Top 10 Football Managers With the Most Trophies in History

The measure of success for football managers often comes down to the trophies they collect throughout their careers. From legends like Sir Alex Ferguson to contemporary giants such as Pep Guardiola, these ten managers have amassed some of the most impressive trophy hauls in football history.

Some built their legacies in Europe’s spotlight, while others achieved greatness behind the scenes or within their home countries, sometimes unnoticed by the wider football community.

10. Ottmar Hitzfeld - 26 Trophies

Ottmar Hitzfeld managed mostly in Switzerland and Germany. Starting at Grasshoppers and moving to Borussia Dortmund in 1991, he won two Bundesliga titles and the club's first Champions League in 1997. Later, at Bayern Munich, he secured four Bundesliga crowns and another Champions League in 2001 before retiring after managing Switzerland’s national team until 2014.

• SC Zug: Nationalliga B
• Aarau: Swiss Cup
• Grasshopper: 2x Swiss Super League, 2x Swiss Cup, Swiss Super Cup
• Borussia Dortmund: 2x Bundesliga, Champions League, 2x DFB-Supercup
• Bayern Munich: 5x Bundesliga, Champions League, 3x DFB-Pokal, 4x DFB-Ligapokal, Intercontinental Cup

9. Jock Stein - 26 Trophies

Scottish manager Jock Stein began with Celtic’s reserves before moving to Dunfermline and Hibernian. His glory years came at Celtic, winning a historic continental treble in 1966-67, along with 10 league titles, eight Scottish Cups, and six league cups, establishing a dominant force in Scottish and European football.

• Dunfermline: Scottish Cup
• Celtic: European Cup, 10x Scottish League Championship, 8x Scottish Cup, 6x Scottish League Cup

8. Luiz Felipe Scolari - 26 Trophies

Known as 'Big Phil', Scolari has won trophies across Brazil, Asia, and the Middle East. Highlights include the 2002 FIFA World Cup with Brazil, multiple state championships, Copa Libertadores victories, and titles with clubs in China and Uzbekistan. His international stints with Brazil and Portugal brought notable moments but mixed silverware results.

• Al Qadisiya: Kuwait Emir Cup
• Criciuma: Copa do Brasil, Campeonato Catarinense
• Gremio: 3x Campeonato Gaucho, Brazilian Serie A, Copa do Brasil, Copa Libertadores, Recopa Sudamericana
• Palmeiras: Brazilian Serie A, 2x Copa do Brasil, Copa Mercosur, Copa Libertadores
• Jubilo Iwata: J1 League
• Bunyodkor: Uzbek League
• Gangzhou Evergrande: 3x Chinese Super League, AFC Champions League, Chinese FA Cup, Chinese FA Super Cup
• Kuwait: Arabian Gulf Cup
• Brazil: FIFA World Cup, FIFA Confederations Cup

7. Jose Mourinho - 26 Trophies

'The Special One' Jose Mourinho made his mark with Porto’s treble-winning 2003-04 season including the Champions League. His career includes Premier League titles with Chelsea, a historic treble with Inter Milan, La Liga success with Real Madrid, and multiple trophies with Manchester United and Roma.

• Porto: 2x Primeira Liga, Taça de Portugal, Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira, UEFA Cup, UEFA Champions League
• Chelsea: 3x Premier League, FA Cup, 3x League Cup, FA Community Shield
• Inter Milan: 2x Serie A, Coppa Italia, Supercoppa Italiana, UEFA Champions League
• Real Madrid: La Liga, Copa del Rey, Supercopa de España
• Manchester United: EFL Cup, FA Community Shield, UEFA Europa League
• Roma: UEFA Europa Conference League

6. Bill Struth - 30 Trophies

Bill Struth guided Rangers from 1920 to 1954, becoming one of Scotland’s most decorated managers. Known for strict discipline, he led Rangers to 18 Scottish Premiership titles, 10 Scottish Cups, and two League Cups during an era of dominance.

• Rangers: 18x Scottish Premiership, 10x Scottish Cup, 2x Scottish League Cup

5. Carlo Ancelotti - 30 Trophies

Carlo Ancelotti has been winning trophies since 1995 and remains active. He is the only manager to have won the Champions League five times, twice with AC Milan and thrice with Real Madrid. Ancelotti boasts domestic league titles across Italy, England, Spain, Germany, and France.

