the coach of the year twice.

The General took his first steps in football at TuS Stetten in 1960. 7 years later, Hitzfeld joined FV Lorrach. In 1971, the senior career of this former footballer started as he signed with Basel, where he kicked the ball until 1975. After that, Hitzfeld moved to VfB Stuttgart and played there for 3 years.

In 1978, this former forward joined Lugano. After playing for this club for 2 years, Hitzfeld moved to Luzern, where he ended his career as a footballer. During his time as a player, this retired footballer won 2 Swiss Super League titles and 1 Swiss Cup with Basel.

In 1983, the managerial career of this brilliant coach started at SC Zug. He later managed Aarau, Grasshoppers, Borussia Dortmund, Bayern Munich, and the national team of Switzerland. Since 2014, he hasn’t worked in any other teams.

Ottmar Hitzfeld, who is one of the best Champions League-winning managers, won this title in the 1996/97 and the 2000/01 season, first with Dortmund and then with Bayern Munich. As a manager, he won 1 Swiss Cup title with Aarau, 2 Swiss Super League titles, 2 Swiss Cup, and 1 Swiss Super Cup with Grasshopper, 2 Bundesliga titles, 2 DFL Super Cup, and 1 UCL with Dortmund, and 5 Bundesliga titles, 3 DFB Pokal, 1 Champions League, and 1 Intercontinental Cup with Bayern Munich.  

Ernst Happel   

The next manager on our list for the most successful managers in UCL history is

. He is considered one of the most outstanding managers of all time, winning the top tier of 4 different European countries.

Happel began playing football at Rapid Wien in 1938. 4 years later, his senior career started and he kicked the ball for this club until 1954. After that, this former defender moved to RC Paris but moved back to Rapid Wien after only 1 season. As a footballer, Happel won 6 Austrian Bundesliga titles, 1 Austrian Cup, and 1 Zentropa Cup with Rapid Wien.

In 1962, Happel’s managerial career started at ADO Den Haag. He also managed San Francisco Gales,

, Sevilla, Club Brugge, the national team of the Netherlands, Harelbeke, Standard Liege,

, Swarovski Tirol, and the national team of Austria.

Ernst Happel, who is one of the

ten most successful managers in Champions League history

, won 2 UCL titles, one in the 1969/70 season with Feyenoord and one in the 1982/83 season with Hamburger SV.

This brilliant manager won 1 KNVB Cup with ADO Den Haag, 1 Eredivisie, 1 UCL, 1 Intercontinental Cup with Feyenoord, 3 Belgian Pro League titles and 1 Belgian Cup with Club Brugge, 1 Belgian Cup with Standard Liege, 2 Bundesliga titles, 1 DFB Pokal, and 1 Champions League with Hamburger SV, 2 Austrian Bundesliga and 1 Austrian Cup with Swarovski Tirol.

Jose Mourinho 

is also one of the most successful managers in UCL history. Having won 25 titles, this outstanding manager is one of the most decorated managers of all time. As you already know, his current team is Roma.

Mourinho started playing football at Belenenses. In 1980, his senior career began as he joined Rio Ave, where he kicked the ball for 2 seasons. This former footballer then moved back to Belenenses but after 1 season, he signed with Sesimbra in 1983. Mourinho then moved to Comercio e Industria, where he finished his career as a footballer in 1987.

In 2000, Mourinho’s managerial career started at Benfica. He has also managed Uniao de Leiria,

,

, Inter Milan, Real Madrid,

, and

. As it was said above, he is currently the manager of

.

Jose Mourinho, who is on the list of the UEFA club competition-winning managers, has won the UCL in the 2003/04 season with Porto and in the 2009/10 season with Inter Milan.

