Best Football Coaches Of All Time

By: Olena

Posted: December 12, 2023

Updated: December 12, 2023

Determining the greatest football managers of all time is subjective
Opinions may vary based on personal preferences and team loyalties
However, some managers can be called legends for their impact on the sport

Who are the best football coaches of all time? Answering this question is pretty hard because opinions may vary based on personal preferences, eras, and team loyalties. However, there are some managers that earned almost everyone’s respect by winning multiple matches and trophies.

8 Best Football Coaches of All Time

Although determining the greatest football managers of all time is subjective, several people are widely regarded as some of the best in the history of football due to their achievements, tactical innovations, and lasting impact on the sport. Here are the eight managers who are often considered to be GOATs of club coaching. If you are interested in more rankings, check the top-6 most memorable UCL matches ever.

Sir Alex Ferguson

Alex Ferguson, the former manager of Manchester United, enjoyed unprecedented success during his tenure from 1986 to 2013, winning numerous domestic and international titles, including 13 Premier League titles and two UEFA Champions League trophies. Although he started far from successful, he went on to create one of the most feared teams in Europe. Teams knew that they already lost when they saw Keane, Beckham, Nevilles, and Cantona in the tunnel. Ferguson also was a great rebuilder of the club - he managed to create two incredible teams, very different from each other.

Pep Guardiola

Known for his success with Barcelona, Bayern Munich, and Manchester City, the current EPL favorite at Everygame, Pep Guardiola is praised for his innovative tactics and possession-based style of play. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f03ZGc4FVS8&pp=ygUPUGVwIEd1YXJkaW9sYcKg He has won multiple league titles and Champions League trophies. Guardiola is sometimes criticized for only managing strong teams from the get-go, and it is a legitimate argument. Pep may have won a lot of trophies, but he has never done what Ferguson or Klopp did. However, he remains one of the best football coaches of all time, and one can hardly deny it.

José Mourinho

Renowned for his tactical prowess and ability to win titles against all odds, José Mourinho has managed clubs like Porto, Chelsea, Inter Milan, Real Madrid, and Manchester United. He has won league titles in multiple countries and secured two UEFA Champions League titles which are the most cherished in his collection since those were taken with not the strongest teams at the time. He is also the first ever Conference League winner with AS Roma, which makes his the manager that has won literally every single trophy.

Johan Cruyff

A legendary player and manager, Johan Cruyff played a pivotal role in the development of "Total Football" and achieved success with Ajax and Barcelona. As one of the best football coaches of all time, he left a much more lasting legacy in football philosophy and strategy, which to this day is analyzed and used on the pitch by many teams.

Bill Shankly

Being widely regarded as the architect of Liverpool's modern success, Bill Shankly transformed the club and laid the foundation for their dominance in the late 1970s and 1980s. Under his management, the club won their first European trophy - UEFA Cup in the 1972/73 season. Currently, Liverpool tops the EPL standings and has good odds of winning another title. You can bet on The Reds to become the 2023/24 EPL winners at online gambling sites in the Netherlands.

Bob Paisley

Shankly was followed by another Liverpool legend, Bob Paisley. He managed the club to unprecedented success in the late 1970s and early 1980s, including three European Cup triumphs and six First Division titles. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y7fvgVB1Ahs&pp=ygULQm9iIFBhaXNsZXk%3D Paisley management turned Liverpool into the greatest and most dominating English football club. They could've won more European trophies if it wasn't for the Heisel tragedy, which caused English clubs to be banned from all European competitions.

Arrigo Sacchi

Although Arrigo Sacchi managed many clubs, he is widely known for his work with AC Milan in the late 1980s. Sacchi implemented an attacking style of play and led Milan to back-to-back European Cup victories in 1989 and 1990. His squad at the time consisted of Dutch legends Rijkaard and van Basten who had previously won the 1988 Euro with the Netherlands. Bet on the team’s future performance at Euro and World Cup at online sportsbooks in the Netherlands.

Arsène Wenger

Arsène Wenger revolutionized English football with his innovative ideas and focus on sports science during his time in Arsenal. He won three Premier League titles and seven FA Cups during his tenure. Before his arrival, Arsenal were considered one of the most boring teams to watch playing; Wenger turned them into the trophy claiming machine. His success in England is one of the most notable, although he never won a European trophy with the club.