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Every coach worth his salt dreams of fielding a team in the UEFA Champions League. The most prestigious club competition in Europe brings the best out of managers, forcing them to devise the smartest of gameplans on their toes.
Few managers have stood the test of the tournament and have emerged victorious. Others have not been so lucky and have nothing to show for it except for their courageous efforts.
Today, we will honor managers from both categories and give you a list of five tacticians with the highest appearances in the UEFA Champions League. Now, without standing at the ceremony, let's get to it!
#5 Pep Guardiola - 136 UEFA Champions League appearances
Teams managed: Manchester City FC (51), FC Barcelona (49), FC Bayern Munich (36)
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola is widely revered as one of the best coaches of this generation. After making headlines with the Barcelona B team, Guardiola took charge of the senior Catalan outfit in 2008. He immediately made some bold decisions, molded Barcelona’s style of play, and led them to their first treble in history. He also became the youngest coach to win the UEFA Champions League in 2009 when his team beat Manchester United in the final.
Another UEFA Champions League triumph followed in 2011, again against Manchester United. Unfortunately, the Blaugrana could not seal the treble that season, as they failed to win the Copa del Rey.
Since 2011, Guardiola has been doing his best to win the Champions League again. Both Bayern Munich and last year’s finalists Manchester City have come close but could not take the final step. However, given the quality of the man and the players at his disposal, it would be surprising not to see him win another Champions League eventually.
#4 Jose Mourinho - 145 UEFA Champions League appearances
Teams managed: Tottenham Hotspur (4), Manchester United FC (14), Real Madrid CF (32), Chelsea FC (57), FC Inter Milan (21), FC Porto (17)
The UEFA Champions League has witnessed plenty of eccentric coaches over the years, but none more exciting than Jose Mourinho. He has created a reputation for bending rules at every chance he gets and is often rewarded for it. The Portuguese manager has managed several high profile clubs in his career, winning the UEFA Champions League with Porto and Inter in 2004 and 2010, respectively.
"The Special One" also led Real Madrid to three consecutive Champions League semi-final appearances between 2011 and 2013. Mourinho is currently in charge of AS Roma and will look to qualify for the Champions League at the end of the season.
Also Read: Top 5 most successful countries in the UEFA Champions League
#3 Carlo Ancelotti - 167 UEFA Champions League appearances
Teams managed: FC Bayern Munich (12), Juventus (10), Chelsea FC (18), AC Milan (73), Real Madrid CF (26), Paris Saint-Germain (10), Parma FC (6), SSC Napoli (12)
Carlo Ancelotti is one of the most respected names in world football. The Italian has a knack for making his teams play an engaging brand of football, which the fans tend to appreciate. Ancelotti is also an excellent man-manager and knows how to keep even the biggest egos in check. He is tactically sound, is capable of handling pressure, and is an astute reader of the game.
Ancelotti, who is the current manager of Real Madrid, has won the UEFA Champions League thrice. While his first two UEFA Champions League wins came with AC Milan in 2003 and 2007, his final triumph came with Real Madrid in 2014.
The win in 2014 was especially remarkable, as it was the club’s 10th Champions League title - ‘La Decima’. Los Blancos did not win the European tournament for 12 years before Ancelotti took over and changed the course of history.
#2 Arsene Wenger - 178 UEFA Champions League appearances
Teams managed: Arsenal (171), AS Monaco (7)
Former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger believed in playing a specific brand of football. He loved possession, wanted his boys to enjoy the game, and instructed his boys to make the game fun for viewers. On paper, the philosophy was bulletproof. In reality, Wenger had to endure a lot of humiliation and disappointment in the UEFA Champions League and Premier League.
Wenger is the only manager on our list who has never won the UEFA Champions League. His most heroic push for the European title came in 2006. However, a spirited Barcelona had enough firepower to register a 2-1 win at the expense of Arsenal in the final.
Now 71, Wenger has refrained from managing another club. If nothing drastic happens, Wenger will go down as the greatest manager not to win the UEFA Champions League.
#1 Sir Alex Ferguson - 190 UEFA Champions League appearances
Team managed: Manchester United (190)
Sir Alex Ferguson is the most respected manager of this era. The Scottish tactician was the perfect blend of determination and warmth, of explosiveness and poise. He took Manchester United to the greatest possible heights, winning 13 Premier Leagues and two UEFA Champions Leagues in 27 years.
Under his tutelage, the Red Devils won their first UEFA Champions League title in 1999. His second and the club’s last triumph in the tournament came in 2008 when they beat fellow English club Chelsea on penalties in the final.
Sir Alex Ferguson’s record of 190 will probably be shattered by Pep Guardiola and co., but the impact he has had on the competition will live on. Ferguson still follows Manchester United closely and the club will try and do their best to make him proud at the end of the season.
Also Read: Ranking the 5 best midfields in Europe's top 6 leagues right now