• Juventus: UEFA Intertoto Cup
• AC Milan: Serie A, Coppa Italia, Supercoppa Italiana, 2x UEFA Champions League, 2x UEFA Super Cup, FIFA Club World Cup
• Chelsea: Premier League, FA Cup, Community Shield
• Paris Saint-Germain: Ligue 1
• Real Madrid: 2x La Liga, 2x Copa del Rey, 2x Supercopa de España, 3x UEFA Champions League, 3x UEFA Super Cup, 2x FIFA Club World Cup
• Bayern Munich: Bundesliga, 2x DFL-Supercup

4. Valeriy Lobanovskyi - 30 Trophies

Valeriy Lobanovskyi was a pioneering coach in Soviet football with Dynamo Kyiv. He combined physical science with tactical innovation, winning eight Soviet league titles, six Soviet Cups, and two European Cup Winners’ Cups. After the USSR’s collapse, he led Dynamo to several Ukrainian titles and cups.

• Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk: Soviet First League
• Dynamo Kyiv: 8x Soviet Top League, 6x Soviet Cup, 3x Soviet Super Cup, 5x Ukrainian National League, 3x Ukrainian Cup, 2x European Cup Winners' Cup, European Super Cup, 3x CIS Cup

3. Mircea Lucescu - 38 Trophies

Mircea Lucescu earned trophies across Romania, Turkey, Ukraine, and Italy. His greatest success was with Shakhtar Donetsk, winning 8 Ukrainian league titles, 6 cups, 7 super cups, and the 2009 UEFA Cup. He also won domestic titles with Dinamo Bucuresti and Rapid Bucuresti, plus a Russian Cup with Zenit Saint Petersburg.

• Dinamo Bucuresti: Divizia A, Cupa Romaniei
• Brescia: Anglo-Italian Cup
• Rapid Bucuresti: Divizia A, Cupa Romaniei, Supercupa Romaniei
• Galatasaray: Super Lig, UEFA Super Cup
• Besiktas: Super Lig
• Shakhtar Donetsk: 8x Ukrainian Premier League, 6x Ukrainian Cup, 7x Ukrainian Super Cup, UEFA Cup
• Zenit Saint Petersburg: Russian Super Cup
• Dynamo Kyiv: Ukrainian Premier League, Ukrainian Cup, Ukrainian Super Cup

2. Pep Guardiola - 41 Trophies

Pep Guardiola might be on track to become the most decorated manager ever. By age 53, he had already collected 41 trophies. He won 14 trophies at Barcelona, including a historic sextuple, three Bundesliga titles and cups with Bayern, and dominated English football with Manchester City, claiming six Premier League titles and finally the Champions League in 2023.

• Barcelona: 3x La Liga, 2x Copa del Rey, 3x Supercopa de España, 2x UEFA Champions League, 2x UEFA Super Cup, 2x FIFA Club World Cup
• Bayern Munich: 3x Bundesliga, 2x DFB-Pokal, UEFA Super Cup, FIFA Club World Cup
• Manchester City: 6x Premier League, 3x FA Cup, 5x EFL Cup, 2x FA Community Shield, UEFA Super Cup, FIFA Club World Cup

1. Sir Alex Ferguson - 49 Trophies

The undisputed leader in trophies won, Sir Alex Ferguson built an extraordinary legacy. Beginning with St Mirren and then Aberdeen, where he won multiple Scottish titles and the 1983 European Cup Winners' Cup, Ferguson moved to Manchester United in 1986. From 1990 to 2013, his teams won 38 trophies including 13 Premier Leagues, 5 FA Cups, 2 Champions Leagues, and international club titles, making him a legend in football history.

• St Mirren: Scottish First Division
• Aberdeen: 3x Scottish Premier Division, 4x Scottish Cup, Scottish League Cup, European Cup Winners' Cup, European Super Cup
• Manchester United: 13x Premier League, 5x FA Cup, 4x Football League Cup, 10x FA Community Shield, 2x UEFA Champions League, European Cup Winners' Cup, European Super Cup, Intercontinental Cup, FIFA Club World Cup

Summary Table: Managers Ranked by Trophies Won

• 1. Sir Alex Ferguson: 49 trophies (1974–2013)
• 2. Pep Guardiola: 41 trophies (2007–present)
• 3. Mircea Lucescu: 38 trophies (1979–2023)
• 4. Valeriy Lobanovskyi: 30 trophies (1969–2001)
• 5. Carlo Ancelotti: 30 trophies (1995–present)
• 6. Bill Struth: 30 trophies (1920–1954)
• 7. Jose Mourinho: 26 trophies (2000–present)
• 8. Luiz Felipe Scolari: 26 trophies (1982–present)
• 9. Jock Stein: 26 trophies (1960–1985)
• 10. Ottmar Hitzfeld: 26 trophies (1983–2014)