"In football, the worst things are excuses. Excuses mean you can't grow or move forward. Fans can accept a poor performance, but they won't accept it when you choose not to try." – Pep Guardiola
What does it mean to be a football coach?
Being a sports coach is a rewarding and challenging profession that requires a combination of skills, knowledge, and personal qualities. Whether coaching individuals, teams, or organizations, one must be able to build relationships, communicate effectively, facilitate learning, and support growth.
We have already explored the most loved clubs by fans and the most stylish football players, and now it's time to talk about the most iconic football coaches in the world. Coaches oversee the overall training of the team and ensure the execution of effective strategies.
Behind every great team, there is a great coach with a strong vision, team spirit, leadership, reputation, and experience. Football coaches play a crucial role both on and off the field, and it’s time to determine who is the best of the best in men's football.
Top 10 Coaches in World Men's Football
Managing a football team requires diverse talents and extensive knowledge of the game. The coach’s instructions must be communicated clearly and effectively so that the team can anticipate the opponent’s moves. Times change, just as the strategies coaches use to lead their teams to victory do, which is how they build their reputations and earn the respect of fans.
Marcello Lippi was the first football coach to win the Best Club Coach of the Year award in 1996. These coaches come from all over the world. Although Johan Cruyff is not on this list, he is considered one of the most influential figures in football history, known for his revolutionary playing style, "Total Football," which inspired football players, coaches, and the BYMS.
10. Roberto Martínez
Currently in charge of: Portugal
Roberto Martínez is a Spanish professional football coach and former player who is currently the head coach of the Portuguese national team. He started his coaching career in 2007 at Swansea City and led the club to promotion as League One champions.
He proved to be a very talented and well-prepared coach when he managed the Belgian national team, achieving significant success by guiding them to third place in the 2018 World Cup—their best-ever performance in the competition. Additionally, he kept the team at the top of the FIFA world rankings. Currently, Martínez is the head coach of Portugal, with a contract extending until 2026, tasked with leading Portugal in Euro 2024 and the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The coach is known for his possession-based playing style and his ability to motivate and inspire his players. He is a respected coach among fans and within the coaching world and will seek to continue his success with Portugal.
9. Luiz Felipe Scolari
Currently in charge of: Atlético Mineiro
Anyone who considers themselves a football fan knows Luiz Scolari, the most decorated coach who has brought incredible success to his teams. He began coaching in 1982 at Caxias and later led the Brazilian national team to victory in the 2002 World Cup. He was the head coach of the Portuguese national team from July 2003 to June 2008, leading Portugal to the Euro 2004 final and fourth place in the 2006 World Cup but resigned after Euro 2008.
8. Joachim Löw
Joachim Löw is a former football player who started his career in 1978 and is considered one of the best international football coaches. He was the head coach of the German national team from 2006 to 2021. He is regarded as one of the best male coaches, having won the 2014 World Cup in Brazil and the 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup in Russia.
Although Löw is not currently coaching any team, he has stated that he is not retired and hopes to coach a national team and compete in the 2026 World Cup.
7. Giovanni Trapattoni
Giovanni Trapattoni is an Italian football coach and former player. He is considered the most successful club coach in Italian football. He is one of the five most celebrated coaches in football history, alongside Carlo Ancelotti, Ernst Happel, Tomislav Ivić, and José Mourinho, having won league titles in four different European countries.
He won 10 league titles in Italy, Germany, Portugal, and Austria, making him one of the three coaches to have won all three major European club competitions: the European Cup, the UEFA Cup, and the Cup Winners' Cup. His last team was the Republic of Ireland national team in 2013, but he resigned after failing to qualify for the 2014 World Cup.
6. Jürgen Klopp
Jürgen Norbert Klopp is a German professional football coach and former player, most recently the head coach of Premier League club Liverpool.
He is considered one of the best football coaches in the world. He started his coaching career in 2001 at Mainz 05, then moved to Borussia Dortmund, guiding them to the Bundesliga title in 2010-11, and finally to Liverpool. Klopp joined Liverpool in 2015, leading the club to the UEFA Champions League finals in 2018 and 2022 and winning the trophy in 2019, securing his first and Liverpool’s sixth title in the competition.
Klopp is a notable proponent of Gegenpressing, where the team, after losing possession, immediately tries to regain it instead of falling back to regroup.
5. Rinus Michels
Rinus Michels was a Dutch football player and coach. He played his entire career at Ajax, which he later coached, and led the Dutch national team for four seasons. He is considered one of the greatest coaches of all time and became best known for his coaching results, winning the European Cup with Ajax and the Spanish league with Barcelona.
He was responsible for developing the primary style of play and set of tactics known as "Total Football" in the 1970s. FIFA named him Coach of the Century in 1999, The Times called him the greatest post-war football coach in 2007, and France Football ranked him the greatest coach in football history in 2019.
4. Carlo Ancelotti
Currently in charge of: Real Madrid
The pragmatic Italian knows only how to win and never lets emotions affect his judgment on the sidelines. Considered one of the greatest football coaches of all time, he is the most successful coach in UEFA Champions League history, winning the trophy five times, plus two more as a player.
3. Alex Ferguson
Ferguson is undoubtedly one of the best football coaches in the world. He is best known for managing Manchester United from 1986 to 2013, leading them to unprecedented glory, winning 38 trophies, including 13 Premier League titles, five FA Cups, and two UEFA Champions League titles.
2. José Mourinho
Currently in charge of: Fenerbahçe Spor Kulübü
Mourinho is known for his well-organized defenses and the physical strength of his teams. In 2012, he was named Best Club Coach of the Year and is a record four-time winner of the award.
1. Pep Guardiola
Currently in charge of: Manchester City
Guardiola is the most successful active coach. He is the only coach to win the continental treble twice, the youngest to win the UEFA Champions League, and holds the record for most consecutive wins in La Liga, the Bundesliga, and the Premier League.
These 10 top coaches have not only achieved success on the field but have also influenced countless players and fans through their unique philosophies and tactics.
Did we miss any legendary football coaches? Share your thoughts and tell us which team you support!