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Since the turn of the century, there have been many world-class managers who have graced the game. Many have won league titles in multiple countries, with a few also winning the Champions League with different clubs.
With the evolution of the game, managers get synonymous with specific playing styles or preferences. Nevertheless, as long as the ends justify the means, club hierarchies and fans are happy if their managers are successful (read: win major trophies).
On that note, here's a look at ten managers with the most league points in the 21st century.
Note: All stats are as per transfermarkt.
#10 Manuel Pellegrini - 954 (550 games)
Manuel Pellegrini is one of the longest-serving active managers in the game at the moment.
The Chilean started his managerial career in his native Chile before landing his first stint in Europe when he was appointed the boss of Villarreal in 2004. Pellegrini enjoyed a successful tenure at the club, who finished in the top seven in each of his five seasons in charge.
That caught the attention of Real Madrid, who snapped him up in the summer of 2009. With the arrival of Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema and Xabi Alonso, Pellegrini's men racked up 31 wins and 96 points. Incredibly, that wasn't enough to win the La Liga title, as Barcelona scored three more points than Madrid.
After three middling seasons in Malaga, Pellegri arrived at Manchester City in 2013, and immediately delivered the Premier League title. The Chilean stayed three years at the Etihad.
Following subsequent stints at Hebei China Provence and West Ham United, Pellegrini currently manages Real Betis, whom he once played for.
#9 Claudio Ranieiri - 998 (593 games)
Claudio Ranieiri is known as the Tinkerman for his penchant to change his lineups. Like Pellegrini, Ranieri has had a managerial career spanning more than three decades.
After managing various teams across tiers in Italy, Ranieiri arrived in Spain, where he managed Valencia and Atletico Madrid. The Italian then moved to Chelsea in 2000, where he enjoyed a decent stint.
Rainieiri signed the likes of Frank Lampard and William Gallas, among others. With Roman Abramovic taking over Chelsea in 2003, the Italian had a large fund to bring in reinforcements.
He subsequently took the Blues to their best league finish (second) in the Premier League era. But Rainieri was roundly criticized for his questionable tactics and substitutions that led to Chelsea's Champions League exit in the semis. Soon he was relieved of his job.
After subsequent spells with the likes of Valencia, Juventus, Roma and Monaco, Ranieri was back in the Premier League with Leicester City in 2015, Against all odds, the Italian delivered an improbable league triumph - the first of his managerial career.
Ranierei controversially faced the boot the following season as Leicester hovered above the relegation zone. The Italian had further stints with the likes of Nantes, Fulham and AS Roma before arriving at Watford City this summer.
#8 Claude Puel - 1008 (705 games)
Claude Puel has been in management for over two decades. The Frenchman has managed mostly in Ligue 1, except for a short three-year stint in the Premier League.
Making a dream managerial debut, Puel led Monaco to the 1999-00 Ligue 1 title in his first full season. In the process, he became one of a handful of men to win league titles as a player and manager with the same club in the French top flight.
However, the 60-year-old has had fairly middling stints in his subsequent managerial assignments with the likes of Lyon, Lille and Nice. Puel also took charge of Premier League clubs Southampton and Leicester City, but struggled to make a mark.
Now with Saint-Etienne, Puel is on the verge of facing the sack after winless Les Verts find themselves languishing at the bottom of the Ligue 1 table after 11 games.
Considering his middling managerial exploits, it remains to be seen where Puel lands up at if he leaves the fallen giants of French football.
#7 Rafael Benitez - 1013 (572 games)
Rafael Benitez is one of the legendary managers who is still active in the game. After starting his managerial career with Real Madrid B almost three decades ago, the Spaniard managed a host of teams in his native Spain.
Benitez arrived at Liverpool in 2004, and had a fairly successful stint. Though he did not win a league title with the Reds, Benitez took Liverpool to two Champions League finals, winning one.
The Spaniard had subsequent stints with the likes of Inter Milan, Napoli, Real Madrid and Newcastle, with mixed results. Benitez was appointed Everton manager this summer, making him the first man in almost 130 years to manage both Liverpool and Everton.
Under Benitez, Everton have won four of their opening nine games this season to stand eighth in the Premier League table.
The 2005 UEFA Champions League winner has won a host of titles in domestic and European cup competitions. But his only two league triumphs came with Valencia in the early 2000s.
#6 Jurgen Klopp - 1055 (569 games)
Jurgen Klopp is widely regarded as one of the best managers in the game at the moment.
The 54-year-old is renowned for his high-pressing 'heavy metal' football (Gegenpressing). In this system, Klopp's team strives to win back possession by pressing deep in opposition territory rather than fall back into formation. Klopp's system requires tireless players, especially on the flanks, something he has been blessed with at all his clubs.
The German started his managerial career at Mainz in 2001. After a successful seven-season stint, he landed at Borussia Dortmund, where BvB won consecutive league titles and a first league-double in their history.
