The Champions League is the ultimate competition in world football. As much as FIFA might tell you that the Club World Cup is the creme de la creme, we all know that lifting ‘Big Ears’ to become champions of Europe is hard to beat in the professional game.
It’s a trophy that has been lifted by some of the greatest players to ever grace the sport from Cristiano Ronaldo and Ronaldinho to Lionel Messi and Paolo Maldini to name just a few.
But no side can ever get their hands on the Champions League trophy without a world-class coach behind them or at the very least some inspiring man-management a la Roberto Di Matteo.
It’s no coincidence that some of the greatest European-conquering sides have had the likes of Sir Alex Ferguson, Jurgen Klopp, Pep Guardiola and Jose Mourinho behind their successes.
Greatest ever Champions League managers
But naming the Greatest of managers in the Champions League alone is by no means an easy task, especially when you consider the gridlock of coaches on either a single triumph or two.
However, that hasn’t stopped the team at Squawka from trying, compiling a top ten of the greatest managers in Europe’s top competition since its rebranding in 1992.
You can see who comes out on top by checking out their final 10 down below and decide whether you agree with their picks for the Champions League’s very best:
10. Ottmar Hitzfeld
Clubs: Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich. Win percentage: 51%. Trophies won: 1997 (Borussia Dortmund) and 2001 (Bayern Munich)
9. Rafael Benitez
Clubs: Liverpool, Inter Milan, Chelsea, Napoli, Real Madrid. Win percentage: 57%. Trophies won: 2005 (Liverpool)
8. Vicente del Bosque
Clubs: Real Madrid. Win percentage: 57%. Trophies won: 2000 and 2002 (Real Madrid)
7. Jupp Heynckes
Clubs: Real Madrid and Bayern Munich. Win percentage: 70%. Trophies won: 1998 (Real Madrid) and 2013 (Bayern Munich)
6. Sir Alex Ferguson
Clubs: Manchester United. Win percentage: 54%. Trophies won: 1999 and 2008 (Manchester United)
5. Louis van Gaal
Clubs: Ajax, Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Manchester United. Win percentage: 60%. Trophies won: 1995 (Ajax)
4. Jose Mourinho
Clubs: Porto, Chelsea, Inter Milan, Real Madrid, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur. Win percentage: 56.74%. Trophies won: 2004 (Porto) and 2010 (Inter Milan)
3. Carlo Ancelotti
Clubs: Parma, Juventus, AC Milan, Chelsea, PSG, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and Napoli. Win percentage: 55.15%. Trophies won: 2003, 2007 (AC Milan) and 2014 (Real Madrid)
2. Pep Guardiola
Clubs: Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Manchester City. Win percentage: 61%. Trophies won: 2009 and 2011 (Barcelona)
1. Zinedine Zidane
Clubs: Real Madrid. Win percentage: 65%. Trophies won: 2016, 2017 and 2018 (Real Madrid).
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