10 greatest managers of the 21st century

#8 Diego Simeone

Diego Simeone made Atletico Madrid a force to be reckoned with once again

Diego Simeone is currently the longest-serving manager on the this list. Simeone has been at the helm at Atletico Madrid for nine seasons, and he is now entering his 10th. Given the pressure and time limitations managers have in the modern game, this is no small feat.

Atletico Madrid were a club plunged in debt and mediocrity before Simeone arrived. Under the Argentine, Los Rojiblancos have won a La Liga title, the Copa Del Rey, two UEFA Europa Leagues, two UEFA Super Cups, and have also reached the UEFA Champions League final twice.

Atlético Madrid Under Diego Simeone:6 Years8 Finals6 Trophies377 Games.233 wins.200 clean sheets (53.1%)1 Legend 👏 pic.twitter.com/YgiOvAxjn3

— Football Factly (@FootballFactly) May 16, 2018

Amongst the fast-paced, possession centric modern game, Simeone has created Atletico teams over the years that have upset the biggest teams in world football.

---

#7 Jupp Heynckes

Jupp Heynckes is one of the most important figures in Bayern Munich;s illustrious history

Jupp Heynckes has had a managerial career spanning four decades. The iconic German has managed some of the great teams of the world. As a manager Heynckes has won four Bundesliga titles with Bayern Munich, a Champions League with Real Madrid in 1997-98, and a Champions League title with Bayern Munich in 2012-13.

Heynckes has been Bayern Munich's crisis man even after the age of 70, having joined the club after they sacked Carlo Ancelotti in the 2017-18 season and leading Bayern to a league title that season.

Heynckes is included in this list for his longevity at the top of the game of football and his trophy haul.

---

#6 Vicente Del Bosque

Vicente Del Bosque enjoyed a fruitful spell as manager for club and country

Vicente Del Bosque is regarded as one of the greatest and most successful managers of all time. He is the only football manager to have won the Champions League, the Euros, the World Cup as well as the Intercontinental Cup.

Del Bosque led the Spanish national side to their first-ever FIFA World Cup triumph in 2010 and was also at the helm when La Roja retained their European Championship crown in 2012.

The Spaniard coached Real Madrid from 1999 to 2003, which was one of the most successful periods in the club's modern era. In his four seasons in charge, del Bosque managed Real Madrid during its most successful spell in modern history.

He led the club to two Champions League titles in 2000 and 2002, two domestic titles in 2001 and 2003, a Supercopa in 2001, a UEFA Super Cup in 2002, as well as finishing in the last four of the UEFA Champions League every year he was in charge.

---

#5 Jurgen Klopp

Jurgen Klopp has transformed Liverpool like no other manager before him this century

Some may wonder whether the current Liverpool manager, Jurgen Klopp, is great yet. Klopp, however, became manager of Borussia Dortmund, guiding them to the Bundesliga title in 2010–11, before winning Dortmund's first-ever domestic double in a record-breaking season. The German also guided Dortmund to a runner-up finish in the 2012–13 UEFA Champions League, before leaving in 2015 as their longest-serving manager.

Klopp was appointed manager of Liverpool in 2015. He guided the club to successive UEFA Champions League finals in 2018 and 2019, winning the latter to secure his first and Liverpool's sixth title in the competition.

The following season, Klopp won the UEFA Super Cup and Liverpool's first FIFA Club World Cup, before delivering Liverpool's first Premier League title en route to which his side tallied 99 points.

Diego Simeone: "A coach I admire? Jurgen Klopp. No doubt. He had to lose things and also win beautiful things, but always with the same style. I see him close to his players.” 👏🏻 pic.twitter.com/sz2SVf2L6d

— Anfield Watch (@AnfieldWatch) October 11, 2019

More than his impact on teams like Liverpool and Dortmund, who were once great, but were suffering before his arrival, it's Klopp's tactics that have gained him so much fame. His heavy-metal, high pressing attacking style of football has turned heads across the globe, as he continues to elevate Liverpool to new heights.

---