Klopp took things up a notch on arriving at Liverpool in 2015. He led the club to consecutive Champions League finals (won one) and the Reds' first league title in three decades last year.
The German has won more games against teams managed by the legendary Pep Guardiola (more on him later) than any other manager in history.
Klopp's men are the only unbeaten team in the English top flight this season as they look to win their second league title in three years.
#5 Pep Guardiola - 1093 (453 games)
Pep Guardiola has been in senior management for little over a decade. But he has already carved out a niche for himself as one of the game's finest and most successful managers. The 50-year-old is renowned for his 'tiki taka' playing style.
The former Barcelona player is one of the few men on this list who has had success on both sides of the touchline. A key player in Johan Cryuff's Dream Team at Barcelona in the early 90s, Guardiola has a glittering managerial resume festooned with titles in three different top-five leagues.
Guardiola's Barcelona team of the late 2000s and early 2010s is widely regarded as one of the finest club teams of all time. The all-conquering Blaugrana became the first Spanish team in 2008-09 to win the continental treble en route to an unprecedented sextuple that year.
A hugely successful four-year stay at Camp Nou yielded three league and two Champions League titles among a plethora of domestic and continental honors. Guardiola followed that up with another successful stint, this time at Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich, winning three more league titles among others.
Five years into his current reign as Manchester City manager, Guardiola has won three league titles during this period. Under the Spaniard, City have broken many Premier League records, like most points, most wins in a season, etc. Recently, Guardiola became the City manager with the most wins in the club's history.
#4 Alex Ferguson - 1132 (513 games)
Sir Alex Ferguson is amongst the legendary managers in the game's history. During a decorated managerial stint, the Scot delivered a record 13 Premier League titles at Manchester United, eight of them since the turn of the century. No other manager has won more than three.
The Scot arrived at United in the mid-80s, and made the Old Trafford club a force to be reckoned with in England and Europe. Under Ferguson, United beat Bayern Munich in the 1999 Champions League final to become the first English team to win the continental treble.
Such was his impact at the club that United haven't won a league title since Ferguson oversaw their 13th and latest Premier League triumph in 2013.
#3 Jose Mourinho - 1194 (561 games)
Jose Mourinho is one of the most decorated managers to have graced the beautiful game.
The Portuguese announced his managerial pedigree by leading unfancied Porto to Champions League glory in 2004. Chelsea's billonaire owner Roman Avramovich soon swooped up the Portuguese, who introduced himself as the Special One.
His words soon turned out to be prophetic as he led the Blues to their first league title in five decades, breaking several records along the way. There would be no looking back from there for Mourinho.
Amidst delivering two more league titles at Chelsea in the following ten years in two separate stints, Mourinho found success in Italy and Spain. The Portuguese won a continental treble with Inter Milan (2010) and two league titles before moving to Real Madrid. In his second year at the Santiago Bernabeu, Mourinho's Madrid won La Liga with a record points tally.
The Special One was appointed Manchester United's manager after becoming the first manager and third overall after Arsene Wenger to win three Premier League titles. Although he didn't win a league title with United, Mourinho won a Europa League title.
After a failed stint at Tottenham Hotspur, Mourinho returned to Italy this summer, where he won the 1000th game of his storied managerial career.
After a few rather middling years, Mourinho will hope to lead Roma to the league title in what could be one of the most open Serie A title races in years.
#2 Arsene Wenger - 1381 (702 games)
Arsene Wenger, like Sir Alex Ferguson, is another legendary manager in the game's history.
The Frenchman, a three-time Premier League winner, is the only manager in the competition's history to lead a team unbeaten through a league season. Arsenal's 2003-04 team is popularly called the 'Invincibles' because of their historic feat.
During a glorious two-decade-long stint at the Gunners, Wenger made Arsenal one of the top English clubs in England and Europe. The Frenchman took the Gunners to their first Champions League final in 2006, but Arsenal lost to Barcelona despite taking the lead in the title match.
Wenger is one of only two men to win over 400 games as a Premier League manager. Although Arsenal are yet to win another league title since that Invinvibles triumph, Wenger holds a special pride of place among the club's faithful.
#1 Carlo Ancelotti - 1434 (706 games)
Carlo Ancelotti has a decorated managerial resume. He is one of only five men in the game's history to win league titles in four different countries (Italy, Spain, France, Germany).
The Italian also happens to be one of three managers to win three UEFA Champions League trophies. He is one of a handful of men to win the Champions League as both player and manager. He has managed some of the top clubs in tgameme, and has had success at most of them.
Ancelotti has an enviable managerial resume. The Italian has racked up league titles with AC Milan, Chelsea, Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain. Now in charge of Real Madrid, the 62-year-old recorded his first win at the Camp Nou as the Merengues look good for their second league title in three years.
If the former Everton manager adds a La Liga triumph to his collection, it would make him the first manager ever to win league titles in five different countries.
