3 men who have won the UEFA Champions League both as players and managers

The UEFA Champions League is the most prestigious tournament in club football, and continues to be the most cherished prize in club football.

It is a dream for any footballer to feature in a Champions League winning side. However, only a select few have had the privilege of winning the Champions League.

Usually only the top clubs win the biggest prize in club football, and not all footballers have the ability to play for top clubs. Moreover, most successful managers were not that great as footballers, and therefore did not have the chance to play for the top clubs.

On the other hand, not all successful footballers make successful managers, and not all successful managers have won the Champions League. Therefore, only very few players have managed to win the Champions League both as footballers and as managers.

Here we take a look at 3 such men who have achieved this remarkable feat.

#1 Carlo Ancelotti

Ancelotti was a part of the AC Milan side of the late 80s and early 90s, and it remains probably the greatest club side ever assembled. Ancelotti played under Arrigo Sacchi and won the European Cup twice with Milan in 1988-89 and 1989-90.

Ancelotti was a defensive midfielder, and played alongside the likes of Marcel Desailly, Roberto Donadoni, and Ruud Gullit in the Milan midfield. He represented Milan for 5 years, and retired in 1992. Milan beat Steaua Bucharest and Benfica respectively to win back-to-back European Cups.

Ancelotti began his managerial career at AC Milan, and won the Champions League twice there. His Milan team beat Juventus on penalties at the final in 2002-03.

He again won the CL with Milan as they beat Liverpool 2-0 in the final. He then became the manager of Real Madrid in 2013, and won the much elusive “La Decima”, Madrid’s 10th Champions’ League title in 2013-14.

Real Madrid defeated neighbours Atletico Madrid 4-1 in the final to win their 10th crown.

#2 Pep Guardiola

Pep Guardiola was a product of La Masia, the football academy of FC Barcelona, and learned the tricks of the trade under the tutelage of Johann Cruyff. He also became a part of the Barcelona senior team coached by Cruyff, and won the European Cup in 1992.

Barcelona beat Sampdoria 1-0 in the final at Wembley, and Guardiola was an intrinsic part of the Barca midfield.

Guardiola played as a defensive midfielder and thrived under the coaching of Cruyff, which gave him enough opportunities to demonstrate his passing abilities.

He went on to pursue a managerial career, and became the manager of Barca in 2009. He built a Barca team that was as good as any in the history of club football, and won the Champions League twice in 3 years.

Guardiola’s Barcelona had fabulous players like Lionel Messi, Xavi, Iniesta, and David Villa in it, and beat Manchester United in both the finals in 2009 and 2011. United were a strong side, but had no answer to Barca’s mellifluous passing football.

#3 Zinedine Zidane

Zidane is one of the all-time greats of the game, and has won every possible title in his playing career. He was an elegant attacking midfielder, had excellent vision, passing, and dribbling skills.

He featured in 2 consecutive CL finals for Juventus, but lost both of them. Zidane went to Real Madrid in 2001, and managed to win the coveted prize for his club in 2001-02. He scored the winner against Bayer Leverkusen with a thunderous volley from just outside the penalty box to win the match for his side.

Zidane became the manager of Real Madrid in 2015, and went on to win 3 consecutive Champions League titles from 2015-16 to 2017-18.

Zidane’s Madrid beat Atletico Madrid, Juventus, and Liverpool respectively to win 3 back-to-back titles. No other manager has been able to achieve this tremendous feat till date.

Edited by Anthony Akatugba Jr.