Top 10 managers with most trophies in football history

Football is often defined not just by the players on the pitch, but by the managers on the sidelines whose ideas and decisions shape the game. Over the years, their tactics, philosophies, and leadership styles have continually pushed football to evolve. Iconic figures like Sir Alex Ferguson and modern greats such as Pep Guardiola haven’t just won matches—they’ve redefined how the game is played and how success is achieved at the highest level.

Unsurprisingly, these legendary managers have also built remarkable records, collecting numerous trophies with the teams they’ve led. Their ability to adapt, innovate, and consistently deliver results has set them apart in football history. With that in mind, we now turn our attention to the most successful managers of all time—those who have won the most trophies throughout their careers and left a lasting legacy on the sport.

Here are the top 10 managers who have won the most trophies in football history.

10. Giovanni Trapattoni – 23 titles

Giovanni Trapattoni is one of the few managers to have coached all three of Italy’s biggest clubs. Over the course of his career, he won a total of 23 trophies, with the majority coming during his two spells in charge of Juventus.

At Juventus, Trapattoni enjoyed tremendous success, guiding the team to nearly every major domestic and European honor available. His achievements with the club included six Serie A titles, along with victories in the European Cup, the UEFA Cup, and the UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup. The only major trophy that eluded him there was the Supercoppa Italiana.

9. Jose Mourinho – 26 titles

Like most managers of his stature, Jose Mourinho has built an impressive trophy collection across his career, winning silverware at clubs such as FC Porto, Chelsea, Manchester United, Real Madrid, and Inter Milan.

With 26 major titles to his name so far, he still has the opportunity to add more and climb even higher in the all-time rankings. He is currently in charge of SL Benfica, which may prove to be one of the most demanding challenges of his career as he aims to bring further success to the club.

8. Ottmar Hitzfeld – 26 titles

Ottmar Hitzfeld began his managerial career in Switzerland, but his greatest achievements came in the German Bundesliga. He went on to manage top clubs such as Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich, where he established himself as one of Europe’s most successful coaches. 

During his time in Germany, he won the Bundesliga seven times and lifted the UEFA Champions League twice—once with each club. Over the course of his career, Hitzfeld collected a total of 26 major trophies, cementing his legacy as one of football’s most accomplished managers.

7. Luiz Felipe Scolari – 26 titles

Luiz Felipe Scolari is widely regarded as one of the most accomplished football managers of his generation. Now 77, he has had highly successful spells with clubs such as Palmeiras and Grêmio, as well as with the Brazil national football team. 

Over the course of his career, he has built an impressive legacy, winning 26 trophies in total, including the FIFA World Cup with Brazil.

6. Jock Stein – 26 titles

Jock Stein is widely regarded as a true legend in Scottish football. During his remarkable 13-year spell as Celtic manager, he guided the club to an incredible 26 trophies, cementing one of the most successful periods in their history. Beyond Celtic, he also took charge of Leeds United and later managed the Scotland national team. 

Sadly, his life came to an end in 1985, but his legacy continues to be remembered and celebrated across the football world.

5. Carlo Ancelotti – 30 trophies

Carlo Ancelotti is widely regarded as one of the most successful football managers in history. He is the only coach to have won league titles in all of Europe’s top five leagues, a remarkable achievement that highlights his adaptability and consistency across different footballing cultures. Over the course of his career, he has also lifted the UEFA Champions League multiple times, along with several other major honors including UEFA Super Cups, domestic super cups in England and Germany, and Club World Cups.

One of his standout achievements came when Real Madrid defeated Borussia Dortmund 2–0 in the 2023–24 UEFA Champions League final, a victory that added another milestone to Ancelotti’s extraordinary career and marked his 30th major trophy as a manager.

Today, Ancelotti continues his journey at the highest level of international football, serving as the head coach of the Brazil national football team, bringing his vast experience and proven winning pedigree to one of the most prestigious roles in the sport.

4. Valeriy Lobanovskyi – 30 titles

Hailing from Ukraine, Valeriy Lobanovskyi built one of the most successful managerial careers in football history, winning 30 major titles. He spent his entire managerial tenure at Dynamo Kyiv, where he guided the club to dominance in domestic competitions, securing the league title 13 times. 

On the European stage, his achievements include two UEFA Cup Winners’ Cups and a UEFA Super Cup. Renowned for his pioneering, science-driven approach to the game, Lobanovskyi is widely regarded as one of the key figures who influenced modern tactical football.

3. Mircea Lucescu – 38 titles

The third spot goes to Mircea Lucescu, one of football’s most accomplished managers, who has won 38 titles over the course of his long and successful career. The Romanian is currently in charge of his national team. Among his many achievements, one of the highlights was winning the UEFA Super Cup in 2000 with Galatasaray, where his side defeated Real Madrid. 

Over the years, he has also managed several top clubs, including Shakhtar Donetsk, Beşiktaş, and Zenit St. Petersburg, further cementing his reputation in world football.

2. Pep Guardiola – 40 titles

Pep Guardiola has built an extraordinary managerial career, already collecting around 40 trophies across the clubs he has led. Known for his innovative tactics and consistent success, he has achieved silverware at every team he has managed, including FC Barcelona, Bayern Munich, and Manchester City.

One of the defining highlights of his career is guiding Manchester City to a historic treble, making him the first manager to accomplish this feat twice. His latest success came with Manchester City’s EFL Cup triumph in the 2025–26 season against Arsenal, which brought his total trophy count to 40.

With several years still ahead in his career, Guardiola is expected to continue adding to his achievements and could even move closer to the record held by Sir Alex Ferguson, widely regarded as one of the greatest managers in football history.

1. Sir Alex Ferguson – 49 titles

The most successful football manager in terms of trophies is widely regarded as Sir Alex Ferguson. His long and transformative spell at Manchester United became the standard against which many managers are measured. Over 27 years at the club, he guided them to an incredible haul of 37 major trophies, including 13 Premier League titles and two UEFA Champions League victories.

Before his time in England, Ferguson also achieved remarkable success with Aberdeen F.C., where he won 10 trophies in just five years, firmly establishing his reputation as an elite manager.

With a total of around 49 trophies across his managerial career, Ferguson’s legacy remains unmatched. While modern managers like Pep Guardiola and José Mourinho have also achieved great success, matching Ferguson’s longevity and consistency at the highest level would be an extraordinary challenge.

Cover Credits - Sky Sports