5 most successful football managers in recent history

Bhargav
Pep Guardiola is one of the most successful football managers in the 21st century
Pep Guardiola is one of the most successful football managers in the 21st century

#3 Pep Guardiola

Pep Guardiola
Pep Guardiola

Pep Guardiola, one of the finest football managers in the sport, was also a fabulous player during his playing days.

After taking over the reins of a big club like Barcelona despite having no prior managerial experience, the former player ushered in an era of unprecedented success at the Camp Nou.

During a successful four-year stint, Guardiola became renowned for tiki-taka football as he became the first person in the Champions League era to win the competition both as a player and as a manager while also delivering Barcelona's first-ever continental treble.

The Spanish tactician has since won domestic honours galore at Bavarian giants Bayern Munich and at his present club Manchester City, despite another Champions League title being conspicuous by its absence.

Nevertheless, Guardiola has received high praise from the likes of Lionel Messi, Andres Iniesta, Robert Lewandowski, Sergio Aguero and Vincent Kompany for his tactical acumen and managerial skills.


#2 Jose Mourinho

Jose Mourinho
Jose Mourinho

Unlike all other managers in this list, Jose Mourinho rose to the highest echelons of football management despite having no prior playing experience at the top level.

After winning the Champions League with unfancied Porto in 2004, Mourinho has since managed some of the best clubs in world football like Chelsea, Inter Milan, Real Madrid and Manchester United.

The Portuguese tactician won the continental treble with Inter in 2010 to join an exclusive group of men to have won the Champions League title with two different clubs.

Renowned for his tactical prowess, game-management skills and flexibility, Mourinho, despite not being the most-loved manager in the football world, has delivered the goods at many top clubs.

The current Tottenham Hotspur manager has won league titles with the likes of Chelsea, Inter and Real Madrid, although, like Guardiola, he hasn't won another Champions League title in almost a decade.


#1 Sir Alex Ferguson

Sir Alex Ferguson
Sir Alex Ferguson

Sir Alex Ferguson is one of the most decorated football managers in the history of the sport.

During a long and illustrious stint at Manchester United, Ferguson transformed the fortunes of the Old Trafford club, lifting them from mid-table mediocrity to the most successful team in Premier League history while also delivering on the European stage.

The legendary Scot also deserves credit for honing an unpolished diamond like Cristiano Ronaldo and transforming him into one of the finest players to have ever graced the game of football.

Such has been his impact at Manchester United that the club hasn't managed to win another Premier League title since Sir Alex Ferguson won his 38th title at the club and 13th league title in the Premier League era.

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