This brilliant manager has won 2 Primeira Liga titles, 1 Taca de Portugal, 1 Supertaca Candido de Oliveira, 1 Champions League, and 1 Europa League with Porto, 3 Premier League titles, 1 FA Cup, 3 Football League Cup, and 1 FA Community Shield with Chelsea, 2 Serie A, 1 Coppa Italia, 1 Supercoppa Italiana, and 1 UCL with Inter Milan, 1 La Liga, 1 Copa del Rey, and 1 Supercopa de Espana title with Real Madrid, and 1 EFL Cup, 1 FA Community Shield, and 1 Europa League title with Man United.

Pep Guardiola       

The next name on our list for the

most successful managers in UCL history

is

’s manager,

. as you already know, this brilliant coach used brilliant tactics by using tiki-taka at first in Barcelona and then in Bayern Munich and Manchester City. A lot of football teams have been influenced by Guardiola’s tactics, so we can say that he played an important role in developing the style of playing football.

Guardiola took his first steps in football at Gimnastic Manresa in 1981. 3 years later, he joined Barcelona. In 1988, his senior career started and he kicked the ball for Barca until 2001. After that, this former footballer joined Brescia. After playing there for 1 season, Guardiola moved to Roma.

Pep spent the 2002/03 season at Roma and then moved back to Brescia, however, after a short time, he went to Qatar to play for Al Ahli. After 2 years, this former player went to Mexico to join Dorados, where he ended his career in 2006.

As a player, Guardiola won 6 La Liga titles, 1 Copa del Rey, 4 Supercopa de Espana, 1 Champions League, 1 UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup, and 2 UEFA Super Cup titles with Barcelona.

Guardiola started his managerial career in 2007 at Barcelona B. After one season he was promoted to the main team and managed Barca until 2012. This outstanding coach then signed with Bayern Munich, where he worked until 2016. Since then he has been managing Manchester City.

Pep Guardiola, who is one of the best managers in Champions League history, has won 2 UCL titles with Barcelona 2008/09 and the 20010/11 season.

This brilliant manager has won 3 La Liga titles, 2 Copa del Rey, 3 Supercopa de Espana, 2 UEFA Champions League, 2 UEFA Super Cup, and 2 FIFA Club World Cup titles with Barcelona, 3 Bundesliga titles, 2 DFB Pokal, 1 UEFA Super Cup, and 1 FIFA Club World Cup with Bayern Munich, and 3 Premier League, 1 FA Cup, 4 EFL Cup, and 2 FA Community Shield titles with Man City.

Zinedine Zidane  

The next manager among the

most outstanding Champions League winning managers

is

. During his time as a footballer, Zizou was one of the greatest midfielders and if you have a look at his managerial career, it is seen that as a manager, he is among the best managers too.

Zidane began playing football at AS Foresta in 1981. Then he played for US Saint-Henri, SO Septemes-les-Vallons, and Cannes during his junior career. In 1989, the senior career of this brilliant footballer started and he kicked the ball for Cannes until 1992.

 After that, Zizou joined Bordeaux, where he played for 4 seasons. This outstanding midfielder then moved to

and kicked the ball for the Old Lady until 2001. After that, he moved to Real Madrid, where he played until 2006 and ended his career.

As a footballer, Zidane won 1 UEFA Intertoto Cup with Bordeaux, 2 Serie A titles, 1 Supercoppa Italiana, 1 UEFA Super Cup, 1 Intercontinental Cup, and 1 UEFA Intertoto Cup with Juventus, and 1 La Liga, 2 Supercopa de Espana, 1 UEFA Champions League, 1 UEFA Super Cup, and 1 Intercontinental Cup title with Real Madrid. He also won the Euro 2000 with the national team of France.

Zidane’s managerial career started in 2013 at Real Madrid. He worked as an assistant in the 2013/14 season and managed Real Madrid Castilla from 2014 until 2016. Then he moved to Real Madrid and managed The Whites once from 2016 until 2018 and another time from 2019 until 2021.

Having won the UCL title 3 seasons in a row with Real Madrid, Zinedine Zidane is one of the ten most successful managers in Champions League history. He has won 2 La Liga titles, 2 Supercopa de Espana, 3 Champions League, 2 UEFA Super Cup, and 2 FIFA Club World Cup titles, all of which with Real Madrid.

Sir Alex Ferguson     

The next name on our list for the most successful managers in UCL history is Man United’s legend,

. It is interesting to know that this Scottish knight has won more titles than any other manager.

Sir Alex played for Harmony Row Boys Club and Drumchapel Amateurs during his junior career. at the senior level, he kicked the ball for Queen’s Park, St Johnstone, Dunfermline Athletic, Rangers, Falkirk, and Ayr United.

The managerial career of this Scottish legend started in 1974 at East Stirlingshire. Ferguson then managed St Mirren, Aberdeen, the national team of Scotland, and Manchester United. this outstanding manager worked for the Red Devils from 1986 until 2013.

Having won 2 UCL titles in the 1998/99 and the 2006/07 seasons with Manchester United, Sir Alex Ferguson is one of the greatest managers on the list of the UEFA club competition-winning managers.

Ferguson won 1 Scottish Premier Division with St Mirren, 4 Scottish Cup titles, 3 Scottish Premier Division, 1 Scottish League Cup, 1 Drybrough Cup, 1 European Cup Winners’ Cup, and 1 UEFA Super Cup with Aberdeen.

With the Red Devils, he won 13 Premier League titles, 5 FA Cup, 4 EFL Cup, 10 FA Community Shield, 2 Champions League, 1 European Cup Winners’ Cup, 1 UEFA Super Cup, 1 Intercontinental Cup, and 1 FIFA Club World Cup title.

Bob Paisley 

is also one of the most successful managers in UCL history. He is regarded as one of the best British managers of all time. During his time as a footballer, Paisley played for Bishop Auckland from 1937 until 1939, and for

from 1939 until 1954. He won a league title as a footballer with the Reds.

In 1959, the managerial career of this brilliant manager started. At first, Paisley served as the assistant manager of Liverpool until 1973 and then became the manager of the Reds. During 9 years of his managerial career, he won 3 Champions League titles.

Bob Paisley won 6 league titles, 3 EFL Cup, 6 FA Community Shield, 3 UEFA Champions League, 1 Europa League, and 1 UEFA Super Cup title, all of which with Liverpool.

Carlo Ancelotti

The last name on our list for the

most successful managers in UCL history

is Real Madrid’s manager,

, who is considered one of the most successful managers. This former footballer started kicking the ball at Reggiolo in 1973. After 2 years he joined Parma and in 1976, his senior career began.

Ancelotti played for

until 1979 and then moved to Roma, where he kicked the ball for 8 years. In 1987, this retired footballer joined

and in 1992, he ended his career. as a footballer, Ancelotti won 1 Serie A title and 4 Coppa Italia with Roma and 2 Serie A titles, 1 Supercoppa Italiana, 2 Champions League, 1 UEFA Super Cup, and 1 Intercontinental Cup with AC Milan.

In 1992 Ancelotti’s managerial career started. At first, he was an assistant manager in the national team of Italy. This brilliant manager then managed Reggiana, Parma, Juventus, AC Milan, Chelsea,

, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich,

, and Everton. He has won the UCL in the 2002/03 and the 2006/07 with AC Milan and in the 2013/14 season with Real Madrid.

As a manager, Carlo Ancelotti has won 1 UEFA Intertoto Cup with Juventus, 1 Serie A, 1 Coppa Italia, 1 Supercoppa Italiana, 2 Champions League, 2 UEFA Super Cup, and 1 FIFA Club World Cup with AC Milan, 1 Premier League, 1 FA Cup, and 1 FA Community Shield with Chelsea, 1 Ligue 1 title with PSG, 1 Coppa del Rey, 1 Champions League, 1 UEFA Super Cup, and 1 FIFA Club World Cup title with Real Madrid, 1 Bundesliga, and 1 DFL Super Cup title with Bayern Munich.

This was our article on the most successful managers in UCL history. We hope you have enjoyed reading it. Do YOU want to add any other names? Share it with us in the comment section.  

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